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
Oct 26, 1991	VALKARIA, FL	N24431	Serious (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING. THIS RESULTED IN THE PILOT BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND AN IN-FLIGHT COLL… THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING. THIS RESULTED IN THE PILOT BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES.
Oct 25, 1991	WILLITS, CA	N24237	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE HIS FLIGHT IN DETERIORATING WEATHER, AND HIS MISJUDGED WEATHER EVALUATION.
Oct 17, 1991	LEE'S SUMMIT, MO	N4712B	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, IMPROPER TOUCH AND GO PROCED… THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, IMPROPER TOUCH AND GO PROCEDURES, AND DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Oct 11, 1991	GREEN COVE SPGS, FL	N89296	Fatal (1)	minor	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Oct 09, 1991	LUBBOCK, TX	N5399B	Incident	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE FBO'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE… FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE FBO'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES.
Oct 09, 1991	VAN NUYS, CA	N6211Q	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND THE BUCKLING OF THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE GEAR.
Oct 05, 1991	SANTA MONICA, CA	N93839	Incident	minor	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING HIS AIRCRAFT.
Sep 26, 1991	MALAGA, WA	N4740H	Incident	substantial	THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO INSURE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE 1) RISIN… THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO INSURE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE 1) RISING TERRAIN, 2) HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION, AND 3) THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S DELAY OF THE GO-AROUND.
Sep 19, 1991	MARION, IN	N5463L	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING.
Sep 14, 1991	BURNT CHIMNEY, VA	N24509	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE UPHILL RUNWAY AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Sep 12, 1991	STILLWATER, OK	N93151	Minor	substantial	POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS: THE ROUGH UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Sep 11, 1991	RUSTON, LA	N93621	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S EXCEEDING THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY.
Sep 08, 1991	CROOM, MD	N48430	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY WAS ON BOARD TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Sep 07, 1991	MINNEAPOLIS, KS	N67781	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT W… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INACCURATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.
Aug 25, 1991	AVALON, CA	N320SV	Incident	destroyed	A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND SUBSEQUENT DITCHING WHILE FLYING OVER THE OCEAN.
Aug 24, 1991	MONTAGUE, CA	N757ZJ	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER GO-AROUND PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE.
Aug 21, 1991	MARIANNA, FL	N757TM	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED DURING LANDING AND FAILURE TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND IN A TIMELY MANNER.
Aug 12, 1991	BEAR MOUNTAIN, NY	N67393	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND PLANNING, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A FORCED LANDING IN WATER.
Aug 04, 1991	WARRENSBURG, MO	N5134Q	Incident	substantial	DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION BY THE PILOT.
Aug 03, 1991	BROOKVILLE, OH	N8144L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Aug 02, 1991	NEW PALTZ, NY	N6494Q	Fatal (2)	destroyed	FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO ASSURE THAT THE PROPER ALTITUDE WAS MAINTAINED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPE… FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO ASSURE THAT THE PROPER ALTITUDE WAS MAINTAINED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE CFI'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
Jul 24, 1991	FOUNTAIN, CO	N24204	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A LANDING. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND WEATHER CONDITION… THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A LANDING. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDED LOW CEILING, OBSCURATION, FOG, AND DRIZZLE.
Jul 21, 1991	ANCHORAGE, AK	N25063	Serious (1)	substantial	A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED CAUSES. FACTORS INCLUDE OBJECTS IN THE FLIGHT PATH ENCOUNTERED DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT.
Jul 20, 1991	HILLIARD, FL	N48380	Minor	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VSO, AND INADVERTENT STALL MUSH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS L… LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VSO, AND INADVERTENT STALL MUSH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
Jul 17, 1991	WALLA WALLA, WA	N48965	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S POOR COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE DOWNDRAFTS AND THE STUDENT PILOTS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATIO… THE STUDENT PILOT'S POOR COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE DOWNDRAFTS AND THE STUDENT PILOTS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

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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