Aircraft Description
N217C is a 1978 Cessna A185F, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Registration Pending in Palmer, AK. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on February 18, 1978. Powered by a Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES engine producing 285 horsepower, N217C is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A1D3B5 (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N217C was last updated on December 21, 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 N217C. 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 (1)
| Date | NTSB # | Damage | Highest Injury | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6, 2022 | ANC23FA001 | Unknown | Fatal | The improperly maintained floats, which allowed water to fill the front compartments and resulted in the airplane nosing over during taxi. Contributing to the fatal injury of the pilot was the improperly secured cargo, which prevented the pilot from egressing the airplane following the nose-over. |
Additional Details
Data Source
Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov
Last updated: 2026-05-01 01:32:20 UTC