Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 1996 | DELAVAN, WI | N7216Q | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to assure the airplane was properly secured prior to hand-propping the engine. |
| Sep 28, 1996 | DEAL, NJ | N84593 | Incident | substantial | the pilot's improper decision/planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing. |
| Sep 22, 1996 | SAINT CLAIR, MN | N5373R | Fatal (1) | destroyed | a loss of power due to the engine's #2 cylinder exhaust valve stuck open, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. |
| Sep 22, 1996 | GERMANTOWN HILL, IL | N904SW | Minor | substantial | the pilot's inadequate fuel supply and his misjudging distance and altitude. The trees were a factor. |
| Sep 21, 1996 | RICHWOOD, WV | N848LF | Incident | substantial |
improper in-flight planning/decision by the flight crew, and inadequate supervision by the check pilot, which resulted in the flight crew's failure to…improper in-flight planning/decision by the flight crew, and inadequate supervision by the check pilot, which resulted in the flight crew's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from trees on rising terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: rising/mountainous terrain. |
| Sep 19, 1996 | EHRENBERG, AZ | N5536T | Incident | substantial | The pilot's attempt to perform a low altitude evasive maneuver with inadequate airspeed resulting in a stall/mush. |
| Sep 17, 1996 | AURORA, IL | N966LA | Incident | substantial | undetermined. |
| Sep 16, 1996 | SHIRLEY, NY | N737GJ | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's prematurely retraction of flaps during the go-around, which resulted in settling (mushing) of the airplane and a collision with the ground…the pilot's prematurely retraction of flaps during the go-around, which resulted in settling (mushing) of the airplane and a collision with the ground. |
| Sep 08, 1996 | WELLSTON, MI | N7016T | Incident | substantial | The pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were the rough road, the tree, and the tire. |
| Sep 07, 1996 | PACIFIC CITY, OR | N12382 | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's failure to see-and-avoid the transmission line. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's low altitude flight, and the transmiss…the pilot's failure to see-and-avoid the transmission line. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's low altitude flight, and the transmission line. |
| Sep 03, 1996 | EAGLE RIVER, AK | N8739B | Fatal (3) | destroyed | The first pilot's failure to maintain sufficient distance/altitude from terrain. A box canyon and mountainous terrain are factors in the accident. |
| Sep 02, 1996 | CHICAGO, IL | N65785 | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of experience (or la…the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of experience (or lack of training) in recovery from bounced landings. |
| Aug 29, 1996 | AUBURN, CA | N9315E | Incident | substantial | the pilot's misjudged landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery. A contributing factor was his lack of recent flying experience. |
| Aug 26, 1996 | OCOTILLO, CA | N5543R | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment. The sun glare and proximity of rocks were related factors. |
| Aug 24, 1996 | DURANGO, CO | N3782F | Incident | substantial | the pilot's improper flaring of the airplane at too high an altitude, resulting in a hard landing. |
| Aug 24, 1996 | TRUCKEE, CA | N64198 | Incident | substantial |
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control. The encounter with a di…the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control. The encounter with a ditch was a related factor. |
| Aug 17, 1996 | GREENWOOD, IL | N6218F | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to obtain a proper touchdown point. |
| Aug 17, 1996 | ST. PETERSBURG, FL | N8016L | Fatal (1) | substantial | An engine malfunction for undetermined reasons. A factor was the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site. |
| Aug 14, 1996 | KAYENTA, AZ | N65963 | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's failure to adhere to the manufacturer's performance data by not maintaining the recommended best rate of climb speed, resulting in an inad…the pilot's failure to adhere to the manufacturer's performance data by not maintaining the recommended best rate of climb speed, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush event. The high density altitude was a related factor. |
| Aug 11, 1996 | SUMMERSVILLE, WV | N65632 | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
The pilot's improper flare, his delay in aborting a landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a bounced landing and a …The pilot's improper flare, his delay in aborting a landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a bounced landing and a stall during climb out in an attempt to avoid collision with trees. |
| Aug 10, 1996 | FULLERTON, CA | N42ES | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's misjudged glide path and delayed remedial action by not promptly initiating a go-around. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of ex…the pilot's misjudged glide path and delayed remedial action by not promptly initiating a go-around. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of experience flying the airplane. |
| Aug 09, 1996 | ENUMCLAW, WA | N738PM | Minor | substantial |
failure of the engine magneto drive, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor…failure of the engine magneto drive, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. |
| Aug 09, 1996 | NASHVILLE, TN | N5291E | Incident | substantial | inadequate annual inspection by other maintenance personnel and inadequate pre-flight inspection by the pilot. |
| Aug 04, 1996 | CINCINNATI, OH | N172PS | Incident | substantial |
failure of the student pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a stall/spin and an uncontrolled collisi…failure of the student pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a stall/spin and an uncontrolled collision with the ground. A factor related to the accident was: an improper (premature) flare for landing. |
| Aug 03, 1996 | NIKISKI, AK | N78108 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor was the windshear. |