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
Jan 22, 2015	Tulsa, OK	N6300Q	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing technique which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.
Dec 08, 2014	Mount Pleasant, TX	N787PB	Incident	destroyed	The pilot's decision to maneuver the airplane at low altitude resulting in the airplane impacting power lines.
Dec 06, 2014	Berrien Springs, MI	N25979	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing and his poor decision not to abort the landing before the airplane traveled off th… The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing and his poor decision not to abort the landing before the airplane traveled off the end of the airstrip.
Oct 04, 2014	Arlington, TX	N124RP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate flight preparation and navigation during a training flight resulting in collision with low wires.
Sep 01, 2014	Santa Rosa, CA	N67367	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inadequate flare resulted in a hard landing.
Jul 05, 2014	Denton, TX	N49785	Incident	substantial	The in-flight failure of the right wing’s rear spar.
Dec 07, 2013	Columbia Station, OH	N93756	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate flight planning and decision to land on the soft grass/turf runway which resulted in a nose over.
Nov 13, 2013	Livermore, CA	N821EB	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Aug 23, 2013	Easton, MD	N4922P	Incident	substantial	The use of an improper nose landing gear through bolt, which decreased the overall strength of the gear and resulted in overload failure during a hard… The use of an improper nose landing gear through bolt, which decreased the overall strength of the gear and resulted in overload failure during a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in the hard landing.
Jun 17, 2013	Carrizo Springs, TX	N49108	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to identify the water contamination of the fuel system during his preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine p… The pilot’s failure to identify the water contamination of the fuel system during his preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during the airplane’s initial climb.
May 14, 2013	Oxford, NC	N4844H	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Apr 23, 2013	Americus, GA	N757GX	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s delayed decision to terminate the practice approach during a simulated loss of engine power maneuver, which resulted in an inadvertent col… The pilot’s delayed decision to terminate the practice approach during a simulated loss of engine power maneuver, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with utility wires.
Apr 08, 2013	Columbus, GA	N46803	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Apr 04, 2013	Miami, FL	N6141Q	Incident	substantial	A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 3 exhaust valve. Contributing to the accident was the airplane operator’s failure to foll… A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 3 exhaust valve. Contributing to the accident was the airplane operator’s failure to follow the engine manufacturer’s recommended engine overhaul intervals.
Mar 26, 2013	College Station, TX	N48693	Incident	substantial	The failure of the nose landing gear fork during landing due to fatigue.
Feb 19, 2013	Kelso, WA	N89956	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inadequate landing flare and lack of remedial actions, which resulted in a hard bounced landing.
Feb 15, 2013	Murphysboro, IL	N95670	Incident	substantial	An inadvertent encounter with birds while on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern.
Jan 27, 2013	Atwater, CA	N68757	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in his getting lost and not being able to return to the airport before the fuel was exh… The student pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in his getting lost and not being able to return to the airport before the fuel was exhausted and the engine lost power.
Oct 29, 2012	Long Beach, CA	N48340	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Aug 24, 2012	Ormond Beach, FL	N24264	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper decision to take off again after a successful abort due to diminished airplane climb performance. Contributing to the accident wa… The pilot's improper decision to take off again after a successful abort due to diminished airplane climb performance. Contributing to the accident was carburetor icing during the taxi, which resulted in the loss of engine performance.
Aug 17, 2012	Rockford, IL	N152BA	Incident	substantial	A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies.
Aug 10, 2012	Eastvale, CA	N94185	Incident	substantial	The failure of both pilots to ensure that no water was present in the fuel, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power and a forced off-field l… The failure of both pilots to ensure that no water was present in the fuel, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power and a forced off-field landing.
Jun 16, 2012	Miami, FL	N67324	Incident	substantial	The pilots’ operation of the airplane with an insufficient supply of engine oil, resulting in engine seizure and total loss of engine power.
May 21, 2012	Ardmore, OK	N6102Q	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper configuration of the airplane flaps during an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadequate climb rate and subsequent … The student pilot's improper configuration of the airplane flaps during an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadequate climb rate and subsequent collision with trees.
May 01, 2012	San Antonio, TX	N94500	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare, which resulted in a hard/bounced landing and subsequent impact with the runway.

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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