Cessna 185 accidents

The NTSB database holds 1,004 accidents and incidents involving the Cessna 185, recorded between 1964 to 2025. 83 of them were fatal (8%), and 176 people died.

The deadliest year was 1977, with 12 deaths.

The phase of flight recorded most often is landing (252 records).

Most of these records are from United States, Canada and Africa.

103 of these records cannot be placed at all, so they appear in the list below but not on the map.

For 514 of them the NTSB recorded no coordinates, so their position on the map is approximate.

1,004

Records

Fatal

176

Deaths

Share fatal

1964 to 2025

Period

Show these on the map 901 of 1,004 can be placed (514 approximate)

By decade

1960s 138

1970s 327

1980s 223

1990s 173

2000s 103

2010s 24

2020s 16

Where these happened

United States 979 Canada 5 Africa 3 Unknown/Not Reported 2 Colombia 2 Other-Foreign Countries 1

Operators involved

Wien Alaska Airlines, Inc. 5 Homer Air Serv 4 Frontier Flyin 4 Cape Smythe Air Service 3 Foster Aviatio 3 Delair Charter 3

All 1,004 records by number of deaths, then by date

Date	Aircraft	Location	Operator	Outcome	Died
22 Aug 1980	Cessna 185F N4805Q	Slidell, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Dresser Indust	No injuries	-
14 Aug 1980	Cessna 185 N70148	Eek, Alaska, United States approximate position	Delaire Charte	No injuries	-
18 Jul 1980	Cessna 185 N9855X	Collinsville, Alaska, United States not on the map	Clifford Hudso	No injuries	-
16 Jul 1980	Cessna 185 N80MW	Chauvin, Louisiana, United States approximate position	CRC Mallard WE	No injuries	-
10 Jul 1980	Cessna 185 N8484Q	Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States approximate position	Kenai Floatpla	No injuries	-
10 Jul 1980	Cessna 185 N53079	Dillingham, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
2 Jul 1980	Cessna 185 N5083R	Palmer, Alaska, United States approximate position	Central Airway	No injuries	-
2 Jul 1980	Cessna 185 N5083R	Tyone Creek, Alaska, United States not on the map	Central Airway	No injuries	-
20 Jun 1980	Cessna 185 N70412	Emmonak, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
20 Jun 1980	Cessna 185 N9960X	Arbuckle, California, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
17 Jun 1980	Cessna 185 N4557F	Iliamna, Alaska, United States approximate position	Air Martel, Inc	Minor injuries	-
10 Jun 1980	Cessna 185F N121WW	Osage Beach, Missouri, United States approximate position	Float Planes	No injuries	-
3 Jun 1980	Cessna 185 N70087	Morgan City, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Pelican AVN	No injuries	-
16 May 1980	Cessna 185 N3332S	Kenai, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
19 Apr 1980	Cessna 185 N4220Q	Eveleth, Minnesota, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
17 Apr 1980	Cessna 185 N93430	Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
12 Apr 1980	Cessna 185E N198U	A.larson Bay, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
8 Mar 1980	Cessna 185D N5895T	Challis, Idaho, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
24 Feb 1980	Cessna 185 N4311R	Platinum, Alaska, United States approximate position	Seair, Inc.	No injuries	-
16 Feb 1980	Cessna 185 N4611E	Iliamna, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
13 Feb 1980	Cessna 185F N7395H	Mt Village, Alaska, United States not on the map	Western Yukon	No injuries	-
9 Feb 1980	Cessna 185 N2565Z	Ketchikan, Alaska, United States approximate position	Stikine Air SE	No injuries	-
7 Feb 1980	Cessna 185 N7377H	Creston, Iowa, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
23 Jan 1980	Cessna 185 N80520	Allegan, Michigan, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
28 Dec 1979	Cessna 185 N185M	Morgan City, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Diamond M Comp	No injuries	-
15 Dec 1979	Cessna 185F N9712H	Chesterfield, Missouri, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
6 Dec 1979	Cessna 185 N70020	Akiachak, Alaska, United States approximate position	Samuelson Flyi	No injuries	-
6 Dec 1979	Cessna 185 N84627	Wrangell, Alaska, United States approximate position	Wrangell Air	No injuries	-
30 Nov 1979	Cessna 185 N522VA	Lachbuna Lk, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
30 Nov 1979	Cessna 185F N1725R	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
24 Nov 1979	Cessna 185 N51BC	Morgan City, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Benton Casing	No injuries	-
23 Nov 1979	Cessna 185F N80873	Lyons, Nebraska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
19 Nov 1979	Cessna 185 N4711Q	Barrow, Alaska, United States approximate position	Jen-Air, Inc.	No injuries	-
14 Nov 1979	Cessna 185 N2660S	Cantwell, Alaska, United States approximate position	Golden North A	No injuries	-
13 Nov 1979	Cessna 185 N4742E	Greeley, Colorado, United States approximate position	Bill Wilcutts	No injuries	-
28 Oct 1979	Cessna 185 N94178	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
21 Oct 1979	Cessna 185F N86330	Ft. Meyers, Florida, United States approximate position	Executive Air	No injuries	-
14 Oct 1979	Cessna 185 N1678R	Booneville, New York, United States approximate position	Herkimore Petr	No injuries	-
9 Oct 1979	Cessna 185F N5074R	E Timbalier Is, Louisiana, United States not on the map	Champion Chemi	No injuries	-
8 Oct 1979	Cessna 185 N93010	Westhampton, New York, United States approximate position	Jersey City SE	Serious injuries	-
6 Oct 1979	Cessna 185F N4593E	Vero Beach, Florida, United States approximate position	Hemet-Explorat	No injuries	-
28 Sep 1979	Cessna 185 N4695E	Bethek, Alaska, United States not on the map	Executive Char	No injuries	-
24 Sep 1979	Cessna 185 N8845Q	Tunnel Meadows, California, United States not on the map	Eastern Sierra	No injuries	-
16 Aug 1979	Cessna 185 N70048	Sheldons Point, Alaska, United States not on the map	Galena Air SVC	No injuries	-
13 Aug 1979	Cessna 185 N123LR	McGrath, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
8 Aug 1979	Cessna 185 N4033Y	Arctic Village, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Serious injuries	-
28 Jul 1979	Cessna 185 N601	Durham, New York, United States approximate position	NYS Dept of EN	No injuries	-
17 Jul 1979	Cessna 185F N1770R	Port Allsworth, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
16 Jul 1979	Cessna 185 N9899X	Slate Creek, Idaho, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
7 Jul 1979	Cessna 185E N2233T	Soldotna, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-