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
May 05, 2007	Daytona Beach, FL	N462ER	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare at night, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent night experience.
Apr 14, 2007	Naples, FL	N967SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A contributing factor to the accident was the runway marker sign.
Mar 26, 2007	Moore Haven, FL	N57FH	Incident	—	A loss of engine power due to foreign object damage to the oil pump.
Mar 10, 2007	Kingman, AZ	N521ER	Incident	substantial	The pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a hard landing and a porpoise.
Mar 03, 2007	Prescott, AZ	N526ER	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's failure to maintain directional during the landing rollout and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Feb 16, 2007	St. Louis, MO	N270JA	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusting crosswind condition… The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusting crosswind conditions and the snow covered ground.
Feb 14, 2007	Lake Wells, FL	N289SP	Incident	substantial	the flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions.
Jan 27, 2007	Sanford, FL	N20956	Incident	substantial	The inadvertent inflight collision with a bird resulting in damage to the airplane and the pilot having limited control capability.
Jan 10, 2007	Lancaster, CA	N534SP	Incident	substantial	The reason for the loss of directional control was undetermined.
Jan 03, 2007	Alton, IL	N364MA	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the airplane impacting a runway sign. A factor in the accident was … The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the airplane impacting a runway sign. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's misjudged landing flare.
Dec 31, 2006	Spicewood, TX	N988SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to compensate for the existing wind conditions resulting in a loss of directional control. Factors were the gusty crosswind and th… The pilot's failure to compensate for the existing wind conditions resulting in a loss of directional control. Factors were the gusty crosswind and the muddy terrain.
Dec 27, 2006	Tulsa, OK	N159RA	Incident	destroyed	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a hangar and parked airplane during the unauthorized use of an airplane.
Nov 26, 2006	Warroad, MN	N380SP	Serious	—	The propeller striking the individual who was positioning the propeller in anticipation of hand-propping the engine.
Nov 19, 2006	New Smyrna, FL	N53095	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Nov 05, 2006	Hominy, OK	N53443	Fatal (2)	destroyed	The pilot's continued cruise flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were th… The pilot's continued cruise flight into adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, and the low ceilings.
Oct 31, 2006	Richfield, UT	N2097G	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inability to compensate for the gusty crosswinds during the initial part of the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control … The student pilot's inability to compensate for the gusty crosswinds during the initial part of the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and a noseover. Factors associated with the accident are gusty crosswinds, and a mound/berm of dirt alongside the runway.
Oct 21, 2006	Ormond Beach, FL	N401ER	Incident	substantial	The failure of the student pilot to initiate a recovery from the bounced landing resulting in a hard landing.
Sep 30, 2006	Cambridge, MD	N61WT	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.
Sep 22, 2006	Naples, FL	N320CP	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during the landing roll. A drainage ditch and wind were contributing factors… The student pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during the landing roll. A drainage ditch and wind were contributing factors.
Aug 03, 2006	Thomson, GA	N124CK	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in an on-ground collision with an embankment.
Jul 09, 2006	Baltimore, OH	N335SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to attain sufficient airspeed during the takeoff which resulted in the inadvertent stall and collision with the ground.
Jun 21, 2006	White Plains, NY	N968SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's misjudged speed/distance which resulted in an overrun.
Jun 06, 2006	Lawrence, MA	N2138W	Incident	minor	Foreign object damage to the leading edge of the propeller blade, which resulted in fatigue cracking and subsequent blade failure.
May 23, 2006	St. Augustine, FL	N1130T	Incident	minor	The loss of engine power due to separation of the crankshaft as a result of lack of adequate oil lubrication to the #2 main bearing. The lack of oil l… The loss of engine power due to separation of the crankshaft as a result of lack of adequate oil lubrication to the #2 main bearing. The lack of oil lubrication was most likely the result of improper assembly (fitting) of the bearing shells to the crankshaft.
May 23, 2006	Indianapolis, IN	N409TA	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare during landing.

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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