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 17, 1991	SPRINGWATER, NY	N6489B	Incident	destroyed	THE ON GROUND COLLISION WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A BROKEN EXHAUST VALVE.
Jul 14, 1991	BENTON, TN	N757CB	Incident	substantial	A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Jul 09, 1991	INDIAN SPRINGS, NV	N5533B	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE PILOT BECOMING LOST/DISO… FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE PILOT BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED ; 2) THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS; 3) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEEK HELP IN A TIMELY FASHION; AND 4) THE LOSS OF HIS EYEGLASSES WITH THE RESULTANT VISUAL PROBLEMS.
Jul 06, 1991	WOODCHOPPER CRK, AK	N6276P	Incident	substantial	ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILO… ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Jul 04, 1991	RUTLAND, VT	N69061	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSING OF THE NOSE GEAR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TH… THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSING OF THE NOSE GEAR. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Jul 03, 1991	RICHLAND, WA	N757MA	Incident	substantial	PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE (LOCKING THE RIGHT BRAKE) FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Jun 25, 1991	HUTTO, TX	N93097	Incident	substantial	THE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE FOULED SPARK PLUGS.
Jun 21, 1991	BROOKSVILLE, FL	N4733B	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS LACK OF TO… FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Jun 18, 1991	MURFREESBORO, TN	N25362	Incident	substantial	STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Jun 17, 1991	OCEANSIDE, CA	N747CM	Incident	destroyed	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING.
Jun 15, 1991	FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ	N49627	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO CORRECTLY CONFIGURE THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT W… THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO CORRECTLY CONFIGURE THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
Jun 03, 1991	PENSACOLA, FL	N65416	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.
May 31, 1991	HOLLAND, MI	N714UH	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING ROLL ON A SOD RUNWAY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE UNEVEN … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING ROLL ON A SOD RUNWAY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE THE UNEVEN TERRAIN AT THE RUNWAY INTERSECTION, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
May 28, 1991	HILLSDALE, MI	N5299B	Minor	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK TOTAL E… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
May 23, 1991	KNIGHTDALE, NC	N93002	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DISCREPANCY AND THE OPERATOR'S PREVIO… THE STUDENT PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DISCREPANCY AND THE OPERATOR'S PREVIOUS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION OF THE PITOT/STATIC SYSTEM WERE FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
May 23, 1991	JACKSONVILLE, FL	N6495L	Incident	substantial	PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO MISJUDGED FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.
May 22, 1991	GREENVILLE, IL	N24394	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S MISJUDGMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT PERFORMING REMEDIAL ACTION.
May 18, 1991	RICHMOND, CA	N6507H	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGH… LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
May 15, 1991	NEWTONVILLE, NJ	N94512	Incident	substantial	PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE STUDENT PILOT DELAYED ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE, AFTER BECOMING LOST UNTIL INSUFFICIENT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO MAKE AN AIRPORT. TH… PILOT FACTOR IN THAT THE STUDENT PILOT DELAYED ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE, AFTER BECOMING LOST UNTIL INSUFFICIENT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO MAKE AN AIRPORT. THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN.
May 12, 1991	YAZOO CITY, MS	N65619	Incident	substantial	POOR PLANNING DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT, IMPROPER FUEL CALCULATIONS, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY. CONTRIBUTING T… POOR PLANNING DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT, IMPROPER FUEL CALCULATIONS, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS OWN PERSONAL ABILITY BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
May 12, 1991	BANNING, CA	N6258B	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO UTILIZE THE PROPER TECHNIQUE TO RECOVER THE AIRPLANE FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
May 11, 1991	PONTIAC, MI	N69101	Incident	substantial	RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WAS IMPROPER BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.
May 01, 1991	HAMPTON, GA	N6301L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND HIS FAILURE TO EXECUTE AN ABORT IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN A SAFE LANDING WAS NOT POSSIBLE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE T… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND HIS FAILURE TO EXECUTE AN ABORT IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN A SAFE LANDING WAS NOT POSSIBLE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WET GRASS CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE.
Apr 16, 1991	OAK MEADOWS, FL	N4902H	Serious (2)	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALL SPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE THAT PRECLUDED RECOVERY… THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALL SPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE THAT PRECLUDED RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT AND OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Apr 10, 1991	DURANT, OK	N116SS	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT DURING THE FLARE.

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 59 Cessna 152 for sale ↓

Cessna 152 Safety Record

Report an Issue