Cessna 172D Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 79 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 04, 1999 | HOMER, LA | N2645U | Incident | substantial |
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of fuel moving away from the fuel supply outlets. Factors were the low fuel level and the…The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of fuel moving away from the fuel supply outlets. Factors were the low fuel level and the turbulence. |
| Sep 29, 1998 | RONAN, MT | N2479Y | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during liftoff from a soft field takeoff. Factors include high density alttiude. |
| Sep 20, 1998 | LOUISVILLE, KY | N2482U | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection of the airplane before his first solo flight, and inadequate supervision by the certifie…The student pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection of the airplane before his first solo flight, and inadequate supervision by the certified flight instructor, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. |
| May 30, 1998 | BEVERLY, MA | N2507Y | Incident | substantial | failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during the landing and attempted go-around. A related factor was the crosswind. |
| Feb 25, 1998 | EL PASO, TX | N2526U | Incident | substantial | The pilots improper compensation for the wind conditions and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor was the high wind condition. |
| Sep 22, 1996 | GERMANTOWN HILL, IL | N904SW | Minor | substantial | the pilot's inadequate fuel supply and his misjudging distance and altitude. The trees were a factor. |
| May 20, 1996 | VILARICA, GA | N2814U | Minor | substantial |
The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) during a go-around resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequen…The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) during a go-around resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper use of flaps. |
| Mar 09, 1996 | MACON, GA | N2681U | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for th…The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. |
| Mar 02, 1996 | HAWTHORNE, FL | N2456U | Fatal (2) | destroyed | the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath during an instrument approach. |
| Feb 26, 1996 | JULIAN, CA | N2598U | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. The pilot's inadequate prefli…the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. The pilot's inadequate preflight/preparation, low clouds, fog, and mountain obscuration were factors in the accident. |
| Jan 28, 1996 | RINEYVILLE, KY | N2315U | Incident | substantial | the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. |
| Oct 22, 1995 | PRYOR, OK | N2848U | Incident | substantial | THE HIGH WIND AND THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN ATTEMPTING THE FLIGHT. |
| Sep 07, 1995 | PRIM, AR | N2519U | Incident | substantial |
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO INITIATE A FLARE DUE TO THE FRACTURE OF THE YOKE ASSEMBLY, AN…THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO INITIATE A FLARE DUE TO THE FRACTURE OF THE YOKE ASSEMBLY, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. |
| Aug 05, 1995 | HAGUE, VA | N2418Y | Incident | substantial |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PR…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PROXIMITY OF TALL CORN (CROP) TO THE NARROW RUNWAY. |
| Jul 15, 1995 | STANTON, TN | N3744S | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE …THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTATED, AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. |
| Apr 24, 1995 | TSAILE, AZ | N2587Y | Fatal (4) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE AND THE RISING TERRAIN. |
| Mar 25, 1995 | LAKE OSWEGO, OR | N6600T | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. |
| Dec 03, 1994 | MIAMI, FL | N707PP | Fatal (1) | — | The passenger committed suicide. |
| Sep 25, 1994 | ALABASTER, AL | N2830U | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUMP THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER. |
| Jan 01, 1994 | BANDON, OR | N2813U | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. FACTORS INCLUDE STRONG, GUST WINDS, A DARK NIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN NIGHTTIME …THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. FACTORS INCLUDE STRONG, GUST WINDS, A DARK NIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS. |
| Jul 17, 1993 | NEW MILFORD, PA | N2494U | Serious (1) | substantial |
LOSS OF ENGINE ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MICE, WHICH PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL AND AI…LOSS OF ENGINE ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MICE, WHICH PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL AND AIR FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. |
| Jul 02, 1993 | LAMPASAS, TX | N2446U | Minor | substantial | FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING |
| Jun 06, 1993 | RIDGELAND, SC | N50000 | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE S…THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE. |
| Jan 30, 1993 | SLAYTON, MN | N2440U | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR. |
| Nov 13, 1992 | MARSHALL, IL | N2577U | Serious (2) | substantial | AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT. |