Cessna A185F accident near Livingston, Montana, September 26, 2026
On September 26, 2026 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna A185F, registered N185BZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Livingston, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2026 · about 4:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Livingston, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1981 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N185BZ · registry record · serial 18504299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,477.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 26, 2026
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Klvm Livingston MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from KLVM, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLVM 261553Z AUTO 34005G15KT 10SM CLR 12/M01 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP137 T01221011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N185BZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna A185 Skywagon 1,372 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Mission Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,119 since 1982 · 164 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,049 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA360.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.