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
Feb 26, 2017	Hong Kong, CH	B-HHN	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Feb 26, 2017	Madill, OK	N6132Q	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a hangar while taxiing at night.
Feb 08, 2017	Praia de São João – Caparica – Portugal, PO	CS-AVA	Fatal	substantial	Investigation pending
Feb 03, 2017	Bonifay, FL	N6318M	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions.
Nov 13, 2016	Miami, FL	N94292	Incident	substantial	The loss of torque on the No. 3 connecting rod’s nuts, which resulted in the failure of the No. 3 connecting rod’s bolts and a subsequent total loss o… The loss of torque on the No. 3 connecting rod’s nuts, which resulted in the failure of the No. 3 connecting rod’s bolts and a subsequent total loss of engine power due to the operator's maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the connecting rod nuts.
Oct 17, 2016	Miami, FL	N46953	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Oct 14, 2016	Chickaloon, AK	N488E	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor's delay in aborting the takeoff from a turf runway, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Sep 15, 2016	Flanders, CO	HK2092G	Fatal (2)	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 15, 2016	Malindi, KE	5Y-GSM	Incident	minor	Investigation pending
Sep 12, 2016	Nairobi, KE	5Y-NNC	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 21, 2016	Miami, FL	N94939	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper pitch control during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing, and a nose landing gear collapse.
Aug 17, 2016	Belle Plaine, MN	N631TK	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper pitch technique after rotation during a short field take off, which resulted in the right wing impacting the ground and a… The student pilot's improper pitch technique after rotation during a short field take off, which resulted in the right wing impacting the ground and a nose gear collapse.
Aug 17, 2016	Newnan, GA	N5250B	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper decision to land long and maintain excessive speed during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the student … The student pilot's improper decision to land long and maintain excessive speed during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's decision to maintain full flaps and aft yoke inputs at a higher speed, reducing his ability to stop the airplane on the runway.
Aug 12, 2016	Hillsboro, OR	N48440	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise and substantial damage to the engine mount.
Aug 01, 2016	Scappoose, OR	N49276	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing/abnorma… The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing/abnormal runway contact, a partial nose wheel collapse and substantial damage to the firewall.
Jul 27, 2016	Denton, TX	N4702P	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper approach descent rate and landing flare attitude, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear.
Jul 08, 2016	Bridgeport, TX	N5331B	Incident	substantial	The pilot's unstabilized approach and uneven braking due to insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a loss of directional control during land… The pilot's unstabilized approach and uneven braking due to insufficient runway remaining, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the bound flap jackscrew, which jammed the flaps and led to the pilot’s inability to operate the airplane normally.
Jul 01, 2016	Augusta, ME	N4916B	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to compensate for the gusting wind conditions during a short-field landing and the designated pilot examiner's delayed remedial ac… The pilot's failure to compensate for the gusting wind conditions during a short-field landing and the designated pilot examiner's delayed remedial action, which resulted in the wing tip contacting the runway during the go-around.
Jun 25, 2016	Delta, CO	N152L	Incident	substantial	The pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack during the initial climb in tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Jun 22, 2016	Clearlake Oaks, CA	N67889	Minor	substantial	The pilot's deviation from his original flight plan, which resulted in becoming lost in mountainous terrain at night, fuel exhaustion, loss of engine … The pilot's deviation from his original flight plan, which resulted in becoming lost in mountainous terrain at night, fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a collision with power lines during a forced landing.
Jun 16, 2016	Immokalee, FL	N4918H	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
May 23, 2016	Melrose, FL	N952SA	Minor	substantial	A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Apr 30, 2016	Palo Alto, CA	N94565	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's decision to takeoff in wind conditions that exceeded his certificated flight instructor's maximum wind endorsement, and the studen… The student pilot's decision to takeoff in wind conditions that exceeded his certificated flight instructor's maximum wind endorsement, and the student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the touchdown, resulting in abnormal runway contact, and substantial damage to the firewall.
Apr 28, 2016	Hayward, CA	N6427Q	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's high descent rate during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, nose landing gear collapse, and runway excursion dur… The student pilot's high descent rate during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, nose landing gear collapse, and runway excursion during an aborted landing.
Mar 23, 2016	Valparaiso, IN	N918U	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise and substantial damage to the firewall.

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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