Cessna 172F Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 133 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 06, 2001 | Clovis, NM | N5175F | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during take off roll resulting in a ground loop. A contributing factor was the crosswind. |
| Feb 26, 2001 | Larkspur, CO | N8389U | Incident | substantial |
the flight instructor inadvertently stalling the airplane during a forced landing. Contributing factors were fuel exhaustion due to inadvertent openin…the flight instructor inadvertently stalling the airplane during a forced landing. Contributing factors were fuel exhaustion due to inadvertent opening of the fuel drain, lack of familiarity with the airplane, inadequate supervision of the flight, and the missing strainer spring. |
| Sep 21, 1998 | LONG BEACH, CA | N8761U | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's misjudging the flare point and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in a stall/mush and hard landing. A contri…The pilot's misjudging the flare point and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in a stall/mush and hard landing. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions. |
| Aug 30, 1998 | SPRING HILL, FL | N7832U | Incident | substantial | The pilot's misjudgment of distance and his delay in initiating a go around. Contributing was the pilot's improper landing flare. |
| Mar 31, 1998 | FORT COLLINS, CO | N7894U | Incident | substantial | the pilot's improper in flight planning/decision in electing to land with a known 30 knot tailwind. Factors were high winds and a tailwind. |
| Oct 29, 1997 | HURLEY, NM | N8714U | Incident | substantial |
the student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions. Factors included the gusty crosswind conditions and inadequate supervis…the student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions. Factors included the gusty crosswind conditions and inadequate supervision of the student pilot's solo flight by his flight instructor. |
| Sep 19, 1996 | EHRENBERG, AZ | N5536T | Incident | substantial | The pilot's attempt to perform a low altitude evasive maneuver with inadequate airspeed resulting in a stall/mush. |
| Aug 26, 1996 | OCOTILLO, CA | N5543R | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment. The sun glare and proximity of rocks were related factors. |
| Jun 01, 1996 | BLAIRSTOWN, NJ | N8869U | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain directional control due to improper compensation for wind conditions. |
| Oct 11, 1995 | DANBURY, WI | N8740U | Incident | substantial |
the partial failure of the left magneto, the road sign, and the road embankment. A factor relating to this accident is the brush which obscured the r…the partial failure of the left magneto, the road sign, and the road embankment. A factor relating to this accident is the brush which obscured the road sign. |
| Aug 15, 1995 | BRADLEY, CA | N5563R | Incident | substantial |
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel prior to takeoff and his delayed decision to proceed to his alternate airport. The night light c…fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel prior to takeoff and his delayed decision to proceed to his alternate airport. The night light conditions and the lack of a suitable emergency landing area were factors. |
| Jul 31, 1995 | OSHKOSH, WI | N5542R | Incident | minor | the failure of the pilot of the Acro II, N40LF, to maintain clearance from the Cessna 172, N5542R. |
| Jun 27, 1995 | HOMEDALE, ID | N4298C | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A FACTOR. |
| May 26, 1995 | BOONVILLE, CA | N5255F | Incident | substantial | a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| Dec 18, 1994 | CARROLLTON, GA | N5440R | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT COLLISION WITH TREES, ADJACENT TO THE TAXIWAY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A DEER THAT CROSSED THE TAXIWAY. |
| Oct 31, 1994 | TONOPAH, NV | N8210U | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's excessive taxi speed and improper remedial action after the nose gear began to shimmy. The nose gear shimmy (nose gear vibration) and the…the pilot's excessive taxi speed and improper remedial action after the nose gear began to shimmy. The nose gear shimmy (nose gear vibration) and the berm were factors in this accident. |
| Oct 22, 1994 | CROSS PLAINS, WI | N7969U | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. Factors were carburetor icing conditions and rough/uneven terrain. |
| Apr 17, 1994 | ARLINGTON, CA | N5709R | Incident | substantial |
FAILURE OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE STUDENT PILOT AND PERFORM THE APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION BEFORE THE AIRPLANE DES…FAILURE OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE STUDENT PILOT AND PERFORM THE APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION BEFORE THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW FOR RECOVERY. FACTORS WERE THE STUDENT PILOT'S HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. |
| Oct 15, 1993 | CO. SPRINGS, CO | N5191F | Incident | substantial | AN ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE DURING THE LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE. |
| Sep 12, 1993 | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | N5678R | Incident | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. |
| Aug 25, 1992 | FOLSOM, NM | N5101F | Incident | substantial | CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED AND IMPROPER USE OF THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. |
| Jul 29, 1992 | LUBBOCK, TX | N5718R | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, AND THE CFI FAILED TO TAKE TIMELY ACTION TO PREVENT…THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, AND THE CFI FAILED TO TAKE TIMELY ACTION TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF HIS ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT. |
| Aug 02, 1991 | CUMBY, TX | N5524R | Incident | substantial | POWER LOSS DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL VENT SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. |
| Jul 21, 1990 | LAKE LOUISE, AK | N7866U | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS A CROSSWIND. |
| Apr 23, 1989 | ELKIN ARPT., NC | N7908U | Incident | substantial |
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS DURING TAKEOFF AND THE DELAY IN HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BEFORE…THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS DURING TAKEOFF AND THE DELAY IN HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TREES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND PROFICIENCY. |