How many accidents has the Cessna 172S had?

The NTSB has recorded 410 events involving the Cessna 172S: 45 fatal, 16 serious, 35 minor injuries, and 310 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172S a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172S has 410 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172S Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 410 events recorded from 1999 to 2025.

410

All Events

310

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (80 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Aug 24, 2005	SAVANNAH, GA	N21670	Incident	substantial	The instructor's inadequate supervision and failure to maintain directional control, resulting in an on ground collision with terrain.
Aug 11, 2005	Zeeland, MI	N632FA	Incident	substantial	The inadequate flare by the pilot during landing.
Aug 06, 2005	White Plains, NY	N297ME	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Jul 20, 2005	Edwards AFB, CA	N106ED	Incident	substantial	the pilot's misjudged flare and inadequate recovery technique from the subsequent bounces.
Jul 19, 2005	Charlottesville, VA	N3537B	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
May 21, 2005	Port Huron, MI	N860SA	Incident	substantial	The pilot not performing a go-around and misjudging the flare leading to a hard landing.
May 02, 2005	Clearwater, FL	N66113	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Apr 12, 2005	Gallup, NM	N520ER	Incident	substantial	the pilot's premature liftoff and inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the airplane inadvertently recontacting the runway.
Mar 28, 2005	Palm Beach, FL	N53589	Incident	substantial	The flight crews inadvertent encounter with turbulence in clouds while being vectored by ATC while operating in instrument meteorological conditions. … The flight crews inadvertent encounter with turbulence in clouds while being vectored by ATC while operating in instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the accident was the ATC personnel's (ARTCC) inadequate weather avoidance assistance.
Mar 22, 2005	Thermal, CA	N562AB	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control.
Feb 02, 2005	Coalinga, CA	N521JD	Incident	substantial	the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to abort the landing.
Jan 04, 2005	Clewiston, FL	N365SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and colliding into an… The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and colliding into an airport sign.
Dec 17, 2004	Lakeland, FL	N375LP	Incident	substantial	The faulure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a taxiway s… The faulure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a taxiway sign and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.
Nov 21, 2004	Anderson, IN	N967SA	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper flare and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Nov 19, 2004	Mansfield, MA	N2120M	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper decision to taxi on a closed taxiway, and his misjudgment of obstacle clearance.
Nov 05, 2004	Chandler, AZ	N20519	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors were his improper recovery from the subsequent bounced landing and… the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors were his improper recovery from the subsequent bounced landing and pilot-induced oscillations.
Oct 20, 2004	West Columbia, SC	N37CJ	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper landing flare, inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control during rollout. A f… The student pilot's improper landing flare, inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control during rollout. A factor was the runway sign.
Sep 30, 2004	Broomfield, CO	N802SP	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper flare, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot.
Sep 06, 2004	Mount Gilead, OH	N809SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in a collision with the runway. A factor was the crosswind.
Aug 29, 2004	Erie, CO	N2099J	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a hard landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot induced oscillation… the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a hard landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot induced oscillation and the high approach airspeed.
Aug 19, 2004	Carlsbad, NM	N849SP	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's inadequate flare resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the tailwind conditions.
Aug 13, 2004	Honolulu, HI	N3554Y	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing a… the student pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and pilot induced porpoise and failure to maintain directional control on the landing roll, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing.
Aug 12, 2004	Miami, FL	N21063	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing with a crosswind and gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane veering off the run… The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing with a crosswind and gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and incurring damage.
Aug 08, 2004	Chandler, AZ	N5327G	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's failure to abort the takeoff. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Jul 20, 2004	Winder, GA	N2069S	Incident	substantial	The improper maintenance (over-pressurization) of the nose gear strut, which resulted in an overload failure of the nose gear upper torque link bolt. … The improper maintenance (over-pressurization) of the nose gear strut, which resulted in an overload failure of the nose gear upper torque link bolt. The airplane subsequently nosed over during an uncontrollable landing roll.

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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Cessna 172S Safety Record

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