Cessna A185 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 452 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 2026 | Everglades City, FL | N7574N | Fatal (1) | — | Investigation pending |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Bangor, ME | N714HE | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Aug 24, 2024 | Kent, WA | N61323 | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Dec 30, 2023 | Dorotea, OF | HK1658G | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Oct 06, 2022 | Fairbanks, AK | N217C | Fatal (1) | — |
The improperly maintained floats, which allowed water to fill the front compartments and resulted in the airplane nosing over during taxi. Contributin…The improperly maintained floats, which allowed water to fill the front compartments and resulted in the airplane nosing over during taxi. Contributing to the fatal injury of the pilot was the improperly secured cargo, which prevented the pilot from egressing the airplane following the nose-over. |
| Dec 03, 2021 | Laguna Negra, OF | ZP-TOU | Fatal (3) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| May 15, 2020 | Nuiqsut, AK | N5454E | Fatal (1) | substantial | The pilot’s controlled flight into flat snow-covered terrain in weather conditions that were conducive to flat light conditions. |
| Sep 21, 2019 | Conroe, TX | C-GOZJ | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
A partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination with water, and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted r…A partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination with water, and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted return to the airport shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. |
| Aug 04, 2019 | Upper Raft Lake, CA | C-GBUI | Fatal (1) | — | Investigation pending |
| May 21, 2019 | Whittier, AK | N5457X | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot’s failure to configure the landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's dis…The pilot’s failure to configure the landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction due to his talking passengers. |
| Mar 22, 2019 | Bocona, VE | YV1606 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Jun 25, 2016 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | N4585F | Fatal (1) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at low altitude in mountainous terrain. |
| Sep 02, 2014 | Baie-Comeau, CA | N4446C | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Apr 25, 2012 | Blanding, UT | N243W | Fatal (3) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during low-level maneuvering flight. Contributing to the pilot’s death was the lack of a timely emerg…The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during low-level maneuvering flight. Contributing to the pilot’s death was the lack of a timely emergency rescue response due to the lack of effective emergency signal transmissions from both the airplane’s emergency locator transmitter and the personal locator device, which were both ejected from the wreckage. |
| Jul 18, 2011 | La Tuque, CA | C-FZNK | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jul 01, 2011 | Yabucoa, PR | N8436Q | Fatal (5) | substantial |
The pilot's inadequate weather planning and improper decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, whic…The pilot's inadequate weather planning and improper decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an encounter with a thunderstorm and subsequent loss of control. |
| Mar 24, 2011 | Ashland, ME | N724MT | Fatal (1) | substantial | An inadvertent encounter with localized instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. |
| Aug 01, 2010 | Newfane, NY | N4976E | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to his diverted attention, which resulted in a collision with trees during the initial climb afte…The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to his diverted attention, which resulted in a collision with trees during the initial climb after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the passenger's attempt to secure the jump door after it opened during takeoff. |
| Aug 01, 2010 | Rockwood, ME | N369E | Fatal (1) | substantial | The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear prior to a water landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to medication. |
| Oct 14, 2009 | Healy, AK | N2764J | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's decision to maneuver at a low altitude over rising terrain in conditions conducive to turbulence/downdrafts, resulting in a loss of contro…The pilot's decision to maneuver at a low altitude over rising terrain in conditions conducive to turbulence/downdrafts, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain. |
| Jul 24, 2008 | Shelton, WA | N6320N | Fatal (2) | destroyed | The pilot's failure to attain and maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. |
| Jul 01, 2006 | Clear Lake, MN | N1972U | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's misjudged flare that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. A factor to the accident was the grass runway that the forward …The pilot's misjudged flare that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. A factor to the accident was the grass runway that the forward landing gear dug into during the hard landing, resulting in the amphibian airplane nosing over. |
| Sep 12, 2005 | Port Hardy, CA | N70365 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 06, 2005 | Lake Simcoe, CA | N581DB | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Oct 03, 2004 | Luna, NM | N5964 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
the pilot's improper use of the mixture control, his failure to maintain clearance from the trees, and his improper preflight planning resulting in hi…the pilot's improper use of the mixture control, his failure to maintain clearance from the trees, and his improper preflight planning resulting in his taking off into a canyon and subsequently impacting the trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the trees, and the high density altitude. |