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
Mar 17, 1990 SULATNA CROSS, AK N4659C Incident substantial
THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ASSESS THE EXISTING SNOW CONDITIONS AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN (PREFLIGHT PLANNING) PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR…

THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ASSESS THE EXISTING SNOW CONDITIONS AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN (PREFLIGHT PLANNING) PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN THE AIRPLANE'S PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES AND THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.

Feb 23, 1990 GALLUP, NM N9130A Incident substantial IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ENGINE DURING PREFLIGHT PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE AND DAMAGE TO INTERNAL COMPONENTS.
Jan 13, 1990 CROCKETT, TX N6303D Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE DUE TO FATIGUE WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN.
Nov 26, 1989 ROGERSVILLE, TN N9192A Fatal (2) destroyed
CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RESULTING IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT …

CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RESULTING IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO FLY IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE.

Nov 25, 1989 CHUGIAK, AK N4396B Incident substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE STUDENT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS…

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE STUDENT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITIES, HIS SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY, THE RESULTANT TAILWIND, AND ICY RUNWAY CONDITIONS.

Oct 23, 1989 NEW BOSTON, TX N8188A Incident substantial A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE DIRT BANK CONTACTED DURING THE LANDING IS CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Oct 08, 1989 MOORESVILLE, NC N11575 Incident substantial
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUGHDOWN POINT ON THE UNIDIRECTIONAL RUNWAY. F…

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUGHDOWN POINT ON THE UNIDIRECTIONAL RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

Oct 06, 1989 BURLINGTON, CT N727Z Incident substantial THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDING WITH A STEEL DRUM PLACED ON THE RUNWAY BY UNKNOWN PERSON(S) TO MARK A POTHOLE AREA.
Sep 10, 1989 CORTEZ, CO N170LF Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP.
Aug 05, 1989 BOULDER, CO N2549D Incident substantial THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Aug 04, 1989 BROOKFIELD, WI N9762A Incident substantial THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO TAKE PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTION AFTER ENCOUNTERING A WIND GUST ON LANDING.
Jul 24, 1989 BRICKTOWN, NJ N8388A Incident substantial UNDETERMINED. THE TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Jul 23, 1989 KYLE, SD N8102A Incident substantial
THE PILOT USED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING & DECISION-MAKING IN SELECTING A ROAD ON WHICH TO LAND DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILU…

THE PILOT USED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING & DECISION-MAKING IN SELECTING A ROAD ON WHICH TO LAND DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL.

Jun 12, 1989 GERLACH, NV N2873C Incident substantial
THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT BY SELECTING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. AS A RESULT, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE SO…

THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT BY SELECTING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. AS A RESULT, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE SOFT TERRAIN.

Jun 10, 1989 SARASOTA, FL N3100B Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO SPOT CATTLE FOR A GROUND CREW.
May 23, 1989 BIRCHWOOD, AK N3132B Minor substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE PROPER DETENT FOR TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/MUDDY TER…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE PROPER DETENT FOR TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/MUDDY TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

May 06, 1989 KALSKAG, AK N4074V Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWING A BOUNCED LANDING.
May 05, 1989 DEMING, NM N3475D Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE …

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.

Apr 24, 1989 ORWELL, OH N4409V Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CLEAR THE FENCE(S) NEAR THE EN…

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CLEAR THE FENCE(S) NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SOFT RUNWAY/TERRAIN CONDITIONS & THE FENCE.

Apr 19, 1989 KALISPELL, MT N5414C Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING FLARE AND ROLLOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF PRO…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING FLARE AND ROLLOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF PROFICIENCY WITH ONLY 4 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN THE PRECEDING 90 DAY PERIOD.

Apr 02, 1989 FREEDOM, WI N3016A Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE W…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Mar 23, 1989 RAVENSWOOD, WV N9187A Incident substantial THE PILOTS DECISION TO LAND WITH A TAILWIND AND INADEQUATELY COMPENSATING FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS.
Feb 18, 1989 CLEVELAND, TN N8032A Incident substantial
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN DIVERTING TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WHICH LED TO A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND AN EMERGENCY L…

FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN DIVERTING TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WHICH LED TO A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

Jan 01, 1989 SPECULATOR, NY N1432D Minor destroyed
INACCURATE INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS BY THE PILOT WHO INADVERTENTLY FLEW HIS AIRCRAFT FROM VFR INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHILE M…

INACCURATE INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS BY THE PILOT WHO INADVERTENTLY FLEW HIS AIRCRAFT FROM VFR INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHILE MAKING A DESCENT AT NIGHT.

Dec 18, 1988 NORTH POLE, AK N3138B Incident substantial Investigation pending
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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