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
Mar 15, 1992 BILLINGS, MT N4615L Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.
Mar 09, 1992 HARRISON, AR N54956 Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE.
Mar 09, 1992 SANTA MONICA, CA N98662 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HER IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE AIRPLANE'S EXCESSIVE APPROACH …

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HER IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE AIRPLANE'S EXCESSIVE APPROACH AIRSPEED AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

Mar 08, 1992 GOLDEN, TX N6938X Incident substantial FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS WERE FALSE FUEL SENSOR INDICATIONS AND A FENCE.
Mar 03, 1992 STARR, SC N2862Q Minor substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING.
Mar 02, 1992 N TOPSAIL BEACH, NC N65988 Fatal (2) substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AND/OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GRO…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AND/OR MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. FACTORS WERE: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES, HIS OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT.

Mar 01, 1992 PACIFIC OCEAN, PO N2425U Fatal (2) destroyed
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT BECOM…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Mar 01, 1992 BAINBRIDGE, GA N35637 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH WHICH RESULTED. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE HI…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH WHICH RESULTED. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) NEAR THE AIRSTRIP.

Feb 28, 1992 MANHATTAN, KS N20044 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN ON WHICH THE LANDING WAS MADE.
Feb 27, 1992 MC ALESTER, OK N5499R Minor substantial INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS A TOTAL POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Feb 17, 1992 CONROE, TX N738EC Incident substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS THE NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITION.
Feb 17, 1992 LEESBURG, FL N53370 Incident substantial THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED BY THE FLIGHT DURING TAXI.
Feb 17, 1992 NORDMAN, ID N96617 Incident substantial
THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFL…

THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.

Feb 10, 1992 PARSHALL, CO N737BY Incident substantial
IMPROPER USE OF POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE DUEL STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI. FACTORS WERE: CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED, DEEP SNOW COVER…

IMPROPER USE OF POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE DUEL STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI. FACTORS WERE: CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED, DEEP SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, AND CARBURETOR ICE CONDITIONS.

Feb 09, 1992 DELTA, CO N8242B Incident substantial A COMPLETE POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY LANDING.
Feb 04, 1992 WACO, TX N9754B Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FULLY EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BY THE ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENTION SYSTEM. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT, LOW CEILING, FOG, DRIZZLE AN…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FULLY EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BY THE ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENTION SYSTEM. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT, LOW CEILING, FOG, DRIZZLE AND FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Jan 29, 1992 COTTONWOOD, AZ N6087D Minor substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A B…

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.

Jan 27, 1992 ENGLEWOOD, CO N52872 Incident substantial
A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES BY FLYING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. …

A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES BY FLYING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS.

Jan 22, 1992 GADSDEN, AL N35308 Incident substantial
THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING BY THE PILOT UNDER EXAMINATION, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. INADEQUATE SU…

THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING BY THE PILOT UNDER EXAMINATION, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE DESIGNATED EXAMINER WAS A FACTOR.

Jan 19, 1992 UNION CENTER, SD N8529U Incident substantial
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, WHILE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE AC…

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, WHILE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SOFT RUNWAY CONDITION & FENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Jan 16, 1992 ENGLEWOOD, CO N65513 Incident substantial
LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BRAKES DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLI…

LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BRAKES DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS A FACTOR.

Jan 14, 1992 ALBUQUERQUE, NM N4885G Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Jan 13, 1992 ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO N121L Fatal (1) substantial LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Jan 12, 1992 SHOW LOW, AZ N1571E Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX ATTACH STRAPS WHICH ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX TO SEPARATE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT MUFF AND RENDERED …

THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX ATTACH STRAPS WHICH ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX TO SEPARATE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT MUFF AND RENDERED THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

Jan 11, 1992 MILLEN, GA N5866R Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF E…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

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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