Cessna A185F Safety Record

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

308

All Events

215

Incidents

34

Minor

13

Serious

45

Fatal (82 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Apr 23, 1993 GOOSE BAY, AK N5077G Incident substantial
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAY OF REMEDIAL ACTION DURING THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER D…

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAY OF REMEDIAL ACTION DURING THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.

Feb 23, 1993 FAIRBANKS, AK N37BC Incident substantial
THE FUEL SYSTEM SELECTOR VALVE BEING PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR PLACARD BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON…

THE FUEL SYSTEM SELECTOR VALVE BEING PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR PLACARD BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON. THE SNOW COVERED FORCED LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.

Jan 30, 1993 INGLEWOOD, WA N5391R Incident substantial FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO FLARE ON LANDING. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FOG.
Aug 26, 1992 ST. CLOUD, MN N185RF Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ABORT TAKEOFF BEFORE OVERRUNNING THE LAKE EDGE.
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.
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 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.
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
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.

Feb 11, 1990 SUN RIVER, OR N6045N Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR STRONG CROSSWINDS DURING TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL.
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.
← Cessna A185F For Sale All Cessna Models
Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data
View 28 Cessna A185F for sale ↓