Aircraft Description
N185GS is a 1978 Cessna A185F, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Promotive LLC in Glade Springs, VA. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on July 24, 1978. The registration certificate was issued on July 29, 2024. The registration is set to expire on July 31, 2031. Powered by a Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES engine producing 285 horsepower, N185GS is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A153E6 (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. N185GS was last tracked by AviatorDB at coordinates 36.6854, -82.0492 on April 2, 2026. The FAA registry record for N185GS was last updated on July 29, 2024. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.
The Cessna 185 Skywagon became the quintessential bush plane and utility aircraft for remote operations worldwide. First flown in the early 1960s, it was a high-wing single-engine monoplane powered by a Continental IO-470-F or IO-520-D engine, seating up to six occupants. Measuring over 25 feet in length with excellent short-field performance, the aircraft was manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company from 1961 to 1985, with 4,427 units produced. AviatorDB tracks 80,556 Cessna aircraft currently registered in the FAA database. The ICAO type designator for this aircraft model is C185.
AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N185GS. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.
Registered Owner
Powerplant & Avionics
NTSB Accident History (3)
| Date | NTSB # | Damage | Highest Injury | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21, 2024 | ERA24LA312 | Substantial | None | A loss of directional control during the landing roll. |
| Mar 17, 2012 | CEN12CA190 | Substantial | None | The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions. |
| Jul 21, 1991 | NYC91LA173 | Destroyed | Minor | 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. |
A loss of directional control during the landing roll.
The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions.
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.
Additional Details
Last Known Position
Data Source
Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov
Last updated: 2026-05-01 01:32:20 UTC