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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2026 · about 4:00 pm local time
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA360.