Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 1990 | ELKHORN, MT | N61918 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT FLIGHT IN TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRPLANE. |
| Mar 17, 1990 | BEDFORD, VA | N76026 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDEN…THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE, LOW CEILINGS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND RAIN. |
| Mar 17, 1990 | RIO HONDO, TX | N4696L | Incident | substantial |
OIL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND THE …OIL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND THE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED. |
| Mar 17, 1990 | MONTEZUMA, GA | N734JE | Fatal (2) | destroyed | THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF. |
| Mar 15, 1990 | OCILLA, GA | N733BV | Minor | substantial | THE AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER WITH LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENT. |
| Mar 15, 1990 | REDDING, CA | N13317 | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT'S DECISION NOT TO USE FULL FLAPS WHICH RESULTED IN A LONG LANDING ON A WET RUNWAY. |
| Mar 13, 1990 | HURRICANE, UT | N1530V | Incident | substantial | THE ENGINE OIL LEAK INDUCED CONNECTING ROD FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT TOTAL POWER LOSS. |
| Mar 12, 1990 | TAMPA, FL | N9899L | Serious (2) | destroyed | PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS), WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL/SPIN), AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. |
| Mar 11, 1990 | ISABEL, SD | N35485 | Incident | substantial | PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. |
| Mar 10, 1990 | ARLINGTON, TX | N5193F | Incident | substantial |
INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT WHICH LED TO THE ENSUING ENGI…INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT WHICH LED TO THE ENSUING ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE'S ERRONEOUS QUANTITY READINGS AND THE SOFT/UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THAT LED TO A NOSE OVER DURING THE SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY LANDING. |
| Mar 10, 1990 | BASTROP, LA | N3530E | Minor | substantial |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOR A GO-AROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOR A GO-AROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION AND TURBULENCE. |
| Mar 07, 1990 | CLEARWATER, FL | N73929 | Minor | substantial |
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A PORPOISE AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED T…THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A PORPOISE AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GUSTY CROSSWIND, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. |
| Mar 03, 1990 | WANCHESE, NC | N3663L | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S PREMATURE, DISCONTINUED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. |
| Feb 15, 1990 | FAIRBANKS, AK | N4305L | Incident | substantial |
WATER (OR ICE) CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SNOW COVERED TE…WATER (OR ICE) CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. |
| Feb 11, 1990 | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | N98673 | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A TIE DOWN HOLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE HA…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A TIE DOWN HOLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE HANGAR. |
| Feb 10, 1990 | PRUE, OK | N1407Y | Serious (2) | substantial | FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWERLINES. THE POWERLINES WERE A RELATED FACTOR. |
| Feb 09, 1990 | SUNAPEE LAKE, NH | N65057 | Incident | substantial | FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE LAKE, WHICH RESULTED IN UNPLANNED CONTACT WITH ITS FROZEN SURFACE. |
| Feb 04, 1990 | TOMBALL, TX | N128S | Fatal (1) | minor |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL L…FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT IN THE CESSNA 172, N128S, DUE TO USE OF DRUGS (CANNABINOIDS), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A SAFETY ADVISORY. |
| Feb 03, 1990 | PAHOKEE, FL | N6812X | Incident | substantial | LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AM UNDETERMINED REASON. |
| Jan 27, 1990 | GAITHERSBURG, MD | N75946 | Serious (1) | destroyed |
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE A…INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND THE CFI'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT. |
| Jan 27, 1990 | INYOKERN, CA | N12528 | Incident | substantial |
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING, WHICH RESULTED IN…IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. |
| Jan 21, 1990 | GOLIAD, TX | N9892Q | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT FOR CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND PRECIPITATED THE …THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT FOR CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND PRECIPITATED THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. |
| Jan 17, 1990 | FORT MORGAN, CO | N3135J | Minor | substantial | PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED REASON. |
| Jan 16, 1990 | DANBURY, CT | N9093H | Serious (1) | destroyed |
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE DURING AN ATTEM…IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE DURING AN ATTEMPTED ENGINE START. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE UNSECURED FUEL LINE. |
| Jan 15, 1990 | DEXTER, MO | N7726U | Minor | substantial |
THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND FAILED TO REACH THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND COND…THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH, AND FAILED TO REACH THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR. |