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
Sep 07, 1994	CONRAD, MT	N5387H	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT AND FUNCTION OF THE RUDDER PEDALS, PRIOR TO THE FL… THE CFI'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT AND FUNCTION OF THE RUDDER PEDALS, PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
Jul 24, 1994	ANCHORAGE, AK	N1758R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GLASSY WATER.
May 25, 1994	CHAPEL HILL, NC	N8527Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE CRO… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWINDS AND GUSTS PREVAILING AT THE AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
May 13, 1994	HEMPSTEAD, NY	N30NC	Minor	substantial	THE INADVERTENT COLLISION WITH A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION AFTER SWERVING TO AVOID BIRDS DURING A WATER TAKEOFF.
Apr 08, 1994	PAXSON, AK	N8191Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DID NOT MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM THE SNOW BERM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW BERM.
Feb 11, 1994	STERLING HGTS, MI	N53064	Fatal (2)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL, WHICH LED TO HIS INTENTIONAL BUZZING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITU… THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL, WHICH LED TO HIS INTENTIONAL BUZZING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) FROM OBSTACLES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE UNLIGHTED TOWER.
Feb 10, 1994	VALLEY SPRINGS, CA	N4833C	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was in the correct configuration for a water landing.
Nov 30, 1993	MAYBELL, CO	N6613N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASCERTAIN THE CONDITION OF THE LANDING AREA. THE SNOW COVERED CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR.
Nov 08, 1993	CHEFORNAK, AK	N185FK	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY CROSS WIND CONDITION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WIND GUST.
Sep 02, 1993	PILOTTOWN, LA	N6279E	Incident	—	THE PILOT IN COMMAND BECOMING PHYSICALLY INCAPACITATED (HEART ATTACK).
Jul 21, 1993	DENALI NAT'L PK, AK	N124KT	Serious (4)	destroyed	FUEL EXAUSTION DUE TO THE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: PRESSURE BY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND LACK OF SUITABL… FUEL EXAUSTION DUE TO THE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: PRESSURE BY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Jun 06, 1993	ANCHORAGE, AK	N70020	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. A F… THE PILOT IN COMMAND EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
Jun 05, 1993	GULKANA, AK	N2171F	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
May 31, 1993	KAHILTNA GLACIE, AK	N333DG	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR IS THE ROUGH CONDITION OF THE GLACIER AIRSTRIP.
May 27, 1993	BELLEVUE, WA	N2215T	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SHOCK STRUT.
May 22, 1993	TIMBALIER ISLE, LA	N3588	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION IN THE SELECTION OF HIS TAKEOFF ROUTE. A FACTOR WAS THE SAND BAR
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.
Oct 03, 1992	ADMIRALTY ISL, AK	N4755Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT SAND.
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 29, 1992	CADILLAC, MI	N4573F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND SUBSEQUENT STALL MUSH.

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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