How many accidents has the Cessna A185F had?

The NTSB has recorded 308 events involving the Cessna A185F: 45 fatal, 13 serious, 34 minor injuries, and 215 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna A185F a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna A185F has 308 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna A185F Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 308 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

308

All Events

215

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (82 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Aug 19, 1992	AMELIA, LA	N1867Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF.
Aug 13, 1992	ENNIS, MT	N1207Q	Incident	substantial	DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A LOOSE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP, WIND GUSTS AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Aug 07, 1992	KETCHIKAN, AK	N4766E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND/INSTRUCTOR PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE GROUND RUN.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sep 08, 1989	BIG BEAR CITY, CA	N252W	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
Jun 24, 1989	MARKSVILLE, LA	N5486R	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP AND A SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER.
Jun 19, 1989	INT'L FALLS, MN	N7310H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING A STRONG GUST OF WIND DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN.
May 28, 1989	JACKSON, CA	N1042F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT DID NOT ESTABLISH A CLIMB RATE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO CLEAR TREES BEFORE TURNING TOWARDS THEM DURING A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT… THE PILOT DID NOT ESTABLISH A CLIMB RATE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO CLEAR TREES BEFORE TURNING TOWARDS THEM DURING A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE GUSTY CROSSWINDS WHICH CHANGED TO A TAILWIND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOTS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THEM BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TREE.
Mar 24, 1989	LAKE ARTHUR, LA	N4836Q	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE AND AVOID TREE LIMBS THAT EXTENDED OVER THE EDGE OF THE CANAL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TREE LIMBS A… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE AND AVOID TREE LIMBS THAT EXTENDED OVER THE EDGE OF THE CANAL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TREE LIMBS AND DIRT BANK NEAR THE EDGE OF THE SELECTED LANDING AREA.
Nov 22, 1988	DEADHORSE, AK	N20752	Incident	—	Investigation pending
Nov 14, 1988	KASITSNA BAY, AK	N4759E	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 17, 1988	MEDICINE BOW, WY	N2450J	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 11, 1988	GEORGETOWN, AK	N4742E	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 02, 1987	NAPLES, FL	N60925	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 12, 1987	GLASGOW, MT	N2525S	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 A185F Safety Record

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