How many accidents has the Cessna 170B had?

The NTSB has recorded 405 events involving the Cessna 170B: 29 fatal, 26 serious, 39 minor injuries, and 311 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 170B a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 170B has 405 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 170B Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 405 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

405

All Events

311

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (47 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Aug 16, 1990	FREDERICK, MD	N8239A	Incident	substantial	FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WHEEL AXLE.
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 10, 1990	CONCORD, CA	N2672D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND 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 01, 1990	WINCHESTER, VA	N2521C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD CLEAR THE FENCE AFTER TAKEOFF.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Dec 18, 1988	NORTH POLE, AK	N3138B	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 16, 1988	HOPE, AK	N170LA	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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Cessna 170B Safety Record

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