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 16, 1993 MANASSAS, VA N5416T Minor substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
May 11, 1993 OCHOPEE, FL N9985V Incident substantial THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING THE TAKEOFF FROM THE PARKING RAMP WHEN A 12,000-FT RUNWAY WAS AVAILABLE.
May 10, 1993 WILMINGTON, NC N4856D Incident substantial
THE GROUND PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE RIGHT WING COLLIDING WITH A UTILITY POLE. …

THE GROUND PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE RIGHT WING COLLIDING WITH A UTILITY POLE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT

May 10, 1993 PITTSTOWN, NJ N54833 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWER…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE. THE GUSTY WIND AND PROXIMITY OF THE PARKED AIRPLANE WERE RELATED FACTORS.

May 08, 1993 TOWANDA, PA N3914F Serious (2) destroyed THE FAILURE OF THE AILERON CONTROL CABLE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT.
May 08, 1993 MIMS, FL N63012 Incident substantial
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO LEAN THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE DURING CRUI…

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO LEAN THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT WHICH INCREASED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE FLIGHT.

May 08, 1993 KAPOWSIN, WA N9534H Incident substantial AN UNDETERMINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
May 08, 1993 FALMOUTH, KY N1329E Serious (2) substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT SWERVE, AND HIS DELAYED …

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT SWERVE, AND HIS DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION.

May 01, 1993 KASIGLUK, AK N6332D Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A NARROW, WET, SOFT GRAVEL RUNWAY WITH A CROSSWIND. THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS AND THE CROSSWIND WE…

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A NARROW, WET, SOFT GRAVEL RUNWAY WITH A CROSSWIND. THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS AND THE CROSSWIND WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Apr 29, 1993 SANTA MONICA, CA N401KA Incident substantial
THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM THE ENSUING BOUNCED LANDING. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN…

THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM THE ENSUING BOUNCED LANDING. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS A FACTOR.

Apr 28, 1993 ORLANDO, FL N51202 Incident substantial
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND DRIFT WHILE LANDING, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT GOING OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WI…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND DRIFT WHILE LANDING, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT GOING OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WITH A POND.

Apr 26, 1993 BULLHEAD CITY, AZ N6698A Incident substantial a fatigue failure of the crankshaft due to improper assembly of the engine during the major overhaul.
Apr 26, 1993 MEEKER, CO N4472R Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS: GUSTY CROSSWINDS.
Apr 25, 1993 DARRINGTON, WA N1406Y Fatal (1) destroyed FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE REFUELING OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Apr 23, 1993 NEEDLES, CA N6292D Incident substantial
the total loss of engine power due to the failure of the magneto in the ignition system. The magneto failure resulted from the operator's lack of vol…

the total loss of engine power due to the failure of the magneto in the ignition system. The magneto failure resulted from the operator's lack of voluntary compliance with the manufacturers suggested overhaul cycle.

Apr 23, 1993 COLUMBUS, OH N734QF Incident substantial
THE IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO BALLOON AND LAND HARD. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLYING EXPERIENC…

THE IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO BALLOON AND LAND HARD. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLYING EXPERIENCE.

Apr 18, 1993 ETTRICK, WI N8337L Fatal (2) destroyed AN INFLIGHT EXPLOSION OF A TOLUENE-BASED FLUID INSIDE THE AIRPLANE'S COCKPIT.
Apr 15, 1993 GREENVILLE, TN N70397 Incident substantial The pilot's improper procedures in that he landed with excessive flap extension, and his inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind.
Apr 15, 1993 FLAGSTAFF, AZ N3443E Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S POOR AIRCRAFT HANDLING TECHNIQUES, HIS FAILURE TO CORRECTLY CONFIGURE THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL DURING THE GO AROUND, AND, HIS FAILURE T…

THE PILOT'S POOR AIRCRAFT HANDLING TECHNIQUES, HIS FAILURE TO CORRECTLY CONFIGURE THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL DURING THE GO AROUND, AND, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL MUSH CONDITION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LOW TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION.

Apr 14, 1993 PONY, MT N79505 Incident destroyed
THE IMPROPER PREFLT PLANNING BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN TAKEOFF AIRSPEED DURING GROUND ROLL ON A SOFT SNOW COVERED AIRSTRIP. A FACTOR RELAT…

THE IMPROPER PREFLT PLANNING BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN TAKEOFF AIRSPEED DURING GROUND ROLL ON A SOFT SNOW COVERED AIRSTRIP. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT SNOW ON THE AIRSTRIP.

Apr 13, 1993 HOBART, OK N61529 Fatal (2) destroyed
INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, HIS LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME, THE WEATHER, AND THE DARK NIGHT COND…

INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, HIS LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME, THE WEATHER, AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Apr 12, 1993 KASIGLUK, AK N13147 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE SURFACE OF THE RU…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE SURFACE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE SNOWBANK (BERM) ON THE OVERRUN (STOPWAY).

Apr 12, 1993 IMMOKALEE, FL N6542J Incident substantial THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO BUZZ AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Apr 10, 1993 DURHAM, NH N8228G Serious (1) substantial
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FLIGHT INTO…

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, FAILURE TO OBTAIN INFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION, AND PILOT FATIGUE.

Apr 10, 1993 TOWANDA, KS N6346E Incident substantial THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION.
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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