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
Jun 24, 1993	STATESVILLE, NC	N7817X	Incident	substantial	The improper use of carburetor heat by the pilot. A factor in the accident was the carburetor icing conditions.
Jun 23, 1993	RAPID CITY, SD	N5435E	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Jun 21, 1993	MIAMI, MO	N5461R	Fatal (1)	destroyed	the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.
Jun 18, 1993	KATMAI, AK	N7300G	Incident	substantial	THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. FACTOR WAS SOFT TERRAIN CONDITION.
Jun 16, 1993	ST. ELMO, AL	N8322B	Serious (2)	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO US… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE ENTIRE RUNWAY FOR THE TAKEOFF, AND THE TREES LOCATED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Jun 14, 1993	HARTFORD, WI	N55404	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Jun 11, 1993	LIVERMORE, CO	N4829E	Incident	substantial	A PARTIAL POWER LOSS WHEN THE ROCKER BOX FOR ONE CYLINDER DISENGAGED. A FACTOR WAS: UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Jun 09, 1993	CANYON LAKE, TX	N6446B	Minor	substantial	THE MOVEMENT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT AFT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF CONTROL, HIS INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND THE ENSUING INADVERTENT STALL. A FACT… THE MOVEMENT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT AFT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF CONTROL, HIS INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND THE ENSUING INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE.
Jun 08, 1993	ST. JAMES, MI	N73630	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT LANDED TOO LONG ON A WET RUNWAY.
Jun 06, 1993	RIDGELAND, SC	N50000	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE S… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Jun 06, 1993	LINCOLN PARK, NJ	N97055	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND S… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE AND A COLLISION WITH TREES.
Jun 05, 1993	RAVENEL, SC	N8279U	Minor	substantial	THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN T… THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT FLAPS TO EXTEND
Jun 05, 1993	MONTGOMERY PASS, NV	N6185E	Serious (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WE… THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE DOWNDRAFT, LOW CEILING, RAIN, OBSCURATION, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN
Jun 02, 1993	TUSKEGEE, AL	N64206	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH A FINAL APPROACH COURSE TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE DURING A NIGHT LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE INOPERATIVE AIRCRAFT LANDING… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ESTABLISH A FINAL APPROACH COURSE TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE DURING A NIGHT LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE INOPERATIVE AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHT.
May 29, 1993	ENUMCLAW, WA	N53408	Fatal (3)	destroyed	INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FOG AND RAIN.
May 29, 1993	TURLOCK, CA	N12857	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
May 25, 1993	LOMPOC, CA	N4783J	Fatal (2)	destroyed	VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS T… VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LOW CEILING, FOG, DRIZZLE, OBSCURATION, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
May 24, 1993	PAGE, AZ	N734DB	Fatal (1)	destroyed	the pilot's selection of an inadequate cruise altitude. A factor in the accident was the high winds and turbulence in the vicinity of the cliffs.
May 23, 1993	BUENA VISTA, CO	N4881G	Incident	destroyed	A DOWNDRAFT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WERE: A CROSSWIND AND THE INADVERTENT SELECTION OF ADDI… A DOWNDRAFT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WERE: A CROSSWIND AND THE INADVERTENT SELECTION OF ADDITIONAL FLAPS.
May 22, 1993	ATHENS, TN	N1497V	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE TO PRODUCE POWER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
May 21, 1993	DEERFIELD BEACH, FL	N4931D	Fatal (4)	destroyed	FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO). THE LOW ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE AERODYNAMIC STALL WAS A FACTOR.
May 20, 1993	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N5338V	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT.
May 18, 1993	PETERSBURG, OH	N7355E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A WET GRASS STRIP, AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO AROUND. THE WE… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A WET GRASS STRIP, AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO AROUND. THE WET GRASS RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR.
May 17, 1993	ROHN ROADHOUSE, AK	N736BY	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW STALLING SPEED IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATI… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW STALLING SPEED IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION.
May 16, 1993	PLAINWELL, MI	N8657B	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INITIATING HAND STARTING OF THE AIRPLANE UNATTENDED BY A QUALIFIED PERSON.

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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