Cessna 170 Safety Record

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

728

All Events

537

Incidents

83

Minor

52

Serious

56

Fatal (98 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
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.
Jan 24, 1991 FORT MYERS, FL N1279D Minor substantial IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT WHICH CAUSED THE AIRSPEED TO DECREASE BELOW VSO RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Dec 07, 1990 WELSH, LA N1344D Minor substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND.
Nov 25, 1990 40 W OF CLEAR, AK N4030V Fatal (1) substantial
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULE WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CO…

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULE WHILE IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WHITEOUT CONDITION CREATED BY THE VAST EXPANSE OF WHITE LAKE SURFACE, AND THE BLOWING SNOW WHICH FURTHER REDUCED THE VISIBILITY.

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.

Oct 20, 1990 MAQUOKETA, IA N1692D Incident substantial THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Sep 21, 1990 HAVRE, MT N4289V Incident substantial THE SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY BY THE OWNER/STUDENT PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL.
Sep 10, 1990 ELK MOUNTAIN, WY N9157A Serious (2) substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE THAT DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE FOR A SAFE STALL RECOVERY.
Aug 16, 1990 FREDERICK, MD N8239A Incident substantial FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WHEEL AXLE.
Jul 10, 1990 FILLMORE, UT N4068V Serious (2) substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN INADVERTENT STALL.
Jul 04, 1990 ANCHORAGE, AK N3261A Incident substantial THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON INITIAL CLIMBOUT.
Jun 30, 1990 ANCHORAGE, AK N8054A Incident substantial A POWER LOSS DUE TO A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE #5 EXHAUST ROCKER ARM.
Jun 22, 1990 PORT CHALMERS, AK N2556C Incident substantial PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY CALCULATE THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE AND THE EFFECT OF THE CROSSWIND.
Jun 18, 1990 SALINA, UT N9086A Incident substantial
POWER LOSS AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT, AND ROUGH TERRA…

POWER LOSS AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT, AND ROUGH TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE GROUND RUN, FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING.

Jun 10, 1990 CONCORD, CA N2672D Incident substantial THE PILOT FAILED MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.
Jun 07, 1990 WASILLA, AK N1334D Incident substantial THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jun 03, 1990 DILLON, CO N3944V Fatal (1) substantial
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDE…

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

May 17, 1990 HAINES, AK N2300D Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GUSTY …

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION, AND PILOT FATIGUE.

May 06, 1990 ANCHORAGE, AK N4538C Incident substantial THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE.
Apr 22, 1990 ENGLEWOOD, CO N8074A Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING. THE CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Apr 22, 1990 JOHNSON CITY, TN N3980V Incident substantial THE PILOT/MECHANIC'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM.
Apr 01, 1990 WINCHESTER, VA N2521C Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD CLEAR THE FENCE AFTER TAKEOFF.
Mar 25, 1990 REPUBLIC, WA N4130V Fatal (2) destroyed
IMPROPER INSPECTION AND AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION BY AN FAA AUTHORIZED REPAIR STATION, THE INADEQUATE …

IMPROPER INSPECTION AND AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION BY AN FAA AUTHORIZED REPAIR STATION, THE INADEQUATE ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND LOW CYLINDER COMPRESSION, AND THE PILOTS ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH KNOWN AIRCRAFT DEFICIENCIES. THE RISING TERRAIN AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR.

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 170 For Sale All Cessna Models
Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data
View 17 Cessna 170 for sale ↓