Cessna 120 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 163 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 24, 2017 | Orange, MA | N77116 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over. |
| Nov 14, 2016 | Lincoln, CA | N120MD | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. |
| Sep 25, 2016 | North Collins, NY | N3580V | Fatal (3) | destroyed | The failure of the second airplane's pilot to see and avoid the first airplane as he was overtaking the first airplane. |
| Sep 18, 2016 | Davis, CA | N76284 | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and noseover. Contributing to the ac…The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and noseover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the seatbelt anchor bracket. |
| Aug 03, 2016 | Belen, NM | N72580 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop. |
| Jun 10, 2016 | Climax, NC | N77216 | Incident | substantial |
An evasive maneuver during the landing roll to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over. Contributing to the acc…An evasive maneuver during the landing roll to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence. |
| Nov 06, 2015 | Gonzales, LA | N2942N | Serious (1) | substantial |
Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the carburetor during recent maintenance, including the omission of a required cotter pin, which resu…Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the carburetor during recent maintenance, including the omission of a required cotter pin, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. |
| Oct 24, 2015 | Lone Pine, CA | N3124N | Incident | substantial |
The fracture of the left main landing gear (MLG) wheel axle due to fatigue, which resulted in the separation of the left MLG wheel during takeoff from…The fracture of the left main landing gear (MLG) wheel axle due to fatigue, which resulted in the separation of the left MLG wheel during takeoff from a dirt airstrip. |
| Oct 17, 2015 | McKinney, TX | N2099V | Incident | substantial | The pilot's use of excessive brake input during the recovery from the ground loop, which resulted in a nose over. |
| Jul 16, 2014 | Midland, MI | N76097 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed and his delayed application of engine power while on short final which resulted in a hard landing. |
| May 27, 2014 | Wadsworth, OH | N2774N | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing which resulted in a runway excursion. |
| May 15, 2014 | Colville, WA | N2642N | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. |
| Apr 28, 2014 | Fairbanks, AK | N77336 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a ground loop. |
| Mar 09, 2014 | Carson City, NV | N76856 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot’s delayed decision to initiate a course-reversal turn when the airplane was unable to attain sufficient altitude to cross a mountain range, …The pilot’s delayed decision to initiate a course-reversal turn when the airplane was unable to attain sufficient altitude to cross a mountain range, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and entering an aerodynamic stall during the turn. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s selection, for undetermined reasons, of a route different than his normal route. |
| Jul 08, 2013 | Lakeville, MN | N2693N | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in…The student pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a nose-over. |
| Jun 08, 2012 | Smith Valley, NV | N1875N | Incident | substantial | The failure of the right main landing gear strut due to corrosion-induced fatigue, which resulted in a runway excursion. |
| Dec 17, 2011 | Montague, MA | N89809 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's delay in performing a rejected takeoff after experiencing an intermittent loss of engine power, which resulted in a runway excursion. |
| Sep 24, 2011 | Cordele, GA | N3101N | Fatal (1) | substantial | The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. |
| Sep 12, 2011 | Camden, AR | N89954 | Incident | substantial | The flight instructor's inadvertent braking during taxi. |
| Jul 19, 2011 | Pendleton, OR | N1705N | Incident | substantial | The pilot's excessive brake application while landing on rough terrain. |
| Oct 11, 2010 | Falls Village, CT | N89603 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. |
| Aug 29, 2010 | Rockland, ME | N2493N | Incident | destroyed | The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| Mar 25, 2010 | Annapolis, MD | N72560 | Incident | substantial | A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| Nov 01, 2009 | Mineral Canyon, UT | N2729N | Minor | substantial | The pilot's incorrect use of brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. |
| Jul 16, 2009 | Morristown, TN | N7227E | Minor | substantial | The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |