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
Feb 12, 1989 DEER VALLEY, AZ N3388E Serious (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE WING FLAPS DURING THE ABORTED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE CLIMBING RIGHT TURN.
Feb 11, 1989 SAN JUAN, PR N303CR Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Feb 08, 1989 MOSINEE, WI N6525V Fatal (3) destroyed
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT AS A RESULT OF INITIATING THE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT,…

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT AS A RESULT OF INITIATING THE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, SNOW, AND LOW CEILINGS.

Feb 06, 1989 MAYVILLE, ND N9459D Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON AN ICY RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON AN ICY RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY FOR TOUCHDOWN.

Feb 04, 1989 SANTA YNEZ, CA N98564 Minor substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING OR TO OBTAIN INFLIGHT WEATHER ADVISORY INFORMATION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE P…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING OR TO OBTAIN INFLIGHT WEATHER ADVISORY INFORMATION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHILE DESCENDING IN A DOWNDRAFT.

Feb 01, 1989 GALION, OH N8121B Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS PRIOR TO ADDING POWER FOR TAKEOFF RESULTING IN A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTIAN CONT…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS PRIOR TO ADDING POWER FOR TAKEOFF RESULTING IN A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTIAN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER LIFT-OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH.

Jan 31, 1989 BRUCETON MILLS, WV N8264U Serious (1) destroyed
THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH OBSTRUCTED AIRFLOW TO THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR IC…

THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH OBSTRUCTED AIRFLOW TO THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, THE HIGHWAY AND THE DITCH WHICH WAS CONTACTED.

Jan 29, 1989 SENECA FALLS, NY N12679 Incident minor FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE C-150, N17109, TO MAINTAIN PROPER SEPARATION FROM OTHER AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
Jan 29, 1989 AINSWORTH, NE N4843G Incident substantial
THE LOSS OF POWER FROM UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONA…

THE LOSS OF POWER FROM UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

Jan 27, 1989 CUMMING, GA N2556U Serious (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND INSUFFICIENT FUEL …

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND INSUFFICIENT FUEL RESERVE FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT.

Jan 24, 1989 MOORESVILLE, NC N98990 Minor substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: C…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND AT AN UNLIGHTED RUNWAY.

Jan 21, 1989 LARIMORE, ND N9439B Incident substantial
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POI…

INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, HIS DELAY IN CONFIGURING THE AIRCRAFT & EXECUTING THE GO-AROUND, ICY/SNOWY RUNWAY CONDITIONS, AND THE SNOWBANK.

Jan 21, 1989 HARTSVILLE, TN N5834A Fatal (2) substantial
THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE INADVERTENTLY ENTERIN…

THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS.

Jan 19, 1989 WILLIAMSBURG, OH N8774B Minor substantial A DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THE FUEL STRAINER WHICH CAUSED A RESTRICTION IN FUEL FLOW DURING CLIMBOUT.
Jan 15, 1989 ASHLAND, VA N901ZZ Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING AND THE FAILURE TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE GO-AROUND…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING AND THE FAILURE TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE GO-AROUND TO INITIATE A CLIMB.

Jan 09, 1989 CHADRON, NE N3799R Minor substantial
THE PLT FAILED TO DEVOTE FULL TIME & ATTENTION TO FLYING THE ACFT, WITH A RESULTING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE…

THE PLT FAILED TO DEVOTE FULL TIME & ATTENTION TO FLYING THE ACFT, WITH A RESULTING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Jan 07, 1989 Alturas, CA N3857Q Incident destroyed
THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE SNOW-COVERED RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A NOSE-OVER WHEN THE AIRP…

THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE SNOW-COVERED RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A NOSE-OVER WHEN THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO DEEPER SNOW.

Jan 06, 1989 OXNARD, CA N61587 Fatal (1) destroyed
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLSION WITH TERRAIN. RELATED FACTORS WERE…

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLSION WITH TERRAIN. RELATED FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING SERVICE, HIS DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION AT DUSK, AND THE RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Jan 04, 1989 LONGMONT, CO N96319 Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW ON THE EDGES OF…

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW ON THE EDGES OF THE RUNWAY, THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE SNOWBANK.

Jan 02, 1989 CHEYENNE, WY N4440L Incident substantial IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND AND GUSTS, WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR.
Dec 31, 1988 ERIE, CO N80650 Incident substantial Investigation pending
Dec 30, 1988 ANCHORAGE, AK N3752F Incident substantial Investigation pending
Dec 26, 1988 WISCASSET, ME N3736S Incident substantial Investigation pending
Dec 24, 1988 WADSWORTH, OH N8193B Fatal (2) destroyed Investigation pending
Dec 22, 1988 CLEARWATER, FL N5160F Minor substantial Investigation pending
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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