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
Aug 02, 1990	TANGIER ISLAND, VA	N1516E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.
Aug 02, 1990	GRD BAHAMA ISL, BF	N6459E	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 01, 1990	MAMMOTH LAKES, CA	N51872	Incident	substantial	INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH HIGH VELOCITY WINDS.
Jul 29, 1990	MIDWAY, TN	N8091X	Minor	substantial	TOTAL FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FOUR EXHAUST VALVE, RESULTING IN ENGINE POWER LOSS AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING OF THE AIRPLANE.
Jul 28, 1990	EDINBURG, NY	N6251D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND DESCENDED INTO TREES, AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Jul 25, 1990	CANTON, MI	N4330Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE, PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND DELAYED REACTION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Jul 21, 1990	LAKE LOUISE, AK	N7866U	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS A CROSSWIND.
Jul 19, 1990	GRACETON, MN	N7895G	Minor	substantial	VSO AIRSPEED NOT MAINTAINED AND STALL ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND/CFI.
Jul 16, 1990	GRANTS, NM	N46593	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jul 13, 1990	YAMHILL, OR	N733GJ	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS DURING GO-AROUND.
Jul 08, 1990	DAVIS, CA	N7726X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY IMPROPERLY USING THE BRAKES.
Jul 06, 1990	CONCORD, CA	N5388R	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S INITIATING AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT AND THE CFI'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Jul 04, 1990	AVALON, CA	N2810E	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, DECISION, AND HIS INTENTIONAL LOW FLYING NEAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, DECISION, AND HIS INTENTIONAL LOW FLYING NEAR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S NOT MAINTAINING/FOLLOWING PROPER VFR PROCEDURES, THE RELATED DISTRACTION OF THE OPEN CABIN DOOR, AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO GROUND ACTIVITIES.
Jul 02, 1990	TOOELE, UT	N736NB	Incident	substantial	THE FLIGHTS ENCOUNTER WITH TURBLENCE ON FINAL WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.
Jun 30, 1990	EL CAJON, CA	N9313H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE LANDING AFTER TOUCHDOWN PAST THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE.
Jun 29, 1990	HOUSTON, TX	N8190X	Incident	substantial	FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jun 28, 1990	VAN NUYS, CA	N6308D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PI… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE GO AROUND PROCEDURES SPECIFIED IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL.
Jun 22, 1990	BROOKVILLE, OH	N715HR	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ENCOUNTERING GUSTY, SHIFTY WINDS AND WINDSHEAR DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT AFTE… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ENCOUNTERING GUSTY, SHIFTY WINDS AND WINDSHEAR DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT AFTER TAKEOFF.
Jun 16, 1990	AUGUSTA, ME	N2898U	Serious (1)	destroyed	POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, HIS DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO… POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, HIS DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF PROPER CERTIFICATION (QUALIFICATION), HIS POSSIBLE IMPAIRMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT AND FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Jun 15, 1990	SHOW LOW, AZ	N8512B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jun 13, 1990	MILLERSBURG, OH	N7955U	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT. THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL AVIATION EXPERIENCE AND HIS MOTION SICKNESS … FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT. THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL AVIATION EXPERIENCE AND HIS MOTION SICKNESS ARE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT.
Jun 10, 1990	WINFIELD, IA	N73566	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO GO-AROUND WAS DELAYED AND CLEARANCE OF THE POWER LINES WAS NOT ATTAINED.
Jun 09, 1990	REDDING, CA	N216PB	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S PREMATURE ROTATION DURING THE T… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S PREMATURE ROTATION DURING THE TAKEOFF AND THE FAILURE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL ACTION.
Jun 07, 1990	BOULDER, CO	N2723E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO TOUCH DOWN AT THE PROPER POINT, HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF FOLLOWING THE TOUCH AND GO, AND HIS DELAYE… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO TOUCH DOWN AT THE PROPER POINT, HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF FOLLOWING THE TOUCH AND GO, AND HIS DELAYED DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Jun 06, 1990	CHANDELEUR ISLD, LA	N1071S	Incident	substantial	MINIMUM AIRSPEED REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT (VS) WAS NOT MAINTAINED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FATIGUED CONDITION, AND PREMATURE LIFT OFF.

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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