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
Jan 08, 1992 ARCATA, CA N1608F Incident substantial CARBURETOR ICING AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
Dec 31, 1991 GREENCASTLE, IN N3281L Incident substantial THE WORN CENTERING LOCKING LUG ON THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY.
Dec 28, 1991 MELBOURNE, FL N9718B Serious (1) substantial
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE DEMONSTRATING A POWER OFF APPROACH TO THE STUDENT AND HIS IMPROPER RETRACT…

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE DEMONSTRATING A POWER OFF APPROACH TO THE STUDENT AND HIS IMPROPER RETRACTION OF THE WING FLAPS DURING GO AROUND FROM THE APPROACH RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO THE GROUND.

Dec 27, 1991 SANFORD, MI N6623H Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT TO AVOID A WIRE STRIKE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT,…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT TO AVOID A WIRE STRIKE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WIRES.

Dec 26, 1991 KAMUELA, HI N79948 Incident substantial THE PILOTS ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST BEYOND THE GROUND HANDLING CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN PREFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION.
Dec 24, 1991 CHANDLER, AZ N734GY Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT.
Dec 18, 1991 GULFPORT, MS N733XV Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND AND INADVERTENT STALL.
Dec 17, 1991 CUMBERLAND, WI N73920 Fatal (4) destroyed
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY THE PILOT IN COMMND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, A BL…

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY THE PILOT IN COMMND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, A BLOCKED PITOT STATIC SYSTEM, LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

Dec 12, 1991 LOCKPORT, NY N73627 Minor substantial
AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND BY THE SECOND PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY BO…

AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND BY THE SECOND PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY BOTH PILOTS AND THE SECOND PILOT'S ATTEMPTED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

Dec 11, 1991 CARLYLE, IL N8316X Serious (1) substantial FUEL CONTAMINATION AND BLOCKAGE OF THE CARBURETOR, WHICH RESTULED IN FUEL STARVATION. THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) WERE A RELATED FACTOR.
Dec 05, 1991 TULSA, OK N6947X Incident substantial CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A WIRE. A FACTOR WAS THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN STOLEN BY TWO UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS.
Dec 05, 1991 BROOMFIELD, CO N9320D Incident minor FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY DUE TO DUCTILE TORSIONAL OVERSTRESS.
Dec 04, 1991 RAMSEUR, NC N65013 Minor destroyed THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Nov 27, 1991 LITCHFIELD, MN N9589B Fatal (4) destroyed
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE HAD SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE; VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, DISREGARDING HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORIE…

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE HAD SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE; VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, DISREGARDING HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORIES, PERFORMING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

Nov 26, 1991 SAIPAN, CQ N733PB Incident destroyed A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECTLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
Nov 25, 1991 OKMULGEE, OK N65748 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR A CROSSWIND CONDITION. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE PREVAILING CROSSWIND.
Nov 23, 1991 MARQUETTE, MI N96147 Serious (1) destroyed
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME (WING) ICING AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE ADVERS…

FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME (WING) ICING AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DARKNESS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Nov 20, 1991 BOULDER, CO N80893 Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE SIGN.
Nov 17, 1991 HOWELL, MI N73475 Serious (1) substantial PROPER GLIDEPATH WAS NOT MAINTAINED RESULTING IN AN UNDERSHOOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS DARK NIGHT FLYING CONDITIONS.
Nov 15, 1991 VIRGIN GORDA, VG N2824L Incident substantial Investigation pending
Nov 11, 1991 MOOSE PASS, AK N6742A Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SETTLE BACK TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL C…

THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SETTLE BACK TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER SETTLING BACK ON THE RUNWAY, DUE TO HIS VISIBILITY BEING RESTRICTED BY FROST ON THE WINDSHIELD.

Nov 10, 1991 CARMEL VALLEY, CA N80274 Fatal (3) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND DURING AN INTENTIONAL LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTO…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND DURING AN INTENTIONAL LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT BECOMING DISTRACTED WHILE FLYING OVER THE GROUND AND TO HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A CLIMB OR TAKE OTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION BY ALTERING HIS COURSE IN A TIMELY MANNER TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE MOUNTAIN.

Nov 08, 1991 OKEECHOBEE, FL N739WS Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DURING A LOW PASS AT NIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LIKELY SPATIAL DISORIENTATION DU…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DURING A LOW PASS AT NIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LIKELY SPATIAL DISORIENTATION DUE TO THE LACK OF SURFACE VISUAL CLUES, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PATCHY FOG CONDITIONS.

Nov 04, 1991 WILLIAMS, AZ N5337K Minor destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Nov 02, 1991 BEMIDJI, MN N8283E Minor destroyed
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, THE NON PERFORMANCE O FAN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND NOT MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RA…

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, THE NON PERFORMANCE O FAN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND NOT MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REMOVING ICE FROM THE AIRPLANE, NOT OBTAINING ALTITUDE DURING THE CLIMB, AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

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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