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
Sep 21, 1989 CHANDLER, AZ N6277D Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT'S OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Sep 21, 1989 HYANNIS, NE N733FY Serious (2) substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. DARKNESS AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Sep 18, 1989 AFTON, WY N739XX Fatal (2) destroyed
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO C…

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Sep 17, 1989 YPSILANTI, MI N736HC Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. RAIN SOFTENED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE IS A CONTR…

THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. RAIN SOFTENED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Sep 17, 1989 WAXAHACHIE, TX N738BB Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO EXPOSURE TO OVERTEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Sep 15, 1989 BARNESVILLE, MN N3610L Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTAINED AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT.
Sep 14, 1989 PROVO, UT N75815 Incident substantial
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) …

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.

Sep 10, 1989 KEY WEST, FL N6552F Incident minor
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT …

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION.

Sep 09, 1989 BAYPORT, NY N734UG Incident substantial THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING SPEED AND DISTANCE RESULTING IN HIS OVERSHOOTING THE LANDING AND RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Sep 07, 1989 BURLINGTON, CO N734VH Incident substantial IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Sep 07, 1989 TUCSON, AZ N758HB Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Sep 05, 1989 MIDLOTHIAN, TX N736YG Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Sep 04, 1989 ALDERWOOD MANOR, WA N98354 Incident substantial IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE TAILWIND AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Sep 02, 1989 NORTHFIELD, NH N65595 Fatal (4) destroyed
THE PILOT INITIATED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE AND …

THE PILOT INITIATED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE AND THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Sep 02, 1989 BELLVILLE, TX N13620 Incident substantial
IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE GEAR FAILU…

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE GEAR FAILURE.

Sep 01, 1989 SPARREVOHN, AK N2459L Incident substantial THE BUCKET WHICH WAS BLOWN INTO THE FLIGHT PATH BY A CROSSWIND.
Aug 31, 1989 BULLHEAD CITY, AZ N6270E Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM INFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT'S COMPLETIO…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM INFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT'S COMPLETION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED HEADWIND COMPONENT TO THE FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT.

Aug 27, 1989 MADISON, MS N5215E Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN PORPOISING OF THE AIRCRAFT AND AN UNCONTROLLED GROUND SWERV…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN PORPOISING OF THE AIRCRAFT AND AN UNCONTROLLED GROUND SWERVE.

Aug 27, 1989 TREMONTON, UT N4129F Serious (1) destroyed
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE WHILE MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HIGHWAY. THE POWERLINE WAS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUT…

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE WHILE MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HIGHWAY. THE POWERLINE WAS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Aug 26, 1989 JACKSONVILLE, FL N738WM Incident substantial
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, LIGHT POLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE LIGHT, AND THE LACK OF VISU…

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, LIGHT POLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE LIGHT, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION CONCERNING THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO SEE THE POLE AT NIGHT.

Aug 23, 1989 CLEAR LAKE, MN N80357 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH INADEQUATE VISUAL CUES WHICH PRECLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF A CORRECT RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. A SUITAB…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH INADEQUATE VISUAL CUES WHICH PRECLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF A CORRECT RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT WAS READILY AVAILABLE.

Aug 19, 1989 EUREKA LODGE, AK N78254 Incident substantial IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE HUMP (UNEVEN SURFACE) ON THE RUNWAY.
Aug 18, 1989 GARDNER, MA N65105 Minor substantial THE WORN THROTTLE ARM.
Aug 17, 1989 SUPERIOR, WI N98584 Serious (1) substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Aug 15, 1989 LAKE VILLAGE, IN N2484L Incident substantial
WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL/FUEL SYSTEM AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTO…

WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL/FUEL SYSTEM AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A CONTRIBUTING 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.
← Cessna 172 For Sale All Cessna Models
Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data
View 500 Cessna 172 for sale ↓