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
Jun 04, 1990 ONEGO, WV N5117U Fatal (2) destroyed
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS TE…

VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE TERRAIN AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Jun 03, 1990 JERSEYVILLE, IL N64085 Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO GO AROUND WHEN CROSSWINDS UPSET AIRCRAFT ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY IN THE FLARE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S A…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO GO AROUND WHEN CROSSWINDS UPSET AIRCRAFT ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY IN THE FLARE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO LAND IN CROSSWINDS WHICH EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM FOR WHICH THE MODEL HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED CAPABLE.

Jun 03, 1990 TACOMA, WA N79931 Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH FOR LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Jun 01, 1990 NORTHWOOD, OH N737KL Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FAC…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER OVER A POPULATED AREA WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

May 31, 1990 CHESTERFIELD, VA N51706 Incident substantial THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.
May 28, 1990 GLENDALE, AZ N3888S Minor substantial FUEL EXHAUSTION. RESULTING FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM REFUELING.
May 26, 1990 ALBUQUERQUE, NM N6498R Incident substantial THE CFI'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
May 26, 1990 LEONA, TX N1650V Incident substantial
ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO A TOTALLY OBSTRUCTED AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING…

ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO A TOTALLY OBSTRUCTED AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING HAD TO BE PERFORMED.

May 25, 1990 BRENTWOOD, CA N5714T Serious (2) substantial THE PILOT IMPROPERLY CALCULATED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
May 23, 1990 PLYMOUTH, FL N66026 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPE…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPEREINCE.

May 22, 1990 URBANA, OH N6195E Minor substantial WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
May 22, 1990 JEFFERSONVILLE, IN N733CR Incident substantial
THE ENGINE STARTED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHEN THE PROP WAS MOVED AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN INOPERATIVE STARTER. (MOST PROBABLY, THERE WAS …

THE ENGINE STARTED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHEN THE PROP WAS MOVED AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN INOPERATIVE STARTER. (MOST PROBABLY, THERE WAS EITHER AN ISOLATED/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OR THE PILOT DID NOT MOVE THE MAGNETO SWITCH ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION BEFORE MOVING THE PROPELLER.)

May 22, 1990 LAKEPORT, CA N61602 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
May 18, 1990 SALINAS, CA N9993G Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING VISUAL FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. SELF INDUCED PRESSURE T…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING VISUAL FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO ADHERE TO THE PROPOSED FLIGHT ROUTE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WAS A FACTOR.

May 18, 1990 NOVATO, CA N6816E Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
May 16, 1990 SEDONA, AZ N738UC Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN APPROPRIATE AIRSPEED DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND.
May 15, 1990 CALIFORNIA CITY, CA N7406A Minor substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR RELATED TO ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
May 14, 1990 GRANVILLE, NY N80104 Incident substantial THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A DITCH.
May 10, 1990 MAYAGUEZ, PR N7268G Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILUE TO CONDUCT PROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS, RESULTING IN A TAKEOFF AT 175 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, WITH FULL FLAPS…

THE PILOT'S FAILUE TO CONDUCT PROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS, RESULTING IN A TAKEOFF AT 175 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, AND ON THE IMPROPER RUNWAY FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE BEING UNABLE TO CLIMB AFTER LIFTOFF AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL LINES 1,625 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

May 07, 1990 COTTONWOOD, AZ N251ER Incident substantial PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS DURING THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER.
May 07, 1990 POCOMOKE, MD N7746T Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWWN POINT DURING THE LANDING. …

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWWN POINT DURING THE LANDING. THE DITCH WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

May 06, 1990 SAN JOSE, CA N1495V Serious (1) substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED I…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

May 06, 1990 NEW RICHMOND, WI N76089 Fatal (3) destroyed
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO AVOID A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR RELATED RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIA…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO AVOID A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR RELATED RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

May 03, 1990 SAN ANGELO, TX N3941R Incident substantial THE STUDENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF IN VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
May 02, 1990 PLAINFIELD, IL N54093 Incident substantial
THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTO…

THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

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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