How many accidents has the Cessna 170A had?

The NTSB has recorded 145 events involving the Cessna 170A: 17 fatal, 13 serious, 19 minor injuries, and 96 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 170A a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 170A has 145 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 170A Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 145 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

145

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (32 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Nov 28, 1996	EL CAJON, CA	N1729D	Incident	substantial	failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve. The pilot's low total time in conventional gear aircraft was… failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve. The pilot's low total time in conventional gear aircraft was a related factor.
Jun 22, 1996	SOUTHSIDE, AL	N9230A	Incident	substantial	failure of an oil line between the engine and the oil cooler, which resulted in loss of oil, oil starvation, and subsequent seizure of the engine. Fa… failure of an oil line between the engine and the oil cooler, which resulted in loss of oil, oil starvation, and subsequent seizure of the engine. Factors relating to the accident were: the effects of a tailwind during the forced landing, and failure of the pilot to achieve the proper touchdown point during the landing.
May 19, 1996	WHARTON, TX	N9131A	Incident	substantial	failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve.
Feb 24, 1996	PROCTOR, AR	N9523A	Fatal (4)	destroyed	failure of the pilots in both airplanes to see-and-avoid conflicting traffic (inadequate visual lookout).
Apr 11, 1995	WOODLAND, CA	N1276D	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. The mechanic's inadequate annual inspection by failing to determine the worn condition of the c… the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. The mechanic's inadequate annual inspection by failing to determine the worn condition of the crosswind landing gear detent stop groove and snubber pin and the soft terrain were factors in this accident.
Mar 29, 1995	ANCHORAGE, AK	N1364D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR WHEN ADDING ENGINE POWER FOR THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER. THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED FLARE, DELAYED GO-AROUN… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR WHEN ADDING ENGINE POWER FOR THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER. THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED FLARE, DELAYED GO-AROUND, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Sep 25, 1994	NIKISKI, AK	N5583C	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DESCENT RATE. A FACTOR WAS THE CHECK PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Jun 12, 1994	WOLF CREEK, MT	N1389D	Incident	substantial	POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING. THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR.
May 06, 1994	BOCA RATON, FL	N9534A	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Apr 26, 1994	BUSHNELL, FL	N9530A	Minor	substantial	The pilot-in-command's improper landing flare during a forced landing, resulting in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear. Cont… The pilot-in-command's improper landing flare during a forced landing, resulting in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power due to a loose exhaust valve seat on the No. 3 cylinder.
Sep 13, 1992	LOPEZ, WA	N9577A	Fatal (4)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS INCLUDE GUSTY, UNFAVORABLE, HIGH VELOCITY WINDS, AND TURBULENCE.
Sep 03, 1992	ANGOLA, IN	N9124A	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT.
Sep 02, 1992	HOLTVILLE, CA	N9923A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNFORECASTED DUST DEVIL.
Mar 08, 1992	MIAMI, FL	N9998A	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND (WINDSHIFT).
Aug 07, 1991	HEATH, TX	N9582A	Fatal (2)	destroyed	THE INADVERTENT STALL FOLLOWING AN ABRUPT PULL UP WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, AND THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG CONSUMPTION… THE INADVERTENT STALL FOLLOWING AN ABRUPT PULL UP WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, AND THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG CONSUMPTION.
Jun 23, 1991	KAKEEN, AK	N5739C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT, ROUGH, AND… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT, ROUGH, AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Apr 24, 1991	NEWELL, SD	N5720C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING.
Feb 02, 1991	HOLLY, CO	N1437D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
Jan 24, 1991	FORT MYERS, FL	N1279D	Minor	substantial	IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT WHICH CAUSED THE AIRSPEED TO DECREASE BELOW VSO RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Dec 07, 1990	WELSH, LA	N1344D	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND.
Nov 07, 1990	HEALY, AK	N5468C	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Sep 10, 1990	ELK MOUNTAIN, WY	N9157A	Serious (2)	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE THAT DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE FOR A SAFE STALL RECOVERY.
Jun 18, 1990	SALINA, UT	N9086A	Incident	substantial	POWER LOSS AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT, AND ROUGH TERRA… POWER LOSS AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT, AND ROUGH TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE GROUND RUN, FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING.
Jun 07, 1990	WASILLA, AK	N1334D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jun 03, 1990	DILLON, CO	N3944V	Fatal (1)	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDE… IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

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.

← Cessna 170A For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 170A? View 2 Cessna 170A for sale ↓

Cessna 170A Safety Record

Report an Issue