How many accidents has the Cessna 185F had?

The NTSB has recorded 106 events involving the Cessna 185F: 8 fatal, 6 serious, 14 minor injuries, and 77 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 185F a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 185F has 106 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 185F Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 106 events recorded from 1982 to 2007.

106

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (13 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Mar 04, 1996	SKWENTNA, AK	N5246E	Incident	substantial	the pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing. A factor associated with the accident was the rough and uneven terrain.
Sep 04, 1995	SALEM, OR	N9222H	Minor	substantial	A LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Mar 04, 1995	PORT ALSWORTH, AK	N6166N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE RIGHT BRAKE PEDAL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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.
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.
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.
May 29, 1994	FAIRBANKS, AK	N93769	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF.
May 31, 1993	GUSTAVUS, AK	N185TD	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS SPEED WHILE LANDING ON A WET GRASS STRIP.
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.
Jul 29, 1992	TERMO, CA	N22FG	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 01, 1992	EKUK, AK	N4874Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION ON THE SURFACE OF THE LANDING AREA.
Jun 18, 1992	TALKEETNA, AK	N125KT	Incident	substantial	FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE TAILWHEEL VIBRATION/SHIMMY, AND AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP.
Feb 19, 1992	PELICAN, AK	N4948Q	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GLARE FROM THE SUN.
Sep 06, 1991	AFTON, MN	N1074F	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT LOWERING OF THE WHEELS DURING THE WATER LANDING.
Aug 10, 1991	ANGOON, AK	N715V	Serious (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT'S INTENTIONAL ABRUPT MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND T… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT'S INTENTIONAL ABRUPT MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THE FLAPS THAT RETRACTED A KNOTCH.
Jul 03, 1991	FAREWELL, AK	N222WH	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE COLLAPSED LEFT MAIN … THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE COLLAPSED LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, FAILED LEFT BRAKE, AND THE LOW LEVEL OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID.
May 12, 1991	SANFORD, ME	N1745R	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURE BY NOT PLACING THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE TANK WITH THE MOST FUEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND A FORCED LANDING… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURE BY NOT PLACING THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE TANK WITH THE MOST FUEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND A FORCED LANDING IN TREES.
May 20, 1990	TERRA BELLA, CA	N1211F	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION WAS POOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION FIELD.
Oct 08, 1989	ROCKWOOD, ME	N7321H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE GUSTING CROSSWIND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A TOUCHDOWN … THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE GUSTING CROSSWIND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Aug 23, 1989	FRESNO, CA	N1562H	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Jul 01, 1989	DILLINGHAM, AK	N6305E	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT & A STRONG DOWNDRAFT.
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.
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.

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 185F Safety Record

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