Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 1991 | WESTERN, NE | N738LL | Fatal (1) | destroyed | SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. |
| Feb 18, 1991 | THORNTON, TX | N5112K | Fatal (1) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE WET MICROBURST. A FACTOR WAS HIS DISREGARD FOR THE FORECAST. |
| Feb 17, 1991 | BULLHEAD CITY, CA | N8551B | Serious (2) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM FATIGUE; HE ALSO FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. THE LINEMAN'S FAILURE …THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM FATIGUE; HE ALSO FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. THE LINEMAN'S FAILURE TO SECURE THE ACCESS DOOR AND THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. |
| Feb 17, 1991 | SAN CARLOS, CA | N5300F | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE LANDING. |
| Feb 14, 1991 | CROSSVILLE, TN | N8641B | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
THE IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN MO…THE IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. |
| Feb 10, 1991 | EASTON, PA | N9796V | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S IMPROPERLY EXECUTED APPROACH, RESULTING IN A LANDING WITH EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. |
| Feb 07, 1991 | ANCHORAGE, AK | N63541 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TERRAIN (SNOWBANK). |
| Feb 07, 1991 | HELENA, MT | N13654 | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE ON LANDING INAD…THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE ON LANDING INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT EXPERIENCE. |
| Feb 02, 1991 | AUGUSTA, ME | N62746 | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE AT AN IMPROPER SPEED, THEN ALLOWED THE CLIMB ANGLE TO BECOME TOO STEEP, CAUSING AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTI…THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE AT AN IMPROPER SPEED, THEN ALLOWED THE CLIMB ANGLE TO BECOME TOO STEEP, CAUSING AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE PILOT FAILED TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY; AND THE PILOT'S LOW TIME AND TOTAL LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. |
| Feb 02, 1991 | NASHUA, NH | N13341 | Incident | substantial | FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION BY OTHER PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE AND A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. |
| Jan 27, 1991 | SEDONA, AZ | N54863 | Incident | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. |
| Jan 26, 1991 | ROCHESTER, MN | N9419E | Incident | substantial |
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOT…INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. |
| Jan 22, 1991 | SACRAMENTO, CA | N96306 | Serious (1) | destroyed | THE FLIGHT'S INADVERTANT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE. |
| Jan 22, 1991 | LANSING, IL | N5345D | Incident | substantial | INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY. |
| Jan 16, 1991 | NEW SMYRNA BCH, FL | N215ER | Incident | substantial | FAILURE OF THE CFI TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHT WING TIP AND A TELEPHONE POLE. |
| Jan 15, 1991 | HAYWARD, CA | N9721B | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER VFR PROCEDURES AND HIS MISJUDGED EVALUATION OF THE WEA…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER VFR PROCEDURES AND HIS MISJUDGED EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS. ADDITIONAL FACTORS RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF LOW CLOUDS AND TO THE RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. |
| Jan 15, 1991 | CHARLESTON, WV | N62960 | Incident | substantial |
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR DOWEL PIN RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN…TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR DOWEL PIN RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER ON LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER PROCEDURE USED DURING ENGINE OVERHAUL. |
| Jan 07, 1991 | MISSING, AO | N2165Y | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CO…THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VISUAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTURE, THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLYING EXPERIENCE. |
| Jan 06, 1991 | FREEPORT, IL | N65567 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISUSE OF FLAPS AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENC…THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISUSE OF FLAPS AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION. |
| Jan 06, 1991 | UKIAH, CA | N737FJ | Incident | substantial |
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN …THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR ALL OBSTRUCTIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. |
| Jan 05, 1991 | WASILLA, AK | N4468L | Incident | substantial |
PILOT'S NOT REMOVING THE FROST FROM THE AIRPLANE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED ABORT, AND THE BER…PILOT'S NOT REMOVING THE FROST FROM THE AIRPLANE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED ABORT, AND THE BERM. |
| Jan 02, 1991 | RATTLESNAKE ISL, OH | N9837L | Fatal (1) | substantial | THE CFI'S DELAYED DECISION TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND FROM A LONG LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. |
| Jan 01, 1991 | NEW HOLSTEIN, WI | N55409 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE LANDING APPROACH, LANDING ON AN ICE COVERED RUNWAY AND THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSWIND. |
| Dec 30, 1990 | TUCSON, AZ | N739ZV | Incident | substantial | BOTH PILOTS USED POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT PROCEDURES. |
| Dec 26, 1990 | YUCCA VALLEY, CA | N5258D | Minor | substantial |
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAILWIND LANDING, AND HIS TAILWIND AND THE PILOT'S…THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAILWIND LANDING, AND HIS TAILWIND AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING. |