Cessna 172 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.

6810

All Events

4223

Incidents

1048

Minor

542

Serious

960

Fatal (1802 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
May 13, 1996 FINDLAY, OH N73664 Incident substantial the student pilot's misjudged flare during landing.
May 13, 1996 CRYSTAL LAKE, IL N738CS Minor substantial the pilot not flying a proper glidepath for the displaced runway threshold.
May 09, 1996 OKMULGEE, OK N202EX Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTH…

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE RESULTING IN THE MALFUNCTIONING OF A WORN IGNITION SWITCH. A FACTOR WAS TREES.

May 08, 1996 LEADVILLE, CO N79212 Incident substantial
the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were: the gusting cross wind and th…

the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were: the gusting cross wind and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model of aircraft.

May 07, 1996 RENO, NV N5394K Incident substantial
the pilot's failure to obtain and maintain flying speed and a proper glide path, which resulted in an inadvertent stall during a visual approach. An …

the pilot's failure to obtain and maintain flying speed and a proper glide path, which resulted in an inadvertent stall during a visual approach. An increased altitude illusion created by rising terrain under the final approach course was a factor.

May 06, 1996 WINSTON-SALEM, NC N97277 Incident substantial The pilot's improper use of the elevator in response to a bounced landing.
May 04, 1996 MARANA, AZ N8811B Incident substantial the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
May 02, 1996 FAIRBANKS, AK N3795L Incident substantial The student pilot's premature flare and the flight instructor's failure to perform remedial action prior to the hard landing.
Apr 29, 1996 DUANESBURG, NY N9678B Fatal (2) destroyed
failure of the pilot to attain adequate airspeed (or abort the takeoff while there was sufficient runway remaining), which resulted in a stall after l…

failure of the pilot to attain adequate airspeed (or abort the takeoff while there was sufficient runway remaining), which resulted in a stall after liftoff and collision with the terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's distraction due to events related to incapacitation of an animal aboard the aircraft.

Apr 28, 1996 RUTLAND, VT N98574 Incident substantial the pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing. A contributing factor was his lack of recent flight experience.
Apr 27, 1996 CULPEPER, VA N7546G Incident substantial The pilot's improper compensation for the crosswind.
Apr 26, 1996 DENTON, TX N5215K Incident substantial the student pilot's delayed landing flare and his improper bounced landing recovery technique.
Apr 26, 1996 BROOMFIELD, CO N75839 Incident substantial the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to obtain/maintain directional control. A factor was the cross wind.
Apr 25, 1996 TERRE HAUTE, IN N18HZ Incident substantial
the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his inadequate compensation (or inability to compensate) for the wind condition. The high/g…

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his inadequate compensation (or inability to compensate) for the wind condition. The high/gusty wind condition was a related factor.

Apr 23, 1996 COLORADO SPGS, CO N55126 Incident substantial the student pilot'S failure to maintain control of the aircraft during a go-around.
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 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 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 BARKHAMSTED, CT N6234E Fatal (3) destroyed
the CFI pilot/passenger's poor judgment which led to spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control of the airplane. Factors involved in this …

the CFI pilot/passenger's poor judgment which led to spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control of the airplane. Factors involved in this accident were the night marginal visual flight conditions and continuing flight with a known nonfunctioning artificial horizon.

Apr 06, 1996 SEDONA, AZ N62038 Incident substantial the pilot misjudged the flare.
Apr 04, 1996 ROANOKE, VA N5730T Minor destroyed
the pilot's misjudged estimation of the airplane's fuel supply for the flight. Related factors are the inadequate preflight inspection, the pilot's e…

the pilot's misjudged estimation of the airplane's fuel supply for the flight. Related factors are the inadequate preflight inspection, the pilot's expectation that the airplane had been topped off, and the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing.

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.
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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