Cessna 185 accident near Fishers, New York, July 2, 1989
On July 2, 1989 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N1731R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fishers, New York. 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
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF DUE TO IMPROPER FLOAT OPERATION ABORTED TAKEOFF PROCEDURE ON TERRA FIRMA, AS OPPOSED TO THE MORE LOGICAL ENVIRONMENT OF WATER, THE INTENDED ELEMENT FOR THE DESIGN HARDWARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1989 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fishers, New York
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N1731R · no longer on the register · serial 18502452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ROLL FROM A GRASS STRIP THE PILOT OF A CESSNA 185 FLOAT PLANE FELT A SHIMMY AND ABORTED TAKEOFF. WHEN THE WEIGHT CAME DOWN ON THE FRONT WHEELS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE BROKEN STRUT DUG INTO THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN APPRX 6 HRS SINCE INSTALLATION OF THE FLOATS.
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: 2,173 hours in all; 503 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,498 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1989; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D-24 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from ROC, 15 miles away
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.
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.