How many accidents has the Cessna A185 had?

The NTSB has recorded 452 events involving the Cessna A185: 58 fatal, 20 serious, 48 minor injuries, and 325 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna A185 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna A185 has 452 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna A185 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 452 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

452

All Events

325

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (100 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jul 21, 1992	MAXTON, NC	N1823R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE PILOT IN TRAINING.
Jun 25, 1992	RONAN, MT	N4690C	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT AND ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS… THE PILOT'S OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT AND ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SOFT TERRAIN.
May 23, 1992	SPRAY, OR	N61167	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. FACTORS INCLUDE SOFT AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Apr 09, 1992	BILLINGS, MT	N135NC	Incident	substantial	A WORN TAILWHEEL STEERING SYSTEM AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Mar 28, 1992	FAIRBANKS, AK	N3332S	Incident	substantial	POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, AND WRONG RUNWAY NOT IDENTIFIED.
Oct 17, 1991	DOG SALMON RIV, AK	N2756J	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFT.
Oct 06, 1991	AMBER BAY, AK	N1681R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Sep 23, 1991	KOLIGANEK, AK	N21753	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
Sep 02, 1991	CONCHAS DAM, NM	N93272	Incident	substantial	LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM LOOSE, LANDING GEAR WHEEL DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, AND MAINTENANCE ALIGNMENT NOT PERFORMED. FACTORS WERE: PROPELLER GOV… LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM LOOSE, LANDING GEAR WHEEL DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, AND MAINTENANCE ALIGNMENT NOT PERFORMED. FACTORS WERE: PROPELLER GOVERNOR UNDERSPEED, MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENT NOT CORRECTED, AND LOWERING OF FLAPS NOT PERFORMED.
Aug 01, 1991	AMITCHIAK LAKE, AK	N1687M	Fatal (2)	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING; THEREBY LOSING CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAI… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING; THEREBY LOSING CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE MOUNTAIN WAVE, AND INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FROM WHICH TO RECOVER.
Jul 21, 1991	VERNON, OH	N185GS	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE PREMATURELY AND CONTINUED THE CLIMB AT A DECK ANGLE THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDEN… THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE PREMATURELY AND CONTINUED THE CLIMB AT A DECK ANGLE THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S COMPLACENCY, FAILURE TO DETERMINE THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES PRIOR TO TAKE OFF AND HE TOOK OFF UP HILL WITH A QUARTERING TAIL WIND.
Jul 09, 1991	NORTON, WV	N185JV	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER.
Jun 15, 1991	KING SALMON, AK	N70148	Incident	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND THE INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAI… FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND THE INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN, AND TUNDRA.
May 03, 1991	ORTING, WA	N2450J	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A VIBRATION IN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
Mar 21, 1991	GALENA, AK	N735HB	Minor	substantial	Investigation pending
Mar 08, 1991	SHAGELUK, AK	N1855Q	Incident	substantial	THE COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING THE LANDING ROLL DUE TO PREEXISTING CRACKS.
Aug 15, 1990	OVANDO, MT	N8343Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LAN… THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. THE FENCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Aug 12, 1990	WRANGELL, AK	N5317R	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE CESSNA 185 WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jul 14, 1990	DISCOVERY BAY, CA	N888BL	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT TO ASSURE THE AREA WAS CLEAR OF BOATS BEFORE DEPARTING.
Jun 13, 1990	ERIE, CO	N8389Q	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION TO CHOOSE SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISI… FAILURE OF THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION TO CHOOSE SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Mar 20, 1990	ALEXANDER LAKE, AK	N3386L	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Feb 11, 1990	SUN RIVER, OR	N6045N	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR STRONG CROSSWINDS DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL.
Jan 14, 1990	HOUSTON, TX	N8785Z	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Nov 07, 1989	ANCHORAGE, AK	N1592F	Incident	substantial	THE THROTTLE CONTROL LINKAGE BECAME DISCONNECTED ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. DARKNESS AND HIGH VEGETA… THE THROTTLE CONTROL LINKAGE BECAME DISCONNECTED ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. DARKNESS AND HIGH VEGETATION WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Sep 20, 1989	NENANA RIVER, AK	N79SC	Serious (1)	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION.

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 A185 Safety Record

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