How many accidents has the Boeing 737 had?

The NTSB has recorded 1188 events involving the Boeing 737: 46 fatal, 190 serious, 64 minor injuries, and 501 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Boeing 737 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Boeing 737 has 1188 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Boeing 737 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1188 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

1188

All Events

501

Incidents

Minor

190

Serious

Fatal (3137 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jun 29, 1995	ELKO, NV	N457TM	Incident	minor	in-flight separation of the aileron as a result of inadequate bonding.
May 19, 1995	TALLAHASSEE, FL	N60312	Serious (1)	—	THE FAILURE OF A PASSENGER TO COMPLY WITH FLIGHT CREW INSTRUCTIONS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH HER SEAT BELT FASTENED WHICH RESULTED IN HER BEING INJURED WH… THE FAILURE OF A PASSENGER TO COMPLY WITH FLIGHT CREW INSTRUCTIONS TO REMAIN SEATED WITH HER SEAT BELT FASTENED WHICH RESULTED IN HER BEING INJURED WHILE WALKING IN THE AISLE DURING A TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER.
Apr 14, 1995	DENVER, CO	EICEU	Incident	substantial	PROPER DESCENT RATE NOT MAINTAINED BY THE FIRST OFFICER, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS WERE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE CAPTAIN'S INADE… PROPER DESCENT RATE NOT MAINTAINED BY THE FIRST OFFICER, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS WERE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE CAPTAIN'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FIRST OFFICER.
Apr 07, 1995	CHICAGO, IL	N9090U	Incident	minor	the inadequacy or deterioration of lubricating grease in the wheel bearing, which led to the total bearing failure and subsequent loss of the wheel. … the inadequacy or deterioration of lubricating grease in the wheel bearing, which led to the total bearing failure and subsequent loss of the wheel. Factors were the insufficiently defined procedures for repacking the bearing, along with an insufficient method of retaining lubricant within the bearing.
Feb 01, 1995	SAN PAULO, BR	PPSMV	Incident	—	Investigation pending
Jan 27, 1995	DALLAS, TX	N71SW	Serious (1)	—	THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' LACK OF SUPERVISION OF DEPLANING PASSENGERS. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF SUPERVISION BY ACCIDENT VICTIMS MOTHER.
Jan 24, 1995	ALBUQUERQUE, NM	N155AW	Incident	—	maintenance personnel inadvertently overservicing the left main landing gear strut with nitrogen that, during rotation with the aircraft weight on the… maintenance personnel inadvertently overservicing the left main landing gear strut with nitrogen that, during rotation with the aircraft weight on the strut reduced, gave the pilots a rolling sensation to the right.
Jan 19, 1995	ATLANTA, GA	N4515W	Incident	minor	THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, IN THAT THEY DID NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE DISCREPANCIES IN THE ANTISKID BRAKING… THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, IN THAT THEY DID NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE DISCREPANCIES IN THE ANTISKID BRAKING SYSTEM.
Jan 01, 1995	HOUSTON, TX	N326SW	Incident	—	ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.
Dec 29, 1994	VAN, TU	TCJES	Incident	destroyed	Investigation pending
Dec 11, 1994	ANCHORAGE, AK	N681MA	Serious (1)	—	THE FAILURE OF THE B SYSTEM CHANNEL AUTOPILOT ELEVATOR ACTUATOR.
Sep 19, 1994	ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO	N433US	Serious (1)	—	THE INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE IN CLOUDS.
Jul 07, 1994	SOUTH BEND, IN	N60SW	Serious (1)	—	THE ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORCASTED AND UNREPORTED TURBULENCE.
Apr 27, 1994	HONOLULU, HI	N804AL	Minor	—	The failure of the battery transfer relay resulting in multiple system failures.
Feb 10, 1994	CHICAGO, IL	N408PE	Incident	minor	AN INADEQUATE PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING OF WHEEL CHOCKS BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS PERSONNEL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE AN IN… AN INADEQUATE PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING OF WHEEL CHOCKS BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS PERSONNEL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE AN INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE CO-PILOT.
Jan 19, 1994	LITTLE ROCK, AR	N53SW	Incident	minor	WAS THE LANDING GEAR SEPARATION DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED CAUSE.
Dec 08, 1993	DFW AIRPORT, TX	N166AW	Incident	minor	A FAILURE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ATTAIN A STABILZED APPROACH. FACTORS WERE THE FOG AND FAILURE OF THE COPILOT TO MONITOR THE APPROACH.
Sep 21, 1993	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	N527AU	Incident	—	an undetermined problem which resulted in the physical impairment of flight attendants, passengers and the first officer.
Sep 08, 1993	ST. LOUIS, MO	N350SW	Incident	minor	a failure of the left outboard foreflap due to the loss of the bolts that hold the inboard sequencing carriage to the foreflap attach lug.
Jun 07, 1993	ANCHORAGE, AK	N673MA	Incident	minor	THE FAILURE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR INNER CYLINDER FROM AN OVERLOAD/OVERSTRESS CONDITION.
Apr 24, 1993	DENVER, CO	N905UA	Incident	—	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SEPARATION FROM THE BOEING 757, AND HIS FAILURE TO STAY ABOVE THE PROBABLE PATH OF THE BOEING'S WA… THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SEPARATION FROM THE BOEING 757, AND HIS FAILURE TO STAY ABOVE THE PROBABLE PATH OF THE BOEING'S WAKE VORTICES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VORTEX ENCOUNTER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, AND AN INADEQUACY IN ATC PROCEDURES CONCERNING VISUAL APPROACHES OF AIRCRAFT, BEHIND AND DOWNWIND FROM APPROACHES OF HEAVIER AIRCRAFT TO PARALLEL OR ADJACENT RUNWAYS.
Mar 15, 1993	NEWARK, NJ	N14212	Incident	—	INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES FOR THE AIL… INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES FOR THE AILERON CABLES, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE 'DOWN' AILERON CONTROL CABLE DUE TO WEAR.
Feb 13, 1993	PORTLAND, ME	N403PE	Incident	—	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED DURING APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROPER BRAKING PROCEDURES DURING LANDING AS PER COMPANY TRAIN… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED DURING APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROPER BRAKING PROCEDURES DURING LANDING AS PER COMPANY TRAINING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDE A TAILWIND AND A WET, DOWNHILL RUNWAY.
Dec 08, 1992	FLUSHING, NY	N516AU	Fatal	—	A LACK OF ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE WALKER AND TUG WHICH RESULTED IN THE WALKER BEING STRUCK BY THE TUG WHEN HE FELL FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S). A FA… A LACK OF ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE WALKER AND TUG WHICH RESULTED IN THE WALKER BEING STRUCK BY THE TUG WHEN HE FELL FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S). A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A POLICY TO STAY CLEAR OF THE TUG, TOWBAR, AND NOSEWHEEL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHILE PUSHBACK OPERATIONS ARE IN MOTION.
Nov 21, 1992	SAN LUIS, AR	LVJNE	Incident	destroyed	Investigation pending

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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Boeing 737 Safety Record

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