Cessna 185F accident near Boise, Idaho, July 17, 1985
On July 17, 1985 at about 4:49 pm local time, a Cessna 185F, registered N4309R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boise, Idaho (Gowen Field). 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 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
- July 17, 1985 · about 4:49 pm local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · Gowen Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4309R · registry record · serial 18502928
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A LANDING ROLL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WING CAME UP DURING THE LANDING ROLL WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACFT VEERING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE WING SETTLED, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED ALLOWING THE LEFT WING TO CONTACT THE RWY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 738 hours in all; 666 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 636 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Salmon ID at 4:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 9,763 ft by 190 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from BOI
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.