How many accidents has the Cessna 170 had?

The NTSB has recorded 728 events involving the Cessna 170: 56 fatal, 52 serious, 83 minor injuries, and 537 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 170 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 170 has 728 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 170 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 728 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

728

All Events

537

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (98 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Oct 02, 1992	PRESCOTT, AZ	N2515D	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES.
Sep 03, 1992	ANGOLA, IN	N9124A	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT.
Sep 02, 1992	HOLTVILLE, CA	N9923A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNFORECASTED DUST DEVIL.
Jul 04, 1992	FRANKTOWN, CO	N3419C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGED INITIATION OF THE GO-AROUND FOLLOWING A BALKED LANDING. A FACTOR WAS: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
May 14, 1992	OLD MINTO, AK	N1805C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DITCH IN THE LANDING AREA.
Apr 21, 1992	KENAI, AK	N3970V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE MODIFIED AIRCRAFT.
Mar 08, 1992	MIAMI, FL	N9998A	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND (WINDSHIFT).
Feb 02, 1992	HOWELL, MI	N432W	Incident	substantial	DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A CROSS WIND.
Nov 12, 1991	LAKE HAVASU, AZ	N8172A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S; 1) INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION, 2) FAILURE TO OBTAIN CURRENT NOTAM INFORMATION, AND 3) FAILURE TO OBTAIN A CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTIN… THE PILOT'S; 1) INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION, 2) FAILURE TO OBTAIN CURRENT NOTAM INFORMATION, AND 3) FAILURE TO OBTAIN A CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION AND THE PILOT ELECTION NOT TO USE THE LANDING LIGHT.
Nov 07, 1991	WHISKEY GULCH, AK	N2584V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING DURING MANEUVERING FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS OPERATING AT AN ALTITUDE I… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING DURING MANEUVERING FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS OPERATING AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE IN WHICH TO EFFECT RECOVERY.
Oct 11, 1991	CHUGIAK, AK	N4606C	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN.
Sep 04, 1991	IOWA RIDGE, AK	N2487D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Aug 31, 1991	FRANKFORT, IL	N8244A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS A CROSSWIND.
Aug 26, 1991	HEBER CITY, UT	N4653C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND WEATHER CONDITION… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Jul 04, 1991	PROSPECT CREEK, AK	N3158A	Incident	substantial	CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS DELAY IN REVERSING COURSE (REMEDIAL ACTION). THE TERRAIN A… CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) BY THE PILOT, AND HIS DELAY IN REVERSING COURSE (REMEDIAL ACTION). THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Jul 02, 1991	CORDOVA, AK	N2765D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AND THE INTENTIONAL GROUND LOOP BY THE PILOT. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FA… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AND THE INTENTIONAL GROUND LOOP BY THE PILOT. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Jun 30, 1991	LAKE LOUISE, AK	N4659C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP.
Jun 23, 1991	KAKEEN, AK	N5739C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT, ROUGH, AND… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT, ROUGH, AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Jun 03, 1991	ANCHORAGE, AK	N1658D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 24, 1991	NEWELL, SD	N5720C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING.
Apr 07, 1991	NEWBURYPORT, MA	N3108A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILING TO COMPENSATE ADEQUATELY FOR ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS DURING TAKEOFF.
Feb 02, 1991	HOLLY, CO	N1437D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
Jan 26, 1991	ROCHESTER, IN	N4414B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND.
Nov 07, 1990	HEALY, AK	N5468C	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Nov 04, 1990	PATILLAS, PR	N4023V	Incident	substantial	THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE NON CERTIFICATED PILOT TO LOWER THE FLAPS TO THE CORRECT POSITION FOR TAKEOFF AND FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF DUE TO … THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE NON CERTIFICATED PILOT TO LOWER THE FLAPS TO THE CORRECT POSITION FOR TAKEOFF AND FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ACCELERATION.

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 170 Safety Record

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