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
Mar 04, 1995	PORT ALSWORTH, AK	N6166N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE RIGHT BRAKE PEDAL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Feb 06, 1995	MCCALL, ID	N9CR	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF DURING THE TAKEOFF, LEADING TO AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO … THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF DURING THE TAKEOFF, LEADING TO AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO PERFORM A FORMATION TAKEOFF.
Feb 01, 1995	W.POINT VILLAGE, AK	N1095F	Incident	substantial	A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE REMEDIAL REACTION AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE A… A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE REMEDIAL REACTION AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Dec 22, 1994	LONG BEACH, CA	N101LL	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft both during the landing and the attempted rejected landing maneuver.
Nov 19, 1994	ANCHORAGE, AK	N9618H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF A NOTAM THAT CLOSED THE RUNWAY AND A SLUSH COVERED RUNWAY AREA WERE… THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF A NOTAM THAT CLOSED THE RUNWAY AND A SLUSH COVERED RUNWAY AREA WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Nov 03, 1994	ELIZABETHTON, TN	N6688H	Incident	substantial	THE FLEXING OF THE RUDDER PEDAL CONTROL LOCKING ASSEMBLY WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE CO-PILOT'S LEFT PEDAL DURING HEAVY BRAKING.
Oct 09, 1994	ROCHESTER, MA	N53074	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadeqaute calculation of fuel and inadeqaute inflight decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.
Oct 06, 1994	ABBEVILLE, LA	N95DM	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.
Jul 02, 1994	JUNEAU, AK	N1470Q	Incident	—	THE FAILURE OF THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TO EXERCISE HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE EACH AIRCRAFT ADJUST ITS FLIGHTPATH TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE OTHER, AND THE F… THE FAILURE OF THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TO EXERCISE HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE EACH AIRCRAFT ADJUST ITS FLIGHTPATH TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE OTHER, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 185 TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL SEPARATION FROM THE BOEING 737.
Jun 08, 1994	KASSAN BAY, AK	N4471R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND. FACTORS WERE THE ROUGH WATER AND THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
May 29, 1994	FAIRBANKS, AK	N93769	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF.
Mar 13, 1994	FORT LEWIS, WA	N4732E	Incident	substantial	THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE SEIZED IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION.
Dec 20, 1993	GRAND ISLAND, NE	N581JB	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor related to the accident was the gusty quartering tailwind condition.
Sep 18, 1993	KETCHIKAN, AK	N84627	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION. THE ROUGH WATER IN THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Aug 14, 1993	POINT BARROW, AK	N20752	Incident	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REFUELING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR/MANAGEMENT INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING … FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REFUELING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR/MANAGEMENT INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE FLIGHT.
Aug 12, 1993	STIBNITE, ID	N2690Z	Incident	substantial	LEAKAGE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY … LEAKAGE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC.
Jun 20, 1993	VICTORY, AK	N1679Z	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.
Jun 12, 1993	ARCTIC VILLAGE, AK	N8536L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/THIN (WEAK) ICE CONDITION OF THE LAKE SURFAC… THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/THIN (WEAK) ICE CONDITION OF THE LAKE SURFACE.
May 31, 1993	GUSTAVUS, AK	N185TD	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS SPEED WHILE LANDING ON A WET GRASS STRIP.
May 29, 1993	BULCHITNA LAKE, AK	N80124	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR LEG DUE TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE CAUSED BY CORROSION.
May 23, 1993	BARROW, AK	N75LE	Incident	substantial	THE FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRING.
May 23, 1993	LOWELL, ID	N4080Y	Incident	substantial	FATIGUE OF THE ROCKER ARM AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WHICH WAS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Mar 14, 1993	BARROW, AK	N61500	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRPLANE.
Feb 21, 1993	BRIDGEPORT, NE	N252W	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Dec 13, 1992	LANAI, HI	N4742E	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT OBSTRUCTIONS WERE HIDDEN IN THE GRASS OF THE LANDING AREA CHOSE… THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT OBSTRUCTIONS WERE HIDDEN IN THE GRASS OF THE LANDING AREA CHOSEN BY THE PILOT FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

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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