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
Apr 17, 1995 YOLO, CA N80187 Minor substantial the pilot's improper preflight preparation which led to fuel exhaustion.
Apr 16, 1995 HATTIESBURG, MS N3835R Incident substantial
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND SUBSEQUE…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Apr 15, 1995 PANACEA, FL N19901 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING A FORCED LANDING TO A RUNWAY. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE ROLLING OFF THE DEPARTURE …

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING A FORCED LANDING TO A RUNWAY. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE ROLLING OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND SUBSEQUENT ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A FENCE AND A TELEPHONE BOOTH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER TWO EXHAUST VALVE HEAD FROM THE VALVE STEM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Apr 13, 1995 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL N1520Y Incident substantial
THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ASSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS ON-BOARD THE AIRPLANE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTE…

THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ASSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS ON-BOARD THE AIRPLANE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, FORCED LANDING AND THE COLLISION WITH A TREE ON TOUCHDOWN.

Apr 13, 1995 TULSA, OK N6394V Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PREVENTING EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR POWER FOR UNDETERMINED RE…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PREVENTING EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Apr 12, 1995 MOUNTAIN HOME, AR N55409 Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. A FACTOR WAS GUSTING CROSSWINDS.
Apr 09, 1995 SENECA, SC N8197U Fatal (1) substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR UTILITY LINES, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE WIRES.
Apr 07, 1995 ELDERSBURG, MD N20819 Fatal (3) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REMOVE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE GO-AROUND AND …

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REMOVE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE GO-AROUND AND THE PRESENCE OF A TAILWIND.

Apr 06, 1995 PHOENIX, AZ N737AV Incident substantial
THE USE OF EXCESSIVE BREAK-AWAY THRUST BY THE BOEING 737 CREW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CESSNA 172 PIL…

THE USE OF EXCESSIVE BREAK-AWAY THRUST BY THE BOEING 737 CREW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CESSNA 172 PILOT BY ACCEPTING A CLEARANCE TO TAXI BEHIND THE BOEING 737 WITHOUT ASSURANCE THAT THE BOEING 737 CREW WOULD NOT POWER UP.

Apr 04, 1995 ALLENTOWN, PA N6114E Minor substantial the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Related factors were the gusty wind conditions and the pilot's poor weather evaluation.
Mar 30, 1995 NAPLES, NY N96746 Fatal (1) destroyed
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were: the night conditions, fog, low …

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were: the night conditions, fog, low ceiling, and hilly terrain.

Mar 29, 1995 PARIS, TN N258ER Incident minor The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.
Mar 28, 1995 VENICE, FL N2196E Fatal (2) substantial
INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND ALTITUDE INADE…

INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR RECOVERY FOLLOWING THE IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL.

Mar 25, 1995 LAKE OSWEGO, OR N6600T Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.
Mar 24, 1995 MITCHELLVILLE, MD N66010 Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision. Related factors: high winds, and a crosswind.
Mar 20, 1995 ANCHORAGE, AK N733RW Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXP…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Mar 16, 1995 ATKINSON, NE N8078L Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE WIND WAS A FACTOR.
Mar 16, 1995 ALMA, MI N65490 Incident substantial
the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action during the approach to landing/landing roll. Related factors are the flight instructor's inadequat…

the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action during the approach to landing/landing roll. Related factors are the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, the dual student's wrong runway selection, the tailwind, and the dual student's failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

Mar 10, 1995 SMYRNA, TN N4383Q Serious (1)
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT ENERGIZED PRIOR TO POSITIONING THE PROPELLER, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO P…

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT ENERGIZED PRIOR TO POSITIONING THE PROPELLER, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO PLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION AFTER THE FIRST START ATTEMPT.

Mar 03, 1995 PRESCOTT, AZ N7369F Incident substantial failure of the pilot to maintain directional control.
Feb 24, 1995 WEST SENECA, NY N13229 Incident substantial
The pilot's improper planning/decision to attempt a takeoff on a narrow icy runway with crosswind conditions, which resulted in the loss of control of…

The pilot's improper planning/decision to attempt a takeoff on a narrow icy runway with crosswind conditions, which resulted in the loss of control of the airplane, impact with a snow bank, and a nose over.

Feb 24, 1995 SARATOGA SPGS, NY N7002Q Incident substantial THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN ATTEMPTING A FLIGHT UNDER THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.
Feb 23, 1995 SANTA FE, NM N737TC Incident substantial THE PILOT'S DELAYED LANDING FLARE AND THE IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.
Feb 21, 1995 REDLANDS, CA N51920 Incident substantial the pilot's use of an excessive approach speed and glidepath angle and his improper bounced landing recovery technique.
Feb 18, 1995 HOLLAND, MI N79569 Incident substantial delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. Factors in the accident were the student pilot not maintaining directional control once airborne.
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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