Cessna 172F Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 133 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1995 | BOONVILLE, CA | N5255F | Incident | substantial | a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| May 12, 1995 | TAPPAHANOCK, VA | N5238F | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The student pilot's misjudgment of distance/speed during the approach to land, and her failure to go around while there was still sufficient runway re…The student pilot's misjudgment of distance/speed during the approach to land, and her failure to go around while there was still sufficient runway remaining. Factors related to the accident were: inadequate supervision by the flight instructor, the student's lack of recent flying experience, and the student pilot becaming lost or disoriented during the solo cross-country flight. |
| Apr 09, 1995 | SENECA, SC | N8197U | Fatal (1) | substantial | THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR UTILITY LINES, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE WIRES. |
| 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. |
| Oct 11, 1994 | INDIANTOWN, FL | N5415R | Minor | substantial | THE IMPROPER LANDING FLARE BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN THE HARD LANDING. |
| 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 25, 1993 | LONG ISLAND, TK | N8676U | Minor | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 12, 1993 | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | N5678R | Incident | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. |
| Jun 21, 1993 | MIAMI, MO | N5461R | Fatal (1) | destroyed | the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. |
| Jun 05, 1993 | RAVENEL, SC | N8279U | Minor | substantial |
THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN T…THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT FLAPS TO EXTEND |
| Oct 07, 1992 | WASH. CT. HOUSE, OH | N8849U | Serious (1) | substantial | AN INADVERTENT STALL AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN FLYING SPEED DUE TO A PREMATURE LIFTOFF. |
| 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. |
| Feb 27, 1992 | MC ALESTER, OK | N5499R | Minor | substantial | INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS A TOTAL POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. |
| 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. |
| Sep 21, 1990 | HUNTINGTON, IN | N8259U | Minor | destroyed | THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING ENSURING SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT. |
| 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. |
| Jun 17, 1989 | VERNON, AL | N7939U | Fatal (1) | substantial |
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CLEAR TREES…IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CLEAR TREES DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. |
| 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. |
| Apr 10, 1989 | MORGAN, UT | N7847U | Incident | substantial |
INADEQUATE SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT, PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL LINE AND FUEL FILTER, AND FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: …INADEQUATE SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT, PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL LINE AND FUEL FILTER, AND FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE DOWNWARD SLOPING RUNWAY AND A FENCE. |
| Feb 18, 1989 | SAFFORD, AZ | N8492U | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF WING FLAPS. |
| 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. |