How many accidents has the Cessna 172L had?

The NTSB has recorded 162 events involving the Cessna 172L: 26 fatal, 13 serious, 25 minor injuries, and 97 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172L a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172L has 162 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172L Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 162 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

162

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (45 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Nov 22, 1994	BETHEL, ME	N19735	Incident	substantial	the flight instructor's failure to ensure adequate control of the airplane during a go-around. The gusty wind conditions were contributing factors.
Aug 12, 1994	SPRINGFIELD, OH	N19644	Incident	substantial	The pilot's premature liftoff, failure to attain adequate airspeed, and improper level off.
Apr 16, 1994	COLVILLE, WA	N3854Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND HIS EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AT THE POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND HIS EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AT THE POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND A RAVINE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Mar 18, 1994	BUENA VISTA, CO	N7876G	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
Mar 06, 1994	MT. STERLING, KY	N19679	Minor	substantial	INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISCONNECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS… INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISCONNECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION NOT PERFORMED, AND COMPLACENCY.
Sep 12, 1993	GR BARRINGTON, MA	N7064Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISI… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE PARKED AIRPLANES. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Aug 27, 1993	CURRYVILLE, MO	N25BK	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Jan 22, 1993	RAMONA, CA	N7965G	Incident	substantial	A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER RELATED TO INADEQUATE AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PRACTICES CONCERNING THE CARBURETOR.
Nov 14, 1992	OKEECHOBEE, FL	N9854G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER FLARE.
Aug 17, 1992	VIRGIN GORDA, VG	N3955Q	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 25, 1992	OZONA, TX	N9880G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.
Jul 11, 1992	DELTA, UT	N9871G	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE AND THE POORLY EXECUTED FORCED LANDING.
May 31, 1992	SAFFORD, AZ	N4163L	Incident	substantial	THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH ANIMALS WHICH RAN ON TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT BEING ABL… THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH ANIMALS WHICH RAN ON TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION AND AVOID THE ANIMALS.
May 30, 1992	YAKIMA, WA	N7583G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
May 24, 1992	COLBURN, ID	N3988Q	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED, FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE IN A BOX CANYON, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. FACTORS … THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED, FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE IN A BOX CANYON, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE NARROW BOX CANYON, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE LACK OF MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE BY THE PIC.
Mar 03, 1992	STARR, SC	N2862Q	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING.
Aug 11, 1991	MAGNOLIA, OH	N7594G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURE.
Apr 20, 1991	HUNTSVILLE, TX	N5536E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE EMPHASIS PLACED UPON FULL-STALL LANDINGS BY HIS INSTRUCTOR.
Dec 17, 1990	MCDERMITT, NV	N4319Q	Incident	substantial	INTENTIONAL BUZZING CONDUCTED BY THE PILOT. HIS POOR JUDGEMENT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Nov 24, 1990	MOUNT IDA, AR	N4275Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY CROSSWIND.
Oct 20, 1990	PLACERVILLE, CA	N7815G	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Sep 20, 1990	MASON, TX	N746JG	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Sep 01, 1990	MONTAUK, NY	N4324Q	Fatal (1)	destroyed	PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A GO AROUND, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S ATTENTIO… PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A GO AROUND, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING AT A LOW ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO AIRPORT MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WORKING NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.
Aug 04, 1990	GREENSBORO, AL	N4386Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED AND ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING.
Aug 01, 1989	N MYRTLE BEACH, SC	N336AF	Incident	substantial	WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: … WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SWAMPY TERRAIN AT THE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE.

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 172L For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 172L? View 11 Cessna 172L for sale ↓

Cessna 172L Safety Record

Report an Issue