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
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 27, 1989 CONCORD, CA N24521 Minor substantial STUDENT PILOT HAD NOT ATTAINED COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
May 24, 1989 FORT PIERCE, FL N714UQ Minor substantial
FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS (SMOKE & H…

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS (SMOKE & HAZE), THE STUDENT BECOMING LOST, HER LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND HER INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND ATC INSTRUCTIONS AFTER SHE BECAME LOST.

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 HINCKLEY, OH N24334 Incident substantial THE PILOTS FAILURE TO CALCULATE PROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
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 11, 1989 COTTAGE GROVE, MN N5357Q Serious (2) substantial
POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT BY FLYING WHILE PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL; AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANE…

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT BY FLYING WHILE PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL; AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH WOODED/HILLY TERRAIN.

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 06, 1989 PORT SAN LUIS, CA N6301M Fatal (2) destroyed PILOT FAILED TO EXECUTE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
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 WEST CHICAGO, IL N93748 Fatal (1) destroyed
IMPROPER INSTRUCTION BY THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REGARDING THE EXECUTION OF S-TURNS ON FINAL APPROACH TO INCREASE SPACING AND THE RETRACTION OF…

IMPROPER INSTRUCTION BY THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REGARDING THE EXECUTION OF S-TURNS ON FINAL APPROACH TO INCREASE SPACING AND THE RETRACTION OF FLAPS FULLY WHEN EXECUTING A GO-AROUND AND THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED WHILE MAKING STEEP S-TURNS ON FINAL APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE ATC CONTROL TOWER SERVICE AND TRAFFIC SEPARATION, IMPROPER SUPERVISION IN THE TOWER, AND INEXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.

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.
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.

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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