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
Nov 20, 1991 BOULDER, CO N80893 Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE SIGN.
Nov 15, 1991 VIRGIN GORDA, VG N2824L Incident substantial Investigation pending
Nov 11, 1991 MOOSE PASS, AK N6742A Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SETTLE BACK TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL C…

THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SETTLE BACK TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER SETTLING BACK ON THE RUNWAY, DUE TO HIS VISIBILITY BEING RESTRICTED BY FROST ON THE WINDSHIELD.

Nov 02, 1991 SPRINGER, NM N61539 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO FORCASTED ADVERSE WEATHER, HIS DISREGARD FOR THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORY RECEIVED WHICH RESULT…

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO FORCASTED ADVERSE WEATHER, HIS DISREGARD FOR THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORY RECEIVED WHICH RESULTED IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF A BLOCKED INDUCTION SYSTEM DUE TO ICE AND SNOW, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY.

Oct 31, 1991 EKUK, AK N46279 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION IN THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TOUCHDOWN TOO CLOSE TO THE LOG.
Oct 13, 1991 COLVILLE, WA N64475 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND SPEED DURING THE APPROACH.
Oct 10, 1991 TOLEDO, OH N739LT Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PREFORM AN AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT, AND REMOVE THE GUST LOCK FROM THE AILERON, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DURING INITIA…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PREFORM AN AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT, AND REMOVE THE GUST LOCK FROM THE AILERON, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DURING INITIAL CLIMB.

Oct 09, 1991 LINCOLN, ME N76101 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE TRANSMISSION LINES. A FACTOR WAS THE SUNGLARE.
Oct 04, 1991 ERIE, CO N80650 Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL LAND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND THE…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL LAND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE: CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

Oct 03, 1991 BETHEL, AK N20024 Incident substantial A POWER LOSS OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER.
Sep 27, 1991 BURNS, OR N5680T Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S DELAY IN COMPUTING AIRCRAFT FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HIS FAILURE TO LAND AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATING T…

THE PILOT'S DELAY IN COMPUTING AIRCRAFT FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HIS FAILURE TO LAND AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TREE BY THE LANDING AREA AND THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENT OF THE RIGHT MAGNETO.

Sep 26, 1991 CHILOQUIN, OR N9403E Incident substantial
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SI…

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

Sep 22, 1991 COTTONWOOD, AZ N738EL Incident substantial THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DELAY IN RAISING THE FLAPS AND THE SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Sep 15, 1991 GREENEVILLE, TN N73L Incident substantial
THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF N78239, AND HIS FAILURE TO ACCURATELY JUDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCID…

THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF N78239, AND HIS FAILURE TO ACCURATELY JUDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE RESULTING VISUAL PERCEPTION OF AIRCRAFT LIGHTING IN DARK CONDITIONS.

Sep 14, 1991 ST GEORGE, UT N2185E Incident substantial IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT. THE CROSSWIND AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Sep 14, 1991 PRESCOTT, AZ N251ER Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF OPERATION.

Sep 13, 1991 SUMMERTON, SC N4184L Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE QUARTERING TAILWIND AND THE WET FIELD CO…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE QUARTERING TAILWIND AND THE WET FIELD CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP.

Sep 12, 1991 NORWOOD, MA N71393 Incident substantial
PREMATURE RETRACTION OF THE WING FLAPS DURING A GO-AROUND WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY. FACTORS REL…

PREMATURE RETRACTION OF THE WING FLAPS DURING A GO-AROUND WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FOR RECOVERY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL, AND LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.

Aug 31, 1991 BUTTE, MT N2396E Incident substantial UNFAVORABLE WINDS. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Aug 31, 1991 ENGLEWOOD, CO N2417E Incident substantial THE STUDENT PILOT MISJUDGED HIS LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Aug 26, 1991 FISHER, AR N7043G Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE DATA TO COMPUTE THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Aug 23, 1991 NASSAU, BF N733SR Incident substantial Investigation pending
Aug 22, 1991 HARBOR SPRINGS, MI N3891S Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS DELAY IN INITIATING THE GO-AROUND.
Aug 20, 1991 EVERETT, WA N738ET Incident substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TAXIWAY MARKER'S LACK OF FRANGIBILITY DUE TO I…

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TAXIWAY MARKER'S LACK OF FRANGIBILITY DUE TO ITS CONSTRUCTION.

Aug 19, 1991 MONTAGUE ISLAND, AK N7966B Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN SELECTED FOR LANDING BY THE PILOT…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN SELECTED FOR LANDING BY THE PILOT, WHICH WAS LOOSE GRAVEL, ROUGH AND UNEVEN.

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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