Cessna 180K

Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna

Model: 180K

About the Cessna 180K

More than 200 Cessna 180K aircraft remain on the U.S. civil registry. By active fleet size, the 180K ranks 80th among Cessna's registered models. The 180K accounts for under 1% of Cessna's active registered fleet. About a third of all Cessna 180K registry records have been deregistered.

The Cessna 180K records a higher accident rate than about two-thirds of comparable aircraft in its peer cohort of the same type, engine class, and seat range. Of 23 recorded Cessna 180K accidents, 1 was fatal.

The Cessna 180K's accident rate is about 4.5 per 1,000 aircraft-years of FAA-registration exposure.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Cessna
Manufacturer Serial Number 2072624
Model 180K
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Cruise Speed 114 MPH / 99 knots
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Reciprocating
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 4 seats
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

96%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


20 exact, 2 recovered, 1 provisional

Methodology
23
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


1 fatal accidents.

4.4% of recorded accidents were fatal.

275
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


5,122

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
0.3%
Exposure
0.3%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2008 – 2026 Total 23
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 23 observed): 2008 3, 2009 1, 2010 3, 2012 1, 2014 1, 2015 1, 2016 1, 2017 1, 2018 1, 2021 3, 2022 1, 2023 2, 2024 1, 2025 2, 2026 1. 1 2 3 4 0 3 '08 1 '09 3 '10 1 '12 1 '14 1 '15 1 '16 1 '17 1 '18 3 '21 1 '22 2 '23 1 '24 2 '25 3 '26
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

6 categories Total 23
Landing 14
Approach 3
Enroute 2
Maneuvering 2
Takeoff 1
Initial climb 1
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 70
Personnel issues 27
Aircraft 22
Environmental issues 20
Not determined 1
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 23
None 17
Minor 4
Fatal 1
Serious 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (23)· 135 (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 23 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Beloit, KS N2785K Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft
Lakeview, AR N2697K Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Breckenridge, TX N597JC Destroyed None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft
Midland, TX N600CG Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Monument Valley, UT N63130 Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Agua Caliente Springs, CA N2875K Substantial None Approach Personnel issues
Portland, OR N20640 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Mt. Hood, OR N8884 Substantial Minor Emergency descent Not determined, Environmental issues
Columbus, OH N13159 Substantial Minor Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Denver, CO N4802 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Canton, MS N77NP Substantial None Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Belmar, NJ N71MH Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Sussex, NJ N64251 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
PEARLAND, TX N66048 Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Boca Raton, FL N2590K Substantial Minor Prior to flight Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Upland, CA N2927K Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Summner, ME N2576K Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Cahokia, IL N2785K Substantial None Landing Aircraft
Renton, WA N66033 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Bettles, AK N2801K Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Justin, TX N1846Z Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Garden City, UT N63217 Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Redding, CA N95ME Substantial Serious Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.