How many accidents has the Boeing 737 had?

The NTSB has recorded 1188 events involving the Boeing 737: 46 fatal, 190 serious, 64 minor injuries, and 501 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Boeing 737 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Boeing 737 has 1188 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Boeing 737 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1188 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

1188

All Events

501

Incidents

Minor

190

Serious

Fatal (3137 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Oct 12, 1992	PITTSBURGH, PA	N586US	Incident	—	THE HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE OF BLADES ON THE STAGE 1 HIGH PRESSURE COMPRESSOR, WHICH RESULTED IN BLADE FRACTURE AND SUBSEQUENT INTERNAL ENGINE DAMA… THE HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE OF BLADES ON THE STAGE 1 HIGH PRESSURE COMPRESSOR, WHICH RESULTED IN BLADE FRACTURE AND SUBSEQUENT INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AND FIRE.
Aug 27, 1992	MIAMI, FL	N206AU	Serious (1)	—	FAILURE (SHORT) OF A DIODE LOCATED INSIDE A TRANSFORMER WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE NO. 1 GENERATOR CONTROL UNIT.
Aug 06, 1992	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	N9010U	Serious (1)	—	THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE TOWBAR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A DISCONNECTED TOW BAR DURING PUSH BACK.
Aug 03, 1992	SPRINGFIELD, MO	N357SW	Serious (1)	—	THE ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE WHILE DEVIATING AROUND CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.
Jul 15, 1992	OKLAHOMA CITY, OK	N12235	Incident	—	HYDRAULIC FLUID EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE CHAFED 'A' SYSTEM HYDRAULIC LINE AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF THE 'B' SYSTE… HYDRAULIC FLUID EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE CHAFED 'A' SYSTEM HYDRAULIC LINE AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF THE 'B' SYSTEM LINE.
Jun 07, 1992	TUCUTI, PM	HP120	Incident	—	Investigation pending
May 15, 1992	PALACIOS, TX	N67SW	Serious (1)	—	THE FLIGHT'S UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH MODERATE TURBULENCE.
Jan 07, 1992	DFW AIRPORT, TX	N322DL	Incident	minor	THE FAILURE OF THE AFT CONE BOLT AS RESULT OF PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SUPPORT STRUC… THE FAILURE OF THE AFT CONE BOLT AS RESULT OF PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE AS A RESULT OF LOADS THAT EXCEEDED THE CAPACITY OF THE ATTACHING HARDWARE AND THE CRUSHABLE HONEYCOMB CORE.
Jan 03, 1992	DENVER, CO	N343UA	Incident	minor	AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN A MAIN WIRE BUNDLE DUE TO CHAFING OF THE BUNDLE ON AIRFRAME STRUCTURAL MEMBERS.
Dec 01, 1991	LUBBOCK, TX	N73SW	Incident	substantial	THE IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH GEESE. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT.
Nov 18, 1991	SAN JOSE, CS	EICBL	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 23, 1991	BOSTON, MA	N441US	Serious (1)	—	A LATCH FAILURE ON A DOOR IN THE AFT GALLEY WHICH ALLOWED A LIQUOR KIT TO ROLL FORWARD.
Oct 17, 1991	NEWARK, NJ	N7385F	Minor	substantial	FAILURE OF THE CREW OF THE B-737, N7385F, TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING, AND FAILURE BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO PROVIDE TRAFFIC… FAILURE OF THE CREW OF THE B-737, N7385F, TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING, AND FAILURE BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO PROVIDE TRAFFIC INFORMATION AND/OR ISSUE WARNINGS TO EITHER FLIGHTCREW. A FACTOR WAS THE AFTER-LANDING TASK SATURATION OF BOTH FLIGHTCREWS.
Oct 12, 1991	GRAND CAYMAN IS, CJ	VRCCW	Incident	—	Investigation pending
Jun 06, 1991	ELKO, NV	N304AW	Serious (1)	—	AN UNSECURED CART. THE FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TURBULENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND POOR JUDGEMENT BY THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
Apr 10, 1991	SEATTLE, WA	N9003U	Minor	minor	TURBINE BLADE FAILURE FROM FATIGUE. FACTORS TO THE INCIDENT WERE INOPERATIVE ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, INADEQUATE SERVICE OF AIRCRAFT AND DELAYED DEP… TURBINE BLADE FAILURE FROM FATIGUE. FACTORS TO THE INCIDENT WERE INOPERATIVE ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, INADEQUATE SERVICE OF AIRCRAFT AND DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF EMERGENCY SLIDE.
