Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 1995 | HESPERIA, CA | N5462K | Incident | substantial | The failure of the connecting rod due to the rod bolt backing off, and the pilot's misjudging the distance and altitude. |
| Aug 16, 1995 | WHEELING, IL | N6146E | Incident | substantial | inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot and an inadverent stall encountered by the pilot. |
| Aug 15, 1995 | BRADLEY, CA | N5563R | Incident | substantial |
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel prior to takeoff and his delayed decision to proceed to his alternate airport. The night light c…fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel prior to takeoff and his delayed decision to proceed to his alternate airport. The night light conditions and the lack of a suitable emergency landing area were factors. |
| Aug 14, 1995 | FULTON, NY | N6338F | Incident | substantial | the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose gear. |
| Aug 13, 1995 | AUBURN, IN | N162BA | Serious (1) | substantial | the pilot's impairment of judgement and performance due to alcohol which led to his failure to maintain control of the airplane. |
| Aug 12, 1995 | MANTEO, NC | N3254C | Incident | substantial | The pilot's improper in-flight decision to touchdown at the mid-field point of the runway. |
| Aug 10, 1995 | CORDOVA, AK | N758PX | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND DELAYED DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. |
| Aug 05, 1995 | HAGUE, VA | N2418Y | Incident | substantial |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PR…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PROXIMITY OF TALL CORN (CROP) TO THE NARROW RUNWAY. |
| Aug 05, 1995 | QUILCENE, WA | N1464U | Fatal (2) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINS. FACTORS IN THE A…THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CLOUDS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. |
| Aug 01, 1995 | RED LODGE, MT | N1364Y | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING WERE…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING WERE FACTORS. |
| Aug 01, 1995 | CHICKALOON, AK | N345RB | Serious (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN TO COMPENSATE…THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN TO COMPENSATE FOR SUCH CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DOWNDRAFTS, THE PROXIMITY OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION. |
| Jul 31, 1995 | OSHKOSH, WI | N5542R | Incident | minor | the failure of the pilot of the Acro II, N40LF, to maintain clearance from the Cessna 172, N5542R. |
| Jul 30, 1995 | NORTH POLE, AK | N9192R | Minor | substantial | IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, WHEN THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO REACH THE DESTINATION. |
| Jul 29, 1995 | NILES, MI | N7295A | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to ensure an adequate supply of fuel was aboard the aircraft during preflight planning and his failure to lean the engine mixture …The pilot's failure to ensure an adequate supply of fuel was aboard the aircraft during preflight planning and his failure to lean the engine mixture during cruise flight. |
| Jul 25, 1995 | KILL DEVIL HILL, NC | N5415J | Serious | — | The attempt by the pilots to perform the unfamiliar procedure of starting the airplane's engine by hand. |
| Jul 24, 1995 | RENO, NV | N65923 | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's loss of directional control during a crosswind landing using full flaps and the lack of familiarity with the crosswind landing component c…the pilot's loss of directional control during a crosswind landing using full flaps and the lack of familiarity with the crosswind landing component chart for the aircraft. |
| Jul 24, 1995 | SPRINGFIELD, MO | N55212 | Incident | substantial |
improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and his continued flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an uncontrolled altitud…improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and his continued flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an uncontrolled altitude deviation and collision with terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions. |
| Jul 24, 1995 | TETERBORO, NJ | N51081 | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's improper flare which resulted in the airplane porpoising and the subsequent buckling of the firewall. |
| Jul 23, 1995 | MAZAMA, WA | N8627B | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for the wind conditions during climbout. The gusty wind condition was a factor. |
| Jul 23, 1995 | CARLSBAD, CA | N7141J | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's poorly planned approach, misjudged distance/altitude, and failure to make a go-around. The pilot inadvertently becoming lost and disorien…The pilot's poorly planned approach, misjudged distance/altitude, and failure to make a go-around. The pilot inadvertently becoming lost and disoriented was a factor in this accident. |
| Jul 22, 1995 | WYANDOTTE, IN | N8599U | Minor | substantial |
the number three intake valve became stuck (seized), which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was …the number three intake valve became stuck (seized), which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. |
| Jul 18, 1995 | MOTLEY, MN | N53716 | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a soft field takeoff. |
| Jul 18, 1995 | NAPA, CA | N4915D | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft after one foot slipped off the rudder pedals, and his inadvertent application of a…the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft after one foot slipped off the rudder pedals, and his inadvertent application of asymmetrical brake forces. |
| Jul 15, 1995 | STANTON, TN | N3744S | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE …THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTATED, AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. |
| Jul 15, 1995 | NAKNEK, AK | N9827T | Fatal (2) | destroyed | INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-18. THE PA-18 PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION WAS A RELATED FACTOR. |