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 04, 1991	LAKEVIEW, AR	N64344	Incident	substantial	(1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING AND (2) HIS SUBSEQUENT IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Jul 04, 1991	SOUTH BOSTON, VA	N1378U	Minor	substantial	THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING.
Jul 03, 1991	EL PASO, TX	N5488K	Incident	substantial	THE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE THE ICING CONDITIONS, LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR… THE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE THE ICING CONDITIONS, LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND THE GUSTY TAIL WIND.
Jul 03, 1991	WALDRON, WA	N737BZ	Incident	substantial	VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS NOT MAINTAINED, AND DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Jul 01, 1991	WATKINS, CO	N89900	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS FLARE.
Jun 29, 1991	GROVELAND, FL	N46305	Serious (1)	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Jun 28, 1991	PUNTA GORDA, FL	N6522D	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBSERVE THE WINDSOCK BEFORE LANDING RESULTING IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING WITH A QUARTERING TAILW… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBSERVE THE WINDSOCK BEFORE LANDING RESULTING IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF THE PILOT.
Jun 25, 1991	BECKLEY, WV	N20430	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED.
Jun 24, 1991	PAYSON, AZ	N8382B	Minor	substantial	A PREMATURE LIFTOFF, STALL, AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Jun 23, 1991	KEENESBURG, CO	N1241U	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE APPROACH, AND DISREGARD OF WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: A TAILWIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S ANXIETY.
Jun 20, 1991	SALEM, OR	N9830V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION AND HIS FAILURE TO SELECT A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS INCLUDE A WET RUNWAY, SOFT TERRAIN AND HIGH VEGETATIO… THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION AND HIS FAILURE TO SELECT A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS INCLUDE A WET RUNWAY, SOFT TERRAIN AND HIGH VEGETATION.
Jun 19, 1991	HAWLEY, MN	N9431D	Incident	substantial	INATTENTIVENESS OF BOTH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT, AND FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE UNSU… INATTENTIVENESS OF BOTH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT, AND FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Jun 19, 1991	VANCOUVER, WA	N4324R	Incident	substantial	A HARD LANDING BY THE PILOT DUE TO IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.
Jun 16, 1991	RIFLE, CO	N9885J	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPERLY FLARED THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING.
Jun 12, 1991	JACKSONVILLE, FL	N79542	Incident	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF SUITABLE TE… TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Jun 11, 1991	KNIGHDALE, NC	N12498	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY AND/OR PERFORM A GO-AROUND.
Jun 08, 1991	THERMAL, CA	N6230D	Minor	substantial	THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE/POWERPLANT FROM A WORN INTAKE VALVE AND THE FAILURE OF COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO PERFORM AN OVERHAUL ON THE ENG… THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE/POWERPLANT FROM A WORN INTAKE VALVE AND THE FAILURE OF COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO PERFORM AN OVERHAUL ON THE ENGINE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME RECOMMENDED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER.
Jun 03, 1991	CRESCENT CITY, CA	N12447	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EMPLOY PROPER FLIGHT CONTROL POSITIONING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAXI.
Jun 01, 1991	POINT MAGU, CA	N9663B	Minor	substantial	A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE AIRPLANE'S STROBE LIGHT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH IGNITED THE PLASTIC TUBING OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM CAUSING AN INFLIGHT FIRE … A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE AIRPLANE'S STROBE LIGHT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH IGNITED THE PLASTIC TUBING OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM CAUSING AN INFLIGHT FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Jun 01, 1991	BISMARCK, ND	N5478K	Fatal (1)	destroyed	SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEF, VRF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND LACK OF T… SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEF, VRF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
May 31, 1991	GRUNDY CENTER, IA	N3663S	Incident	substantial	FAILURE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO INSTALL A SAFETY WIRE AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.
May 28, 1991	CADILLAC, MI	N9591V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MAINTAINING EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED THROUGH THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN WHICH RESULTED IN OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY.
May 28, 1991	WILLITS, CA	N1407U	Incident	substantial	THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENTERING INTO AN INADVERT… THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENTERING INTO AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE.
May 27, 1991	EGEGIK, AK	N2775E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH WINDS.
May 27, 1991	CHICAGO, IL	N5710E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND (STUDENT)'S IMPROPER JUDGEMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DELAYING AN ABORT… THE PILOT IN COMMAND (STUDENT)'S IMPROPER JUDGEMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DELAYING AN ABORTED LANDING.

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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