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
Aug 17, 1992	VIRGIN GORDA, VG	N3955Q	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 09, 1992	LAKEVIEW, OR	N8100L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE SOFT TERRAIN.
Jul 29, 1992	VALKARIA, FL	N89900	Incident	substantial	EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY COLL… EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH A TREE.
Jul 29, 1992	LUBBOCK, TX	N5718R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, AND THE CFI FAILED TO TAKE TIMELY ACTION TO PREVENT… THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION MISJUDGED HIS DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, AND THE CFI FAILED TO TAKE TIMELY ACTION TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF HIS ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT.
Jul 28, 1992	VERNON, TX	N5063A	Incident	substantial	AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY PILOT. A FACTOR WAS UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Jul 26, 1992	VAN NUYS, CA	N2781E	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CHECKLIST TO ASSURE THAT THE TRIM TAB WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL PROCEDURES AND D… THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CHECKLIST TO ASSURE THAT THE TRIM TAB WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, MISREADING OF THE TRIM SETTING, AND EXESSIVE NOSE DOWN ELEVATOR TRIM TAB.
Jul 26, 1992	CHENOA, IL	N8262L	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION ON THE PART OF THE PILOT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE … INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION ON THE PART OF THE PILOT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION THE PILOT WAS UNDERTAKING, A PROPER CLIMB RATE NOT OBTAINED BY THE PILOT AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT PERFORMED BY THE PILOT.
Jul 25, 1992	OZONA, TX	N9880G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.
Jul 23, 1992	TWIN HILLS, AK	N5339H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK.
Jul 22, 1992	ELKO, NV	N7138F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE OVER THE TERRAIN, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WAS A FAC… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE OVER THE TERRAIN, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR.
Jul 19, 1992	PIQUA, OH	N78483	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Jul 15, 1992	BATES CITY, MO	N1324E	Incident	substantial	TOTAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE WINDSHIELD.
Jul 11, 1992	DELTA, UT	N9871G	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE AND THE POORLY EXECUTED FORCED LANDING.
Jul 11, 1992	AUBURN, WA	N8348B	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND THE IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES BY THE CFI. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL … THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND THE IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES BY THE CFI. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT TO TOUCHDOWN PROPERLY.
Jul 11, 1992	AUBURN, AL	N9768T	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A RESULT OF HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Jul 09, 1992	WAUKEGAN, IL	N98673	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND IMPROPER … THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Jul 04, 1992	CHESTERFIELD, MO	N734VF	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRCRAFT BRAKE SYSTEM BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Jul 04, 1992	BROOMFIELD, CO	N128FR	Incident	substantial	FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jul 03, 1992	TONOPAH, NV	N4417L	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY AND COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING TAILWIND CONDITIONS, AND, HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO AROUND WHEN HE … THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY AND COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING TAILWIND CONDITIONS, AND, HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO AROUND WHEN HE BECAME AWARE OF BEING HIGH WITH A FAST GROUND SPEED.
Jun 30, 1992	LAKE HAVASU, AZ	N6496E	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Jun 27, 1992	HUNTSVILLE, AL	N8198L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE PREVAILING… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE PREVAILING TAILWIND AT THE AIRSTRIP.
Jun 26, 1992	HAYWARD, CA	N9447E	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE, THE CFI'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION AND HIS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
Jun 14, 1992	WHEELING, IL	N62538	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER APPROACH TO LANDING. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE THUNDERSTORM AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED.
Jun 14, 1992	AUBURN, AL	N97883	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Jun 13, 1992	BLYTHE, CA	N8014L	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL PERFORMED BY THE MECHANIC. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE LEAKS AND THE SOFT TERRAI… THE IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL PERFORMED BY THE MECHANIC. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE LEAKS AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.

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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