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
Apr 10, 1989	IRWINDALE, CA	N25884	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PROCEDURE USED BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN SIMULATING AN ENGINE FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT… IMPROPER PROCEDURE USED BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN SIMULATING AN ENGINE FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
Apr 10, 1989	BEDFORD, MA	N94822	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THROTTLE AND FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOT… IMPROPER USE OF THROTTLE AND FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION (INSTRUCTING) WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Apr 09, 1989	TAFT, CA	N4602L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOTS IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IN WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Apr 01, 1989	BOLIVAR, TN	N6475Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN REQUIRED FUEL FOR THIS FLIGHT WHICH RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD.
Mar 12, 1989	OLIVE BRANCH, MS	N4948H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE CROSSWIND AND DITCH WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Mar 08, 1989	LINCOLN PARK, NJ	N94252	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER DECISION AND PLANNING BY THE CHECK PILOT (F/E) WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF PROPER ALIGNMENT AND COLLISION WITH A SNOWBANK AT THE EDGE OF THE RU… IMPROPER DECISION AND PLANNING BY THE CHECK PILOT (F/E) WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF PROPER ALIGNMENT AND COLLISION WITH A SNOWBANK AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE F/E, F/E'S UNSECURED SHOULDER HARNESS, PREMATURE LIFT-OFF BY THE F/E, CROSSWIND, SNOWBANK & WET/SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Mar 01, 1989	CROOKSTON, MN	N5329B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ICY/SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.
Feb 23, 1989	KANSAS CITY, MO	N25909	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL BY PILOT IN COMMAND.
Feb 19, 1989	CHUGIAK, AK	N5312Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENC… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Feb 13, 1989	CROOKSTON, MN	N95975	Incident	substantial	PREMATURE RAISING OF FLAPS AND THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.
Feb 12, 1989	GREEN VALLEY, AZ	N5496B	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN NOT MAINTAINING PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERALL LACK OF E… THE STUDENT PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN NOT MAINTAINING PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Feb 09, 1989	GILL, CO	N69117	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE CFI DURING DESCENT THROUGH LOW TEMPERATURE AIR.
Feb 06, 1989	GRAND FORKS, ND	N89038	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECT A GROUND LOOP SWERVE. A LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jan 28, 1989	FIRE ISLAND, NY	N25420	Incident	destroyed	THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF AN UNAUTHORIZED SEALANT USED ON THE OIL RESSURE SCREEN HOUSING GASKET CONTAMINATED THE OIL AND RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF OIL… THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF AN UNAUTHORIZED SEALANT USED ON THE OIL RESSURE SCREEN HOUSING GASKET CONTAMINATED THE OIL AND RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF OIL THROUGH THE MAIN BEARINGS CAUSING OIL STARVATION AND CONNECTING ROD, BEARING, AND BOLT FAILURE.
Jan 26, 1989	ORLANDO, FL	N48799	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FLARE FOR LANDING AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Jan 26, 1989	PUYALLUP, WA	N49104	Incident	substantial	FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE POOR APPROACH AND FLARE TE… FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE POOR APPROACH AND FLARE TECHNIQUE AND LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Jan 07, 1989	STRATFORD, CT	N757KR	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Jan 04, 1989	THEODORE, AL	N69015	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL, AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.
Jan 04, 1989	LONG BEACH, CA	N93114	Incident	substantial	THE EXCESSIVE SPEED WHICH THE PILOT WAS MAINTAINING AND HIS IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INEXPERIENCE … THE EXCESSIVE SPEED WHICH THE PILOT WAS MAINTAINING AND HIS IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INEXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.
Dec 31, 1988	GRAND RAPIDS, MI	N714XV	Incident	destroyed	PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
Dec 29, 1988	GILCREST, CO	N46974	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 22, 1988	HYANNIS, MA	N5465P	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 20, 1988	PEDRICKTOWN, NJ	N24824	Incident	destroyed	Investigation pending
Dec 18, 1988	CREVE COEUR, MO	N757YE	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 16, 1988	GREELEY, CO	N49209	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

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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