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
Jul 12, 1989	MIAMI LAKES, FL	N69224	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE AIRPLANE FUEL TANKS DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION TO ASSURE ADEQUATE FUEL TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT WAS… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE AIRPLANE FUEL TANKS DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION TO ASSURE ADEQUATE FUEL TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT WAS AVAILABLE.
Jul 09, 1989	VERO BEACH, FL	N4680P	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AR… INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jul 03, 1989	ST. CHARLES, MO	N49554	Incident	substantial	AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS IN FLARING THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING AND COUNTER… AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS IN FLARING THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING AND COUNTERACTING THE EFFECTS OF THE CROSS-WIND ON THE DRIFTING AIRCRAFT.
Jul 03, 1989	PLATTSBURGH, NY	N48683	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jul 02, 1989	ONEIDA, NY	N4953B	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING DUE TO WIND CHANGE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY DUE TO IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND A DELAYED… LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING DUE TO WIND CHANGE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY DUE TO IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND A DELAYED RESPONSE TO THE BALLOONING OF THE ACFT.
Jun 24, 1989	ADDISON, TX	N45955	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION D… IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
Jun 13, 1989	JACKSON, TN	N24451	Incident	substantial	THE SEPARATION OF THE MIXTURE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE SOF… THE SEPARATION OF THE MIXTURE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE SOFT TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Jun 11, 1989	KAUFMAN, TX	N24258	Incident	substantial	STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED AND EXHAUSTING THE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Jun 04, 1989	DOVER AFB, DE	N69271	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED PORPO… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED PORPOISE, LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND AN UNCONTROLLED GROUND SWERVE. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE, A CROSSWIND, AND THE DITCH WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Jun 04, 1989	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N94622	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S LATE FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING THAT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE.
May 20, 1989	MARCO, FL	N5313B	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONTROL THE APPROACH SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A BOUNCED LANDING. NO RECOVERY WAS MADE FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE AIRPLAN… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONTROL THE APPROACH SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A BOUNCED LANDING. NO RECOVERY WAS MADE FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS ALLOWED TO STALL. THE AIRPLANE THEN LANDED ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR, WHICH RESULTED IN ITS OVERLOAD FAILURE.
May 18, 1989	WARRENSBURG, MO	N24984	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE CFI TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM POWER LINES, WHICH THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED.
May 18, 1989	HINCKLEY, OH	N24334	Incident	substantial	THE PILOTS FAILURE TO CALCULATE PROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
May 06, 1989	FLINT, MI	N25054	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES AND HIS PREMATURE DECISION TO INITIATE AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING … THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES AND HIS PREMATURE DECISION TO INITIATE AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND HIS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.
May 04, 1989	RAVENNA, OH	N47316	Incident	substantial	PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT EXCEEDED THE PUBLI… PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT EXCEEDED THE PUBLISHED DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE.
May 02, 1989	BUFFALO, MN	N6436P	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLE, AND THE DITCH.
May 01, 1989	BURLINGTON, VT	N45981	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Apr 27, 1989	HANOVER, PA	N757JS	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.
Apr 25, 1989	CAHOKIA, IL	N5498B	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND AND THE STUDENT'S LACK… INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Apr 25, 1989	MANASSAS, VA	N6558L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE SLIGHT CROSSWIND AND THE PI… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE SLIGHT CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Apr 24, 1989	OGDEN, UT	N49177	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING & SEPARATION OF THE NOSE LANDING WHEEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT… THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING & SEPARATION OF THE NOSE LANDING WHEEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Apr 23, 1989	MIAMI, FL	N704XE	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF A ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Apr 17, 1989	KENAI, AK	N6479L	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Apr 15, 1989	GRATIS, OH	N757HJ	Incident	substantial	THE FOREIGN MATERIAL (BIRD NEST) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT OR INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE IT DURING… THE FOREIGN MATERIAL (BIRD NEST) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT OR INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE IT DURING THEIR PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE FACTORS.
Apr 15, 1989	ADDISON, TX	N4870B	Incident	substantial	THE INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT HANDLING BY THE STUDENT PILOT, WHERE SHE ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO START TO PORPOISE, AND THEN DID NOT CORRECT IT.

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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Cessna 152 Safety Record

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