Final NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series

2,279 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Continental C85 series. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19642026
Final NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series per year, 1964–2026: 2,279 cases
1964171
1965121
1966127
1967123
196897
1969111
197079
197176
197275
197358
197460
197562
197658
197752
197838
197942
198031
198130
198230
198332
198434
198522
198638
198730
198827
198924
199020
199124
199226
199321
199432
199528
199621
199721
199828
199917
200018
200119
200211
200323
200415
200513
200617
200718
200816
200917
201017
201115
201216
201314
201418
201518
201619
201714
201817
201911
20208
202111
202216
202310
20249
20259
20264

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"completionStatus\" = 'Completed'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ERA26LA245Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft DCO-65 · Renovo, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during an off-airport landing.Jun 7, 2026 · N47123 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA208Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Pasco, WAThe pilot’s inadvertent excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.Jun 1, 2026 · N4179N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA318Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Homestead, FLThe pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.May 30, 2026 · N77061 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA106Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Kneeland, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing roll on a snow-covered runway.Feb 20, 2026 · N72904 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA079Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Ceres, VAThe pilot’s failure to recognize and mitigate carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing.Dec 27, 2025 · N89884 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA032Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Suffolk, VAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a nose over.Nov 6, 2025 · N1860V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA020Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Canon, GAThe pilot’s inadvertent application of brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a noseover.Oct 13, 2025 · N1882V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Plymouth, CTThe plot’s failure to account sufficiently for the decrease in the airplane’s takeoff performance due to the wet turf runway, which resulted in a collision with a log barrier and subsequent nose over after aborting the takeoff.Oct 11, 2025 · N2812N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA304Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Rangeley, METhe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.Aug 8, 2025 · N89351 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA140Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Arcadia, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing.Feb 28, 2025 · N3080N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA099Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Salome, AZThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.Feb 9, 2025 · N4185N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA092Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Llano, TXThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, that resulted in a ground loop, and a susbquent runway excursion.Feb 6, 2025 · N73081 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA089Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Brush, COThe failure of the left main landing gear forward strut.Jan 27, 2025 · N1739K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA055Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Pearland, TXThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot that resulted in a loss of directional control during landing, and the excessive use of wheel brakes to regain directional control which resulted in the airplane nosing over.Nov 30, 2024 · N2933N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA050Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Mason, MIThe pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during landing rollout that resulted in a nose over and an impact with the runway.Nov 25, 2024 · N76061 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA312Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportEngineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C · Elkhart, ILAn off-airport landing in a soybean field for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing to the severity of the pilot’s injuries and airplane damage was a fire that occurred at an unknown time.Aug 7, 2024 · N3093H · DestroyedNTSB ERA24LA328Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Groveland, FLThe pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Jul 27, 2024 · N77522 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA290Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Fort Worth, TXThe pilot’s decision to allow a non-rated passenger to manipulate the flight controls during the takeoff which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff.Jul 27, 2024 · N98813 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA237Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Schriever, LAThe pilot’s inadvertent application of the toe brakes during the takeoff roll.Jun 22, 2024 · N77143 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA025Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Talkeetna, AKA degraded ignition system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the ignition system.Apr 21, 2024 · N77032 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA102Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Truth or Consequences, NMThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during approach and landing that resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with a berm.Feb 23, 2024 · N2669K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA106Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Hayward, WIThe pilot’s loss of control during landing rollout.Feb 2, 2024 · N1887V · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA378Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J4 · Cleburne, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty crosswind conditions.Aug 22, 2023 · N6581H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA322Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportErcoupe 415-D · Waupun, WIThe pilot’s decision to take off without correcting a misinstalled fuel cap, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation caused by improper venting of the fuel system.Jul 23, 2023 · N415JC · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23LA053Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 7DC · Ninilchik, AKA total loss of engine power due to a shift of a crankshaft main bearing, which resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent overheating and failure of the engine crankshaft.Jul 13, 2023 · N83391 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA277Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C-50 · Elbert, COThe pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff and subsequent excessive use of brakes which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was his decision to takeoff downwind.Jun 26, 2023 · N23161 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA208Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Cortez, COFailure of the right main landing gear due to prolonged corrosion of the landing gear tube, which weakened the gear.May 19, 2023 · N2515K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA218Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C · Romeoville, ILThe inflight failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue cracking from corrosion pits, initiating at the midpoint of the cambered face.Apr 27, 2023 · N6384H · Minor damageNTSB WPR23LA168Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Nyssa, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on takeoff that resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with trees.Apr 26, 2023 · N140D · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA128Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJones Jay D Cassutt M 11 · Castroville, CAA failure of the outboard trailing edge rib in the left wing, which resulted in a separation of the left aileron and a loss of control.Mar 12, 2023 · N55XJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA118Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Houston, TXThe pilot’s failure to attain/maintain lateral airplane control during landing, which resulted in an impact with the runway surface.Feb 19, 2023 · N2722K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA098Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Eagle River, WIThe pilot’s decision to takeoff from an unsuitable surface which resulted in collision with an object.Jan 25, 2023 · N73034 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA033Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Bridgeport, TXThe pilot’s loss of control due to a wind gust during landing.Nov 9, 2022 · N1855K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Georgetown, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion and a separation of the right main landing gear.Oct 20, 2022 · N55DC · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA002Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 7AC · Murray, KYThe incorrect (reverse) rigging of the elevator cables by maintenance personnel and their subsequent failure to verify that the rigging was correct during post-maintenance checks and the pilot's inadequate preflight check.Oct 2, 2022 · N3005E · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA001Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Burnet, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with an unexpected quartering tailwind.Oct 2, 2022 · N72794 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA430Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12 · Buffalo, NYThe pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb after a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at low altitude.Sep 24, 2022 · N5619M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA412Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEngineering & Research 415-C · Galion, OHA partial loss of engine power due to an exhaust valve that was stuck in the open position.Sep 9, 2022 · N99209 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA336Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Scappoose, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while taxing in gusty wind conditions.Sep 5, 2022 · N77257 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA358Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Mecosta, MIThe pilot’s decision to depart on inadequate runway surface conditions that resulted in a loss of control after attempting to abort the takeoff, a runway excursion, and a nose over.Jul 30, 2022 · N2902N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA255Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAeronca 7BCM · Lake McMurray, WAThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.Jul 16, 2022 · N2588C · DestroyedNTSB WPR22LA242Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · San Carlos, CAThe total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Jun 28, 2022 · N2056V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA234Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Prescott, AZThe pilot receiving instructions failure to maintain directional during the takeoff ground roll and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision.Jun 27, 2022 · N2809N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22FA233Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 140 · Wayne, NEThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack on final approach while conducting traditional short takeoff and landing operations in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin from which the pilot could not…May 20, 2022 · N76075 · DestroyedNTSB WPR22LA178Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Estancia, NMThe pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable surface which resulted in his loss of aircraft control.May 14, 2022 · N76190 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA142Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Kokomo, INThe pilot’s decision to perform the takeoff on the soft, wet, turf runway, with the tailwheel equipped airplane, which resulted in a nose-over.Feb 28, 2022 · N72831 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA103Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Sturtevant, WIThe pilot’s loss of directional control during the takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in a runway excursion.Jan 18, 2022 · N90129 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA072Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Upland, CAThe pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.Jan 3, 2022 · N76646 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA072Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca O58B · Jonestown, PAThe pilot’s incorrect glide path and landing flare, which resulted in a collision with obstacles on final approach and a hard landing.Nov 18, 2021 · N47523 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA374Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Greenville, ILThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi which resulted in a ground loop.Aug 13, 2021 · N77365 · Substantial damage