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 May 1974	Cessna 185E N185LK	Yukon, Oklahoma, United States approximate position	Wiley Post Air	Serious injuries	-
11 May 1974	Cessna 185 N2227T	Chugiak, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
8 May 1974	Cessna 185 N2219T	Lafitte, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Chevron Oil Co	No injuries	-
24 Apr 1974	Cessna 185E N1586F	Minooka, Illinois, United States approximate position	Rossi Flying S	No injuries	-
18 Apr 1974	Cessna 185 N1924U	Pt Wakefield, Alaska, United States not on the map	Kodiak Airways, Inc.	Minor injuries	-
8 Apr 1974	Cessna 185 N53008	Burlington, Colorado, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
5 Apr 1974	Cessna 185F N2678S	Warroad, Minnesota, United States approximate position	Warroad Airway	No injuries	-
22 Dec 1973	Cessna 185 N185ML	Illiamna, Alaska, United States not on the map	-	No injuries	-
20 Oct 1973	Cessna 185 N4520F	Ugashik, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
13 Oct 1973	Cessna 185 N1531F	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	Ketchum Air SE	Minor injuries	-
10 Oct 1973	Cessna 185E N4560F	Custer, Montana, United States approximate position	Nuclear Dynami	No injuries	-
8 Oct 1973	Cessna 185 N2760J	Ketchikan, Alaska, United States approximate position	Todds Air Serv	Minor injuries	-
14 Sep 1973	Cessna 185 N2246T	Hlf Cabn Lke, Alaska, United States not on the map	Iliamna Air TA	Minor injuries	-
2 Sep 1973	Cessna 185 N70269	Yakutat, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
14 Aug 1973	Cessna 185E N5818J	Venice, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Champion Chemi	Minor injuries	-
13 Aug 1973	Cessna 185 N4520F	Pilot Point, Alaska, United States approximate position	Armstrong Air	No injuries	-
31 Jul 1973	Cessna 185 N454GF	Gulkana, Alaska, United States approximate position	Alyeska Air SE	No injuries	-
27 Jul 1973	Cessna 185 N9920X	Billings, Montana, United States approximate position	WW Blaine	No injuries	-
17 Jul 1973	Cessna 185 N2554Z	Healy, Alaska, United States approximate position	Al Lindemuth	No injuries	-
14 Jul 1973	Cessna 185 N70202	Healy, Alaska, United States approximate position	Wilson Air SER	No injuries	-
6 Jun 1973	Cessna 185 N4188Y	Vernal, Utah, United States approximate position	Green River AV	No injuries	-
27 May 1973	Cessna 185E N2262T	Big Bear Cy, California, United States not on the map	-	Minor injuries	-
30 Apr 1973	Cessna 185A N70279	Chauvin, Louisiana, United States approximate position	Berry Bros GEN	No injuries	-
22 Apr 1973	Cessna 185 N70229	Nightmute, Alaska, United States approximate position	Bering Sea REI	Minor injuries	-
30 Mar 1973	Cessna 185E N70183	Kenai, Alaska, United States approximate position	Kenai Native A	No injuries	-
18 Mar 1973	Cessna 185E N2233T	Glennallen, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
25 Oct 1972	Cessna 185E N1618M	Seldovia, Alaska, United States approximate position	Homer Air Serv	No injuries	-
13 Oct 1972	Cessna 185 N4014Y	Tehachapi, California, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
30 Sep 1972	Cessna 185E N5812J	King Salmon, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
13 Sep 1972	Cessna 185C N5858T	Skinner, Maine, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
18 Jul 1972	Cessna 185 N9974X	Anchorage, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
9 Jul 1972	Cessna 185 N4061Y	Geneva, Nebraska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
6 Jul 1972	Cessna 185E N1956U	Karluk Lake, Alaska, United States not on the map	Kodiak Airways	No injuries	-
2 Jul 1972	Cessna 185B N2550Z	Iliamna, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
11 May 1972	Cessna 185 N9939X	Fairbanks, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
17 Apr 1972	Cessna 185 N4010Y	Council Blfs, Iowa, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
7 Jan 1972	Cessna 185A N1688Z	Haines, Alaska, United States approximate position	John C.fox	No injuries	-
26 Nov 1971	Cessna 185 N70022	Skwentna, Alaska, United States approximate position	Chugiak Aviati	No injuries	-
6 Nov 1971	Cessna 185 N70020	Glennallen, Alaska, United States approximate position	Alaskan Aircra	No injuries	-
2 Nov 1971	Cessna 185 N5895T	American Falls, Idaho, United States approximate position	Reeder Air SER	Minor injuries	-
2 Oct 1971	Cessna 185A N1646Z	Homer, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
1 Sep 1971	Cessna 185 N1924U	Kodiak, Alaska, United States approximate position	Kodiak Airway*	No injuries	-
31 Aug 1971	Cessna 185 N2220T	Clear, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
23 Aug 1971	Cessna 185 N1667M	Seldovia, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
12 Jul 1971	Cessna 185 N5859J	Dillingham, Alaska, United States approximate position	P A Sutherland	No injuries	-
29 Jun 1971	Cessna 185 N1972U	Dillingham, Alaska, United States approximate position	Western Alaska Airlines, Inc.	No injuries	-
29 Jun 1971	Cessna 185D N5877T	Pueblo of Sf, Mexico not on the map	Dale E Hoyt	No injuries	-
16 Jun 1971	Cessna 185 N5840J	Big Delta, Alaska, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
31 May 1971	Cessna 185A N169E	Charltte Amlie, Virgin Islands, United States not on the map	Wheeler Air SE	No injuries	-
23 May 1971	Cessna 185E N1956U	Swikshak, Alaska, United States not on the map	Kodiak Airways, Inc.	No injuries	-