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
Apr 07, 1991 COLLEGE PARK, MD N9671A Incident substantial THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY.
Apr 06, 1991 BURLINGTON, CT N64182 Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT, HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE AND TOTAL TIME, AND THE CROSSWIND.

Apr 05, 1991 HOOD RIVER, OR N9852T Incident substantial
AN INADEQUATELY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ROUGH WATER LANDING CONDITIONS, POOR SUPERVISION BY T…

AN INADEQUATELY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ROUGH WATER LANDING CONDITIONS, POOR SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, AND THE OVERLOAD CONDITION TO THE FLOAT ASSEMBLY.

Apr 05, 1991 STOCKTON, CA N733MQ Incident substantial THE INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF AN INCORRECT GASKET THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE MAGNETO.
Apr 04, 1991 FLIPPIN, AR N4416R Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.
Apr 02, 1991 WEST CHICAGO, IL N9592B Incident minor
FAILURE OF THE SPLINED SHAFT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE INCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE LANDING GEA…

FAILURE OF THE SPLINED SHAFT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE INCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY.

Mar 31, 1991 LA JUNTA, CO N6904X Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND THE RESULTANT INADVERTENT STALL. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCI…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND THE RESULTANT INADVERTENT STALL. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Mar 31, 1991 OGDEN, UT N6852H Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACHED FOR LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND THE INADEQUACY OF THE PILOT'S RECOVERY FR…

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACHED FOR LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND THE INADEQUACY OF THE PILOT'S RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

Mar 30, 1991 BAR HARBOR, ME N2899E Serious (1) substantial THE ENGINE LOST POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Mar 27, 1991 YANKTON, SD N1743V Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIE…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Mar 23, 1991 WICHITA, KS N96868 Incident substantial
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND REMEDIAL ACTION WAS DELAYED BY THE CFI. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY C…

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND REMEDIAL ACTION WAS DELAYED BY THE CFI. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY CROSSWIND AND A DRAINAGE DITCH.

Mar 23, 1991 CLEWISTON, FL N739BW Incident substantial
MISJUDGED WIND DIRECTION RESULTING IN INCORRECT RUNWAY SELECTION AND FAILURE BY THE PIC TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. CONTRIB…

MISJUDGED WIND DIRECTION RESULTING IN INCORRECT RUNWAY SELECTION AND FAILURE BY THE PIC TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF THE PILOT'S TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Mar 22, 1991 HAGERSTOWN, MD N5241D Incident substantial WORN CAMSHAFT LOBES WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Mar 18, 1991 LEROY, NY N20360 Incident substantial
THE HARD LANDING MADE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY DESPITE THE RUNWAY LIGHTING…

THE HARD LANDING MADE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY DESPITE THE RUNWAY LIGHTING SYSTEM BEING PARTIALLY INOPERATIVE, AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF THE PILOT AT NIGHT.

Mar 16, 1991 BUCKEYE, AZ N6439 Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT OF THE AIRPLANE EXCEEDING THE CERTIFICATED NEVER EXCEED VELOCITY. THE OVERLOADING OF THE WING ATTACHMENT FITTINGS WHILE MANEUVERING WAS A FA…

THE PILOT OF THE AIRPLANE EXCEEDING THE CERTIFICATED NEVER EXCEED VELOCITY. THE OVERLOADING OF THE WING ATTACHMENT FITTINGS WHILE MANEUVERING WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Mar 16, 1991 BRIDGMAN, MI N78195 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT A DESCENT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MANEUVERING AT AN IMPROPER ALTITUDE.
Mar 14, 1991 PANAMA CITY, FL N88FP Minor substantial CARBURETOR ICING DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND DITCHING.
Mar 09, 1991 SEATTLE, WA N64599 Incident substantial A HARD LANDING DUE TO THE PILOT'S MIDJUDGEMENT OF HIS TOUCHDOWN.
Mar 09, 1991 MIAMISBURG, OH N64937 Minor substantial THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING IN A STRONG CROSSWIND.
Mar 06, 1991 BELLINGHAM, WA CGJNM Fatal (3) destroyed
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEAREANCE FROM THE MOUNTA…

VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEAREANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

Mar 06, 1991 BELLINGHAM, WA CGIXI Fatal (3) destroyed
VFR FLIGHT BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEAR…

VFR FLIGHT BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

Mar 04, 1991 EVERGLADES CITY, FL N84461 Incident substantial
INFORMATION GIVEN DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS DISREGARDED, IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUST, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. CONT…

INFORMATION GIVEN DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS DISREGARDED, IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUST, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE PLACEMENT OF A WINDSOCK WHICH WAS BLOCKED BY TREES RESULTING IN AN INCORRECT INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION AND VELOCITY OF THE WIND.

Mar 02, 1991 RENO, NV N4417L Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY T…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITION.

Mar 01, 1991 NASHUA, NH N97313 Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Feb 28, 1991 OREGON CITY, OR N7119T Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED BEFORE TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE BINDING BRAKE, THE UPHILL GRASS AIRSTRIP, THE…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED BEFORE TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE BINDING BRAKE, THE UPHILL GRASS AIRSTRIP, THE TAIL WIND WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE IMPROPER ANNUAL INSPECTION THAT WAS JUST COMPLETED ON THE AIRCRAFT.

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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