How many accidents has the Cessna 185 had?

The NTSB has recorded 476 events involving the Cessna 185: 43 fatal, 23 serious, 51 minor injuries, and 353 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 185 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 185 has 476 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 185 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 476 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

476

All Events

353

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (93 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Sep 07, 1989	TANACROSS, AK	N4838C	Fatal (1)	destroyed	POOR JUDGEMENT BY THE PILOT BY BUZZING THE AIRPORT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S USE OF ABR… POOR JUDGEMENT BY THE PILOT BY BUZZING THE AIRPORT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S USE OF ABRUPT MANEUVERS WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Aug 23, 1989	FRESNO, CA	N1562H	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Aug 06, 1989	DURANGO, CO	N9823X	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE WIND CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jul 31, 1989	TOZITNA RIVER, AK	N4005Y	Minor	substantial	IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT. HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS, UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, AND TREES WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Jul 31, 1989	WOLFEBORO, NH	N1526F	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES & BOATS) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Jul 02, 1989	FISHERS, NY	N1731R	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF DUE TO IMPROPER FLOAT OPERATION ABORTED TAKEOFF PROCEDURE ON TERRA FIRMA, AS OPPOSED TO THE MORE LOGICAL ENV… LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF DUE TO IMPROPER FLOAT OPERATION ABORTED TAKEOFF PROCEDURE ON TERRA FIRMA, AS OPPOSED TO THE MORE LOGICAL ENVIRONMENT OF WATER, THE INTENDED ELEMENT FOR THE DESIGN HARDWARE.
Jul 01, 1989	DILLINGHAM, AK	N6305E	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT & A STRONG DOWNDRAFT.
Jul 01, 1989	FAIRBANKS, AK	N75LE	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE CROSSWIND AND GUSTS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Jun 01, 1989	TOKSOOK BAY, AK	N9360N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY LANDED ON WATER WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED.
May 29, 1989	KAHILTNA GLAC, AK	N1047F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A LANDING BEFORE COMPLETING AN EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING T… THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A LANDING BEFORE COMPLETING AN EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOWBANK OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITH WHICH THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED.
Apr 12, 1989	TRINITY LAKE, AK	N9850X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND.
Mar 26, 1989	EVERETT, WA	N6166N	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING ROLL.
Mar 09, 1989	ALEXANDER LAKE, AK	N70122	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, DECISIONS WHICH RESULTED IN EXCEEDING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Mar 07, 1989	SHELL LAKE, AK	N9824X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION IN SELECTING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION IN SELECTING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND THE SNOWBANK.
Mar 05, 1989	BELLINGHAM, WA	N79PK	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF LIFT DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE WINGS, HIS FAILURE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT, AND POOR INFL… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF LIFT DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE WINGS, HIS FAILURE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT, AND POOR INFLIGHT DECISION MAKING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FATIGUE.
Jan 10, 1989	JUNEAU, AK	N6420E	Incident	substantial	THE MISJUDGEMENT OF THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS ON THE PART OF THE PILOT PRIOR TO LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DEEP SNOW ON THE RUNWAY, BOX CA… THE MISJUDGEMENT OF THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS ON THE PART OF THE PILOT PRIOR TO LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DEEP SNOW ON THE RUNWAY, BOX CANYON CONFIGURATION OF THE AREA PRECLUDING RUNWAY OVERFLIGHT, MARGINAL WEATHER/LIGHT CONDITIONS FOR ASSESSING THE RUNWAY STATUS AND FAILURE ON THE PART OF COMPANY DISPATCH PERSONNEL TO ACQUIRE AND PROVIDE THE PILOT WITH THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS BEFORE DIVERTING THE FLIGHT TO THE LOCATION OF THE MISHAP.
Dec 21, 1988	PORCUPINE LODGE, AK	N70087	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 03, 1988	HANSON, MA	N6387	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Nov 04, 1988	EBENSBURG, PA	N4023Y	Minor	destroyed	Investigation pending
Sep 29, 1988	HILLSBORO, OR	N4758E	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 23, 1988	BENSON, MN	N3815Q	Minor	destroyed	Investigation pending
Sep 21, 1988	CHIP RIVER, AK	N61500	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 16, 1988	MCCLAREN RIVER, AK	N73DA	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 28, 1988	JOSEPH VILLAGE, AK	N4838C	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 20, 1988	HILLSBORO, OR	N14407	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Cessna 185 Safety Record

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