Mar 03, 1991	COLORADO SPGS, CO	N999UA	Fatal (25)	destroyed	A loss of control of the airplane resulting from the movement of the rudder surface to its blowdown limit. The rudder surface most likely deflected in… A loss of control of the airplane resulting from the movement of the rudder surface to its blowdown limit. The rudder surface most likely deflected in a direction opposite to that commanded by the pilots as a result of a jam of the main rudder power control unit servo valve secondary slide to the servo valve housing offset from its neutral position and overtravel of the primary slide.
Feb 13, 1991	UNALASKA, AK	N672MA	Incident	minor	THE WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTERED ON SHORT FINAL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RISING TERRAIN WITHIN 150 FEET OF THE RUNWAY, THE VARIABLE NATURE OF T… THE WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTERED ON SHORT FINAL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RISING TERRAIN WITHIN 150 FEET OF THE RUNWAY, THE VARIABLE NATURE OF THE WIND DUE TO THE RISING TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LATERAL CONTROL DURING THE GO AROUND.
Jan 08, 1991	KANSAS CITY, MO	N396UA	Incident	—	IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLES, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE FIRST OFFICER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE INCIDENT ARE: ICE ON THE RUN… IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLES, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE FIRST OFFICER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE INCIDENT ARE: ICE ON THE RUNWAY, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRCRAFT AND OPERATION BY THE FIRST OFFICER, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CAPTAIN.
Sep 19, 1990	DENVER, CO	N9044U	Minor	—	THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CREW TO FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES. FACTORS WERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (RELAYS) AND THE … THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CREW TO FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES. FACTORS WERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (RELAYS) AND THE FAILURE OF THE COMPANY TO PROVIDE A JETWAY OPERATOR.
Aug 21, 1990	LOS ANGELES, CA	N305UA	Incident	minor	IMPROPER MAINTENANCE SERVICE BY A COMPANY EMPLOYEE WHO ALLOWED A FOREIGN OBJECT (FLASHLIGHT) TO REMAIN IN THE LANDING GEAR EXTEND/RETRACT LINKAGE DURI… IMPROPER MAINTENANCE SERVICE BY A COMPANY EMPLOYEE WHO ALLOWED A FOREIGN OBJECT (FLASHLIGHT) TO REMAIN IN THE LANDING GEAR EXTEND/RETRACT LINKAGE DURING A NIGHT SERVICING BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
Jul 22, 1990	KINSTON, NC	N210US	Minor	substantial	FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SHAFT BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MACHINING BY THE REPAIR FACILITY DURING MAINTENANCE MODIFICATION OF THE PUMP AND IMPROPER P… FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SHAFT BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MACHINING BY THE REPAIR FACILITY DURING MAINTENANCE MODIFICATION OF THE PUMP AND IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING OVERHAUL OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.
Jun 02, 1990	UNALAKLEET, AK	N670MA	Serious (1)	destroyed	DEFICIENCIES IN FLIGHTCREW COORDINATION, THEIR FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR AND PROPERLY EXECUTE THE UNK LOC RWY 14 NONPRECISION APPROACH AND THE… DEFICIENCIES IN FLIGHTCREW COORDINATION, THEIR FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR AND PROPERLY EXECUTE THE UNK LOC RWY 14 NONPRECISION APPROACH AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT PREMATURE DESCENT.
Mar 17, 1990	WICHITA, KS	N17317	Minor	minor	IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF LEVEL ARM.
Mar 17, 1990	SANTA ANA, CA	N306AW	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER ROTATION DURING TAKEOFF.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Boeing 737 Safety Record

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