Cessna A185F accident near Lincoln, Nebraska, September 8, 1985
On September 8, 1985, a Cessna A185F, registered N1756R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1985
- Place
- Lincoln, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1756R · registry record · serial 18502476
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN AN ACFT WITH AMPHIBIOUS LANDING GEAR. THE PLT CANCELLED HIS FLT PLAN AND HAD THE TWR CHECK THE LANDING GEAR. HE THEN MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A LAKE WITH THE WHEELS RETRACTED. ONE WHEEL WAS NOT FULLY RETRACTED AT TOUCHDOWN AND THE ACFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR/FLOATS,RIGHT WING AND STRUT AND RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. INSPECTION REVEALED THE GEAR ATTACHMENT BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,409 hours in all; 908 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 2,409 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNK Lincoln NE at 9:20 pm
- Destination: WPG Winnipeg
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1756R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.