Cessna 185 accident near Bangor, Maine, April 24, 1995
On April 24, 1995 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N62EC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bangor, Maine (Bangor International Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the right main gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1995 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bangor, Maine · Bangor International Arpt
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N62EC · registry record · serial 18504435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD CONDUCTED A SHORT FIELD APPROACH TO RUNWAY 33. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE FAA STATED '...THE IMPACT AND WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT CREATED AN EXCESSIVE SIDE LOADING. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT MAIN SPRING STEEL GEAR TO EXERT A TREMENDOUS UPWARD PULL ON THE SINGLE BOLT SECURING THE GEAR TO THE BOX BEAM. THE BOLT...HAD PULLED THROUGH THE...NUT....' THE WINDS REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,610 hours in all; 2,460 in this make and model; 6,910 as pilot in command; 210 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUG Augusta ME at 7:30 pm
- Destination: BGR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 11,439 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:05 pm from BGR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.