Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1996 | MIDDLETON, WI | N739BN | Incident | substantial |
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. Factors rela…failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. Factors relating to the accident were: the gusty crosswind condition, the pilot's excessive lowering of flaps, and the encounter with soft terrain. |
| Apr 21, 1996 | DEKALB, IL | N6542J | Incident | substantial |
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision, and his delay in taking remedial action to regain directional control of the airplane. Factors relati…The flight instructor's inadequate supervision, and his delay in taking remedial action to regain directional control of the airplane. Factors relating to the accident were: the student's improper flare for landing, improper recovery from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane; and the proximity of a pole to the runway. |
| Apr 18, 1996 | CHEYENNE, WY | N733FF | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's improper flare during the landing and improper recovery from the subsequent bounced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the p…the pilot's improper flare during the landing and improper recovery from the subsequent bounced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's failure to maintain the proper approach path during the approach for landing. |
| Apr 18, 1996 | DAVID CITY, NE | N7627T | Incident | substantial | the instructor pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft during a soft field takeoff. Factors were the gusting winds and the soft field. |
| Apr 10, 1996 | LEBANON, TN | N7479G | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. |
| Apr 06, 1996 | SEDONA, AZ | N62038 | Incident | substantial | the pilot misjudged the flare. |
| Apr 04, 1996 | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | N51380 | Incident | substantial | the pilot's misjudgment of the aircraft's altitude above the runway and failure to flare for landing. Darkness (bright night) was a related factor. |
| Apr 03, 1996 | DANVILLE, AR | N84262 | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. Factors were the crosswind and the soft terrain. |
| Mar 30, 1996 | FULLERTON, CA | N9964L | Incident | substantial |
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding small aircraft, and his improper bounced landing r…the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding small aircraft, and his improper bounced landing recovery technique. |
| Mar 23, 1996 | ROANOKE, VA | N108RV | Incident | substantial | loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Darkness and the pilot's improper emergency procedures were related factors. |
| Mar 23, 1996 | ROCKWALL, TX | N737UP | Incident | substantial | the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was the gusty wind condition. |
| Mar 22, 1996 | NEW SMYRNA BCH, FL | N75770 | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise, and subsequent overload fa…The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise, and subsequent overload failure of the nose gear. |
| Mar 14, 1996 | TOFTE, MN | N3898S | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to perform adequate preflight planning which resulted in landing at a closed airport. The snow covered runway was a factor. |
| Mar 14, 1996 | NAPA, CA | N20858 | Incident | substantial |
the failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft, and the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, to follow VFR procedures by n…the failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft, and the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, to follow VFR procedures by not yielding the right of way to the Cessna 172M, N20858, which was already established in the traffic pattern. |
| Mar 09, 1996 | ASHEVILLE, NC | N79058 | Incident | substantial | failure of the brake on the right main landing gear as a result of water (ice) in the brake fluid, which resulted in a loss of braking control. |
| Mar 09, 1996 | MACON, GA | N2681U | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for th…The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. |
| Mar 05, 1996 | VALPARAISO, IN | N21662 | Incident | substantial | the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather. Factors were the low ceilings, icing conditions, airframe ice, and the muddy field. |
| Mar 04, 1996 | BEDFORD, MA | N61992 | Incident | substantial |
the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, the pilot's improper compensation for the wind conditions, and the high wind. The instr…the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, the pilot's improper compensation for the wind conditions, and the high wind. The instructor's inadequate evaluation of the weather was a contributing factor. |
| Mar 02, 1996 | ANKENY, IA | N8626B | Incident | substantial | the pilot's poor judgment in attempting flight operations in the existing wind condition, and the high gusting wind. |
| Feb 24, 1996 | WEST CHICAGO, IL | N99341 | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's misjudging the flare. A factor was the gusts. |
| Feb 24, 1996 | WAREHOUSE POINT, CT | N12219 | Incident | substantial | the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and gusts. The wind conditions were factors. |
| Feb 18, 1996 | WORTHINGTON, MN | N758CQ | Incident | substantial |
Progressive failure of the engine, beginning with failure of the left magneto, which resulted in preignition or detonation, a burned hole in the #3 pi…Progressive failure of the engine, beginning with failure of the left magneto, which resulted in preignition or detonation, a burned hole in the #3 piston, subsequent oil exhaustion, and failure of the #1 and #2 connecting rods. |
| Feb 17, 1996 | RAYMOND, CA | N53115 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to verify the quantity of fuel onboard the aircraft prior to departure, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. |
| Feb 16, 1996 | CASHMERE, WA | N52264 | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's selection of the wrong runway for landing, by not observing a procedure to land uphill during calm wind conditions, and his subsequent fai…the pilot's selection of the wrong runway for landing, by not observing a procedure to land uphill during calm wind conditions, and his subsequent failure to retract the flaps during landing roll, as recommended by the airplane's short-field landing procedure. The downhill slope of the landing runway was a related factor. |
| Feb 15, 1996 | SALMON, ID | N96879 | Incident | substantial |
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a ground swerve. A factor relating to the accident was: th…failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a ground swerve. A factor relating to the accident was: the rock pile to the left of the runway. |