Cessna 120 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 163 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

163

All Events

111

Incidents

24

Minor

15

Serious

12

Fatal (19 fatalities)
Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
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.
Apr 28, 2014 Fairbanks, AK N77336 Incident substantial The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a ground loop.
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 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.
Jan 12, 2009 Woodstock, GA N57N Incident substantial A loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
Sep 19, 2008 Jesup, GA N77068 Incident substantial An oil starvation-induced catastrophic engine failure due to the improper installation of the crankshaft expansion plug during engine overhaul.
Jan 17, 2007 La Salle, CO N1670V Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground. Contributing factors included the pilot's intentional low pass and his misjudging his alti…

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground. Contributing factors included the pilot's intentional low pass and his misjudging his altitude.
Nov 23, 2006 Perryville, MO N1915N Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in an overload of the tailwheel attachment structure in the fuselage…

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in an overload of the tailwheel attachment structure in the fuselage.
Jul 30, 2006 Ashland, KY N1981V Incident substantial
The pilot's improper fuel tank selection, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the tr…

The pilot's improper fuel tank selection, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the trees.
Jul 15, 2006 Rockwall, TX N2591N Incident substantial The pilot's failure to compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.
Jul 14, 2006 Laporte, MN N3089N Incident substantial
The inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot and the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during takeoff. A contributing factor …

The inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot and the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during takeoff. A contributing factor was the runway marker.
Jan 14, 2006 Hibbing, MN N76203 Incident substantial The pilot used a rough frozen lake for takeoff which resulted in the overload failure of the landing ski. A factor was the rough frozen lake.
Nov 18, 2005 Woodstock, GA N57N Incident substantial The pilot's excessive braking resulted in a nose over during landing roll.
Jul 31, 2005 New Roads, LA N1703N Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing roll.
May 05, 2005 Elk River, ID N77377 Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. An inadvertent ground loop was a factor.
Nov 02, 2004 Willimantic, CT N1811N Incident substantial the pilot's loss of directional control due to his uneven application of brakes. A factor in the accident was the tailwind.
Jul 18, 2004 Beluga, AK N1847N Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in airplane departing the landing surface …

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in airplane departing the landing surface into a ditch, and subsequently nosing over in tall bushes. A factor contributing to the accident was soft terrain along the edge of the landing surface.
May 25, 2004 New Castle, PA N1996V Incident substantial The pilot's failure to use all available takeoff area and his delay in aborting the takeoff.
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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