How many accidents has the Cessna 152 had?

The NTSB has recorded 2435 events involving the Cessna 152: 255 fatal, 130 serious, 326 minor injuries, and 1714 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 152 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 152 has 2435 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 152 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 2435 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

2435

All Events

1714

Incidents

326

Minor

130

Serious

255

Fatal (386 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Aug 29, 2005	Tulsa, OK	N4670B	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions.
Aug 20, 2005	Bridgeport, TX	N6459M	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a crosswind landing resulting in a… The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a crosswind landing resulting in a loss of directional control.
Jul 18, 2005	Rio Vista, CA	N68475	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing rollout.… the student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing rollout. A contributing factor was the student's failure to divert to an airport with less severe crosswind conditions.
Jul 03, 2005	Concord, NH	N48017	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertant stall and u… The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertant stall and uncontrolled descent into terrain.
Jul 02, 2005	St. Augustine, FL	N89073	Incident	substantial	The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in the on-ground encounter with wet grass and subse… The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in the on-ground encounter with wet grass and subsequent nose over.
Jun 30, 2005	Williston, FL	N5372L	Incident	substantial	The inadequate weather evaluation by the pilot-in-command which resulted in the in-flight encounter with rain and thunder that resulted in a precautio… The inadequate weather evaluation by the pilot-in-command which resulted in the in-flight encounter with rain and thunder that resulted in a precautionary landing and subsequent on-ground collision with a ditch.
Jun 23, 2005	Greenville, PA	N46541	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper flare, and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a nose gear collapse while landing.
Jun 19, 2005	Naples, FL	N625PA	Incident	substantial	The CFI's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Jun 16, 2005	Fort Payne, AL	N5527M	Incident	substantial	The intentional unauthorized use of a stolen aircraft by an unqualified person which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the airplane… The intentional unauthorized use of a stolen aircraft by an unqualified person which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the airplane.
Jun 16, 2005	Burneyville, OK	N93206	Incident	substantial	The students pilot's improper flare and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A contributing factor was the bounced landing.
Jun 11, 2005	Marietta, OK	N47962	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while executing a soft field take off. A factor was the prevailing dark night conditions.
May 24, 2005	Conroe, TX	N67770	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper in-flight planning resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
May 12, 2005	Missoula, MT	N7866Z	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway identification sign as he attempted to turn off the runway onto the taxiway during the last p… The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway identification sign as he attempted to turn off the runway onto the taxiway during the last part of the landing roll. Factors include a taxiway identification sign in the vicinity of the intersection of the runway and the taxiway.
May 04, 2005	Millville, NJ	N5150B	Incident	substantial	The pilot's misjudgment of the airplane's distance to the restaurant sundeck.
Apr 08, 2005	Stillwater, OK	N68472	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Apr 05, 2005	Jacksonville, NC	N48820	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power due to the failure of the carburetor mixture cable which resulted in fuel starvation.
Apr 02, 2005	Shawnee, OK	N5086Q	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the prevailing crosswind.
Mar 30, 2005	Goose Creek, NC	N714TK	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain direction control, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a berm.
Mar 16, 2005	Port Royal, VA	N64986	Incident	substantial	A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Mar 08, 2005	Covington, WA	N65579	Incident	substantial	The failure of connecting rods during cruise flight resulting in a loss of engine power. Trees were a factor.
Feb 06, 2005	Hana, HI	N7332L	Incident	substantial	Foreign object damage inside an engine cylinder, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb to cruise, and an off-airport forced landing.
Feb 05, 2005	Kelleys Island, OH	N4649M	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during landing.
Feb 03, 2005	Sturtevant, WI	N68714	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to identify the electrical system failure and to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach. Factors associated with … The pilot's failure to identify the electrical system failure and to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach. Factors associated with the accident were the electrical system failure, the snow covered terrain, and the pilot's lack of experience.
Jan 13, 2005	Stockton, MO	N714UV	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an overrun. Contributing factors were the tailwind and dusk light conditi… the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an overrun. Contributing factors were the tailwind and dusk light conditions.
Nov 14, 2004	Lyons, CO	N48943	Incident	destroyed	the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision by his intentional VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

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.

← Cessna 152 For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 152? View 58 Cessna 152 for sale ↓

Cessna 152 Safety Record

Report an Issue