Cessna 120 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 163 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01, 1993 | BESSEMER, AL | N4292N | Incident | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKE OFF. |
| Aug 07, 1992 | MAPLE, WI | N1947N | Fatal (2) | destroyed | THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. |
| Jul 19, 1992 | RESERVE, LA | N89970 | Incident | substantial | THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE VALVE FAILURE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. |
| Jun 06, 1992 | ELK RIVER, MN | N76028 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. |
| May 03, 1992 | WILMINGTON, NC | N72973 | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN PROPER ASSISTANCE DURING THE ENGINE STARTING PROCEDURE, AND HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ATTEND TO THE AIRPLANE WITH THE ENGI…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN PROPER ASSISTANCE DURING THE ENGINE STARTING PROCEDURE, AND HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY ATTEND TO THE AIRPLANE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. |
| Jan 21, 1992 | SONOMA, CA | N3010N | Incident | substantial |
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A BINDING MIXTURE CONTROL SHAFT. THE BINDING MIXTURE CONTROL SHAFT WAS THE RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH ALLOWED THE A…ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A BINDING MIXTURE CONTROL SHAFT. THE BINDING MIXTURE CONTROL SHAFT WAS THE RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH ALLOWED THE ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE AND WATER IN THE CARBURETOR TO REMAIN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING RUST AND CORROSION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. |
| Nov 29, 1991 | LAS CRUCES, NM | N1906N | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE TAILWIND. |
| Oct 18, 1991 | OLANCHA, CA | N120MK | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE A…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT'S POOR APPROACH PLANNING. |
| Jul 12, 1991 | POCAHONTAS, MS | N77411 | Incident | substantial | PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS AND IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A POWER LINE DURING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING. |
| Jun 16, 1991 | SPIRIT LAKE, IA | N9008X | Minor | substantial | IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. |
| Jun 03, 1991 | FAYETTEVILLE, AR | N76404 | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. |
| Jun 02, 1991 | DELAWARE, OH | N2858N | Incident | substantial | CARBURETOR ICE AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS. |
| May 28, 1991 | Wellsville, PA | N2714N | Incident | substantial | A POWER LOSS DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM BLOCKAGE WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING. |
| Apr 06, 1991 | PINEBLUFF, NC | N46GB | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CALCULATE THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE FOR THE EXISTING CONDITIONS WAS A FACTOR RELAT…THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CALCULATE THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE FOR THE EXISTING CONDITIONS WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. |
| Mar 21, 1991 | SIMSBURY, CT | N4117N | Fatal (2) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. |
| Mar 11, 1991 | ATIGAN PASS, AK | N77316 | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FLY VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS. RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LOW CEILINGS, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. |
| Mar 09, 1991 | SKYKOMISH, WA | N3163N | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO TAKE APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER LANDING TOO FAR DOWN THE RUNWAY. |
| Sep 08, 1990 | SOUTHBRIDGE, MA | N89697 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURES. |
| Apr 26, 1990 | PHOENIX, AZ | N72576 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY IMPROPERLY USING THE RUDDERS/TALL WHEEL STEERING. |
| Feb 11, 1990 | ATMORE, AL | N90093 | Serious (1) | substantial |
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH TERRAIN IN…FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. |
| Oct 08, 1989 | MAYSVILLE, KY | N1829N | Minor | substantial |
THE IMPROPER INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANES ENGINE BY THE PILOT/OWNER RESULTING IN FIVE ROCKER BOX COVER SCREWS BEING MISSING AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGI…THE IMPROPER INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANES ENGINE BY THE PILOT/OWNER RESULTING IN FIVE ROCKER BOX COVER SCREWS BEING MISSING AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE OIL DUE TO THE COVER VIBRATING AND CAUSING A HOLE TO BE WORN IN IT. SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LOSS OF ENGINE OIL RESULTED IN A FORCE LANDING AT WHICH TIME THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES. |
| Sep 16, 1989 | SHELBYVILLE, IN | N1844N | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. |
| Aug 31, 1989 | BROOKLYN, MI | N2101V | Minor | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID POWER LINES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH DURING A GO-AROUND. THE POWER LINES AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPORT…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID POWER LINES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH DURING A GO-AROUND. THE POWER LINES AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPORT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. |
| Oct 12, 1988 | ST PETER, MN | N2081V | Minor | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Oct 05, 1988 | MONROE, GA | N77458 | Serious (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |