How many accidents has the Cessna 172 had?

The NTSB has recorded 6810 events involving the Cessna 172: 960 fatal, 542 serious, 1048 minor injuries, and 4223 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172 has 6810 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.

6810

All Events

4223

Incidents

1048

Minor

542

Serious

960

Fatal (1802 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Oct 03, 1992	MARENGO, OH	N3980F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DUE TO SUNGLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A TREE STRIKE ON FINAL APPROACH.
Oct 03, 1992	KOKOMO, IN	N51829	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION.
Oct 02, 1992	RENO, NV	N5394K	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AND IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND… THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AND IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Sep 27, 1992	FORT COLLINS, CO	N5222D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS: CROSSWIND.
Sep 21, 1992	FULSHEAR, TX	N97489	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER, THE INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR, AND THE DARKNESS OF … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER, THE INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR, AND THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT.
Sep 19, 1992	LLOYD, MT	N12089	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS WIND GUSTS.
Sep 17, 1992	HAVRE DE GRACE, MD	N7396E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDE THE EXIST… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDE THE EXISTENCE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN ON WHICH THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED.
Sep 16, 1992	CASA GRANDE, AZ	N519PU	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Sep 15, 1992	YIPSLANTI, MI	N96593	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S PREMATURE FLARE DURING LANDING AND NOT PERFORMING A RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Sep 13, 1992	GENESEO, IL	N738KX	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DEFFICIENCY IN THE EQUIPMENT.
Sep 12, 1992	ST. CHARLES, MI	N5361K	Incident	substantial	THE JAMMING OF THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP DRIVEN IMPELLER. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Sep 12, 1992	FILLMORE, CA	N2212W	Incident	substantial	THE FIRST PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO FLY INTO A BOX CANYON. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE BOX CANYON AND THE DOWNDRAFT.
Sep 10, 1992	STANFIELD, AZ	N734UT	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY LANDING AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE AND MISJUDGING THE ALTITUDE DURING … THE CFI'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY LANDING AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE AND MISJUDGING THE ALTITUDE DURING THE CIRCLING MANEUVER.
Sep 07, 1992	NAVARRE, FL	N35302	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURIN… FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DIVERTION OF ATTENTION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO THE AIRPLANE ON THE APCH END OF THE RWY.
Sep 07, 1992	GROVEPORT, OH	N6044A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY SELECTING UNSUITABLE SOFT TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF.
Sep 05, 1992	FACTORYVILLE, PA	N1FZ	Incident	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Sep 05, 1992	WHEELING, IL	N9578B	Incident	substantial	MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF A LANDING GEAR HYDRAULIC PUMP SEAL.
Sep 03, 1992	INYOKERN, CA	N4187F	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT'S PILOT TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND THE CR… THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT'S PILOT TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND.
Sep 02, 1992	NEW BRAINTREE, MA	N2458L	Incident	substantial	WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Sep 02, 1992	HERNANDO, MS	N64001	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Aug 29, 1992	FORT WAYNE, IN	N100SU	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Aug 25, 1992	FOLSOM, NM	N5101F	Incident	substantial	CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED AND IMPROPER USE OF THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Aug 25, 1992	NEW CUMBERLAND, WV	N1109F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ABORTED TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT R… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ABORTED TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A FENCE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.
Aug 23, 1992	WEATHERFORD, TX	N1672Y	Incident	substantial	FUEL STARVATION AS RESULT OF A BLOCKED FUEL VENT SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Aug 18, 1992	NEW BERN, NC	N5415J	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND C… THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT.

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 172 Safety Record

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