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
Dec 17, 1990 MCDERMITT, NV N4319Q Incident substantial INTENTIONAL BUZZING CONDUCTED BY THE PILOT. HIS POOR JUDGEMENT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Dec 13, 1990 AUSTIN, MN N1489U Incident substantial
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (STUDENT)'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY EVALUATE AND COMPENSATE FOR GUSTY WIND CONDIITONS AND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUR…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (STUDENT)'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY EVALUATE AND COMPENSATE FOR GUSTY WIND CONDIITONS AND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING INITIAL CLIMB. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND WIND GUSTS.

Dec 12, 1990 JACKSONVILLE, FL N5780R Serious (2) destroyed FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Dec 05, 1990 PLANO, TX N6297D Incident destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE APPROVED START PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN AN INDUCTION FIRE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRPLANE.
Dec 04, 1990 BIG BEAR CITY, CA N12943 Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF AND HIS INCORRECT USE OF FULL FLAPS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CON…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF AND HIS INCORRECT USE OF FULL FLAPS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S ABRUPT AIRPLANE HANDLING TECHNIQUES.

Dec 02, 1990 AXTON, VA N55276 Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN UNMARKED POWERLINE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH T…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN UNMARKED POWERLINE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

Nov 29, 1990 VERO BEACH, FL N733UC Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFROM A PROPER LANDING FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Nov 29, 1990 CHAMBLEE, GA N6168F Incident substantial PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE WINGTIP CLEARANCE DURING TAXI.
Nov 26, 1990 TONOPAH, NV N79551 Incident substantial
THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS …

THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKING WEATHER EVALUATIONS.

Nov 26, 1990 GRANBURY, TX N46383 Minor substantial TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT.
Nov 24, 1990 MOUNT IDA, AR N4275Q Incident substantial
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY…

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND.

Nov 23, 1990 PERHAM, ME N9086H Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT INITIATING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE CONT…

THE PILOT INITIATING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE EXISTING ICING CONDITIONS.

Nov 20, 1990 HOMESTEAD, FL N80509 Fatal (1) destroyed THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE ADEQUATE FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE FLIGHT RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Nov 17, 1990 SAN CLEMENTE, CA N5257V Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOTS SELECTION OF IMPROPER CRUISE ALTITUDE WHILE OPERATING UNDER A LOW OVERCAST ON A DARK NIGHT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS FATIGUE AND LACK O…

THE PILOTS SELECTION OF IMPROPER CRUISE ALTITUDE WHILE OPERATING UNDER A LOW OVERCAST ON A DARK NIGHT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS FATIGUE AND LACK OF SLEEP.

Nov 17, 1990 ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO N51101 Fatal (2) destroyed DELAY OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE AND, AS A RESULT, HE DITCHED THE AIRPLANE NEAR A BOAT DUE TO A LOW FUEL SUPPLY.
Nov 15, 1990 BRIGHAM CITY, UT N5030A Serious (2) substantial THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE.
Nov 09, 1990 HAYWARD, WI N64406 Serious (1) destroyed THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.
Nov 03, 1990 ELKTON, VA N902ZZ Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN.
Nov 03, 1990 FORT SCOTT, KS N739VN Incident substantial THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS SET INCORRECTLY RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE CHECK LIST WAS NOT FOLLOWED BY THE CFI/PIC.
Nov 02, 1990 ABILENE, TX N5096D Minor substantial PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
Oct 30, 1990 TORRANCE, CA N9592V Incident substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE, MADE AN IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT …

THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE, MADE AN IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER.

Oct 27, 1990 ANACORTES, WA N4174L Incident substantial THE PILOT POORLY COMPENSATED FOR THE WIND CONDITION.
Oct 27, 1990 PORTAGE, WI N738AP Minor substantial THE PIC BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTATED AND PERFORMED A PREMATURE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Oct 23, 1990 BUENA VISTA, CO N2665L Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FLARE PROPERLY DURING LANDING. THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR.
Oct 22, 1990 GOLETA, CA N13670 Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDEPATH WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS SUNGLARE.
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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