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
14 Jun 1978	Cessna 185 N1285F	Berrien Spgs, Michigan, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
27 May 1978	Cessna 185F N93272	Arlington, Washington, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
25 May 1978	Cessna 185 N4021Y	Keezhik Lk, Canada not on the map	-	No injuries	-
22 May 1978	Cessna 185 N7395H	Palmer, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
14 May 1978	Cessna 185F N7320H	Merrill Field, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
10 May 1978	Cessna 185 N7591H	Clyman, Wisconsin, United States approximate position	Wing of Hope	No injuries	-
3 May 1978	Cessna 185 N1076F	Eveleth, Minnesota, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
3 May 1978	Cessna 185F N93272	Arlington, Washington, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
17 Apr 1978	Cessna 185 N7558H	Tracy, California, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
16 Apr 1978	Cessna 185 N93409	Gulkana, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
15 Apr 1978	Cessna 185 N1099F	Ft Richardson, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
9 Apr 1978	Cessna 185 N9921X	Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
25 Feb 1978	Cessna 185 N5077R	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
18 Feb 1978	Cessna 185 N185JH	Carver, Nevada, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
12 Feb 1978	Cessna 185 N3309R	Lumberton, New Jersey, United States approximate position	Delview Motors	No injuries	-
21 Jan 1978	Cessna 185F N4280Q	Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States approximate position	Gospel Mission	Minor injuries	-
19 Jan 1978	Cessna 185 N70104	Kachemak Bay, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
8 Jan 1978	Cessna 185A N4900C	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
5 Jan 1978	Cessna 185 N3360R	Geraldine, Montana, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
27 Dec 1977	Cessna 185D N1553F	Mt.susitna, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	Serious injuries	-
21 Dec 1977	Cessna 185F N183Z	Mesa, Arizona, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
6 Dec 1977	Cessna 185F N1022F	Seattle, Washington, United States approximate position	Alpine Helicop	No injuries	-
29 Nov 1977	Cessna 185 N9943X	Casper, Wyoming, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
20 Nov 1977	Cessna 185 N80136	Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
15 Nov 1977	Cessna 185 N7597H	Austin, Nevada, United States approximate position	Aviation Servi	No injuries	-
4 Nov 1977	Cessna 185 N21709	Bay Horse, Montana, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
8 Oct 1977	Cessna 185 N58047	Hiland, Wyoming, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
5 Sep 1977	Cessna 185F N94276	Sheebo Lake, Alaska, United States not on the map	Frontier Flyin	No injuries	-
4 Sep 1977	Cessna 185F N3FC	Bettles, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
29 Aug 1977	Cessna 185 N1592F	Barrow, Alaska, United States approximate position	Artic Guide	No injuries	-
28 Aug 1977	Cessna 185 N70232	Lake George, New York, United States approximate position	ACM Systems	No injuries	-
4 Aug 1977	Cessna 185E N3359L	Ketchikan, Alaska, United States approximate position	Todds Air Serv	No injuries	-
27 Jul 1977	Cessna 185 N1050F	Fairbanks, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Serious injuries	-
22 Jul 1977	Cessna 185F N4690C	Saltaire, New York, United States approximate position	Flying Bonefis	No injuries	-
22 Jun 1977	Cessna 185 N1618M	Homer, Alaska, United States approximate position	Homer Air Serv	No injuries	-
27 May 1977	Cessna 185 N3351L	New York, New York, United States approximate position	Suburban Seapl	No injuries	-
16 May 1977	Cessna 185 N9962X	West Salem, Ohio, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
9 May 1977	Cessna 185F N5060R	Winnemucca, Nevada, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
8 May 1977	Cessna 185E N4596F	Keota, Colorado, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
6 May 1977	Cessna 185 N39EC	Venice, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Paul Fournet	No injuries	-
6 May 1977	Cessna 185 N3469Y	Houma, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Placid Oil Co.	No injuries	-
27 Apr 1977	Cessna 185 N102WC	Bismarck, North Dakota, United States approximate position	WM Clairmont I	No injuries	-
25 Apr 1977	Cessna 185A N1984U	Houma, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Garber Bros.in	Minor injuries	-
24 Apr 1977	Cessna 185 N2583S	Waterville, Washington, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
21 Apr 1977	Cessna 185 N22131	Central Creek, Alaska, United States not on the map	Charles T Kemp	No injuries	-
20 Apr 1977	Cessna 185 N5317R	Ketchikan, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
1 Apr 1977	Cessna 185A N101LL	Englewood, Colorado, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
30 Mar 1977	Cessna 185 N4212Q	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
26 Mar 1977	Cessna 185 N1099F	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
12 Mar 1977	Cessna 185 N20883	Girdwood, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-