Cessna 172S Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 410 events recorded from 1999 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 08, 2008 | Incline Village, NV | N15963 | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's decision to initiate a flight for which he was neither approved nor qualified and his failure to maintain terrain clearance during the fli…The pilot's decision to initiate a flight for which he was neither approved nor qualified and his failure to maintain terrain clearance during the flight. Contributing to the accident were the dark night, the mountainous terrain, and the pilot's medical condition. |
| Jun 23, 2008 | Oceanside, CA | N2436F | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Failure of the pilot to regain airplane control during an intentional stall/spin maneuver. |
| Oct 29, 2007 | Palm Springs, CA | N21101 | Fatal (1) | substantial | The flight instructor's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall during takeoff-initial climb, and his impairment from alcohol. |
| 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. |
| Dec 16, 2005 | Hana, HI | N542SP | Fatal (1) | substantial | Collision with mountainous terrain for undetermined reasons. |
| Dec 14, 2005 | Pinon, NM | N1257Z | Fatal (1) | destroyed | the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane for undetermined reasons. |
| Jul 31, 2005 | Key West, FL | N65982 | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the dark, night flight over water, resulting in the uncontr…The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the dark, night flight over water, resulting in the uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with the water. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's distraction with the inappropriately set transponder. |
| May 21, 2005 | Brooklyn, NY | N778LP | Fatal (4) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. |
| Jan 19, 2005 | Casa Grande, AZ | N2157H | Fatal (1) | — | the pilot's inadvertent encounter with a rotating propeller. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the pilot's fatigued condition. |
| Dec 28, 2004 | Roswell, NM | N849SP | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
the pilot not maintaining control of the aircraft resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision on a highway. Factors contributing to the accide…the pilot not maintaining control of the aircraft resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision on a highway. Factors contributing to the accident were the dark night and the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation. |
| Aug 01, 2004 | Waterloo, AL | N970SP | Fatal (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent uncontrolled descent and…The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision into water. |
| Jul 08, 2003 | McKinney, TX | N166ME | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The CFI's failure to maintain airspeed sufficient for flight resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin during the forced landing. A contributing factor …The CFI's failure to maintain airspeed sufficient for flight resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin during the forced landing. A contributing factor was the impact with a bird, which affected the performance of the airplane. |
| Jun 06, 2003 | Sidnaw, MI | N975SP | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The improper short/soft field landing procedure by the pilot and his lack of recent experience in type of operation. Contributing factors were the sh…The improper short/soft field landing procedure by the pilot and his lack of recent experience in type of operation. Contributing factors were the short/soft field runway, the trees and his delay in aborting the takeoff. |
| Mar 21, 2003 | Monroe, GA | N219ME | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot’s exceedence of the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in the overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers, followed by the ove…The pilot’s exceedence of the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in the overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers, followed by the overload separation of the right wing and subsequent loss of control. |
| Sep 30, 2002 | Medford, OR | N514SP | Fatal (2) | substantial | Terrain clearance was not maintained during cruise flight. Dark night and mountainous terrain were factors. |
| Aug 17, 2002 | Plainville, CT | N35073 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
An in-flight engine compartment fire of unknown origin, and a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal, was the pilot's failure to …An in-flight engine compartment fire of unknown origin, and a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal, was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn back to the airfield, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the ground. |
| Jul 17, 2002 | Tyner, NC | N928CP | Fatal (3) | destroyed | The loss of power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. |
| Jun 04, 2002 | Lutz, FL | N942SP | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The suicidal act by the pilot resulting in the in-flight collision with trees then the ground. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's d…The suicidal act by the pilot resulting in the in-flight collision with trees then the ground. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's depression. Findings in the investigation were the pilot's overdose of zolpidem and citalopram before the accident flight departed, and his intentional operation of the airplane while impaired by alcohol. |
| Aug 27, 2001 | Matawan, NJ | N629PD | Fatal (2) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during the initial climb. Factors were the pilot's failure to perform a go-around, the pilot's lack …The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during the initial climb. Factors were the pilot's failure to perform a go-around, the pilot's lack of flight experience in nighttime conditions, the nighttime conditions, and a tailwind. |
| Jul 04, 2000 | WHITTIER, AK | N862SP | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Suicide. |