How many accidents has the Cessna 172 had?

The NTSB has recorded 6810 events involving the Cessna 172: 960 fatal, 542 serious, 1048 minor injuries, and 4223 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172 has 6810 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

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
Jul 25, 1993	PURCELL, OK	N4884G	Incident	substantial	THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING WHICH WAS NECCESITATED BY THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE POWER LOSS WAS A RESULT OF… THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING WHICH WAS NECCESITATED BY THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE POWER LOSS WAS A RESULT OF THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM ATTACHMENT STUD. A FACTOR WAS THE NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Jul 24, 1993	COOKSON, OK	N65709	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ABORTED LANDING.
Jul 24, 1993	VACAVILLE, CA	N51409	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY FAILING TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR THE ROTOR WASH TO DISSIPATE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE APPROACH. THE … THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY FAILING TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR THE ROTOR WASH TO DISSIPATE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE APPROACH. THE WAKE TURBULENCE (ROTOR WASH) WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Jul 23, 1993	LONG GROVE, IL	N733XS	Serious (4)	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. RELATED FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE CERTIFICATION/APPROVA… THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. RELATED FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE CERTIFICATION/APPROVAL OF THE STC BY THE FAA, INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE DATA, AND UNAVAILABLE FUEL CONSUMPTION INFORMATION.
Jul 19, 1993	ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO	N99BW	Minor	destroyed	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INACCURATE FUEL COMSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Jul 18, 1993	EDGARTOWN, MA	N52858	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE TAILWIND, AND THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE BEING… THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE TAILWIND, AND THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE BEING EXCEEDED.
Jul 17, 1993	SUMMERDALE, AL	N65735	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Jul 17, 1993	NEW MILFORD, PA	N2494U	Serious (1)	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MICE, WHICH PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL AND AI… LOSS OF ENGINE ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MICE, WHICH PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL AND AIR FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Jul 14, 1993	ALLEN, TX	N736TJ	Incident	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Jul 09, 1993	ALTURUS, CA	N75901	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S PREMATURE ROTATION AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL REGAR… THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S PREMATURE ROTATION AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL REGARDING USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPEREINCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Jul 08, 1993	LONGVIEW, TX	N3631L	Serious (1)	minor	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES.
Jul 08, 1993	LAMESA, TX	N13722	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND THE INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND.
Jul 06, 1993	TRUCKEE, CA	N3090E	Incident	substantial	THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE… THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Jul 06, 1993	NORMALVILLE, PA	N7954U	Minor	substantial	THE PRESENCE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, WHICH CAUSED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE … THE PRESENCE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, WHICH CAUSED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND ROUGH TERRAIN.
Jul 05, 1993	TORRANCE, CA	N79034	Serious (1)	substantial	AN ENCOUNTER WITH A WINDSHEAR CONDITION. THE DELAYED BANNER JETTISON WAS A FACTOR.
Jul 04, 1993	LANCASTER, TX	N54003	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Jul 04, 1993	MOCCASIN, CA	N7875T	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PR… FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION.
Jul 02, 1993	LAMPASAS, TX	N2446U	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Jul 02, 1993	SENECA, SC	N5812A	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Jun 29, 1993	FORT WORTH, TX	N3987L	Incident	substantial	THE POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Jun 27, 1993	DANVILLE, CA	N2791U	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S POOR FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN.
Jun 27, 1993	VOLUNTOWN, CT	N6553E	Minor	substantial	The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point which resulted in an overrun of the runway and collision with trees. A factor is the pilot'… The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point which resulted in an overrun of the runway and collision with trees. A factor is the pilot's improper compensation for the wind condition.
Jun 26, 1993	WEST CHICAGO, IL	N1441Y	Minor	substantial	the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat. Conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice was a factor.
Jun 26, 1993	POINT LOOKOUT, MO	N76107	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDE PATH, AND HER FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT.
Jun 25, 1993	ST. CLOUD, MN	N1670Y	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper starting procedures.

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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Cessna 172 Safety Record

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