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
Jun 10, 1992	ANCHORAGE, AK	N61670	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK OUT BY THE PILOT OF BOTH AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION, THE OTHER MOVING AIRCRAFT/… INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK OUT BY THE PILOT OF BOTH AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION, THE OTHER MOVING AIRCRAFT/OBJECT (C 172), AND THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED OF THE C 172.
Jun 10, 1992	HASTINGS, MI	N80490	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNDERSHOOT AND DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT-IN-COMMA… THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE TOUCHDOWN POINT WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNDERSHOOT AND DAMAGE TO THE ELEVATOR. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FAILED TO PROPERLY INSPECT THE AIRPLANE FOR DAMAGE PRIOR TO FURTHER FLIGHT.
Jun 09, 1992	DEXTER, ME	N19801	Incident	substantial	A FAILURE OF THE TOP TORQUE LINK BOLT ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING WITH A FLAT STRUT AND MISALIGNED WHEEL.
May 31, 1992	SAFFORD, AZ	N4163L	Incident	substantial	THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH ANIMALS WHICH RAN ON TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT BEING ABL… THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH ANIMALS WHICH RAN ON TO THE RUNWAY DURING THE PILOT'S TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION AND AVOID THE ANIMALS.
May 30, 1992	YAKIMA, WA	N7583G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
May 23, 1992	COATESVILLE, PA	N733PG	Incident	substantial	THE PASSENGERS INTERFERENCE WITH THE CONTROL YOKE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE ENTERING AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE, AND THE PILOT OVERSTRESSING THE WINGS … THE PASSENGERS INTERFERENCE WITH THE CONTROL YOKE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE ENTERING AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE, AND THE PILOT OVERSTRESSING THE WINGS DURING THE RECOVERY.
May 21, 1992	POUGHKEEPSIE, NY	N97154	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
May 21, 1992	DEKALB, IL	N6510V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER GLIDEPATH TO THE LANDING RUNWAY.
May 19, 1992	CLIMAX SPRINGS, MO	N80255	Incident	substantial	DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
May 17, 1992	DAYTONA BEACH, FL	N133ER	Incident	substantial	THE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) TO THE STUDENT'S PUSHING THE CONTROL YOKE FORWARD ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH.
May 04, 1992	PARKDALE, OR	N5096E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT DIRT RUNWAY SURFACE.
May 02, 1992	CANTON, TX	N9623V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND FOLLOWING AN ENCOUNTER WITH ADVERSE WIND COND… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND FOLLOWING AN ENCOUNTER WITH ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS ON APPROACH.
May 01, 1992	CONCORD, NC	N5529T	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Apr 28, 1992	ELBERT, CO	N5282V	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT LEFT ACCESSORY GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WAS: LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Apr 23, 1992	NEW MADISON, OH	N733XP	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADEQUATELY PLANNED HIS APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADEQUATELY PLANNED HIS APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND.
Apr 18, 1992	HAINES, AK	N80115	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAYED DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AN SOFT/SANDY TERRAIN.
Apr 14, 1992	SIDNEY, OH	N5085G	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTER WITH ROUG… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTER WITH ROUGH TERRAIN.
Apr 13, 1992	KNIGHTDALE, NC	N8471L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AT T… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT.
Apr 04, 1992	OSAGE BEACH, MO	N9568V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO USE ALL TH EAVAILABLE RUNWAY AND HIS MISJUDGMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING LANDING.
Apr 01, 1992	SCOTTSVILLE, TX	N7492X	Incident	substantial	PILOTS' INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR UNFAVORABLE WINDSHIFT. A FACATOR WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Mar 31, 1992	PRESCOTT, AZ	N267ER	Incident	substantial	THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S POOR SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT; THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AND DUAL STUDENT'S MISIDENTIFICATION… THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S POOR SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT; THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AND DUAL STUDENT'S MISIDENTIFICATION OF THE AIRPLANE THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FOLLOWING AND THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AND DUAL STUDENT'S POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Mar 26, 1992	ANCHORAGE, AK	N733PU	Incident	substantial	DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Mar 18, 1992	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N66076	Incident	substantial	UNDETERMINED.
Mar 16, 1992	WEST HELENA, AR	N96493	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S IMPROPER FLAREA ND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Mar 15, 1992	BILLINGS, MT	N4615L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CROSSWIND.

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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