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
Apr 11, 1991 LEHI, AR N51254 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: THE WET RUNWAY AND RESULTANT HYDROPLANING.
Apr 07, 1991 COLLEGE PARK, MD N9671A Incident substantial THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY.
Apr 07, 1991 HATTERAS, NC N62340 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT PORPOISE, AND HIS FAILURE TO EXECUTE A BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.
Apr 06, 1991 BURLINGTON, CT N64182 Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT, HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE AND TOTAL TIME, AND THE CROSSWIND.

Apr 05, 1991 HOOD RIVER, OR N9852T Incident substantial
AN INADEQUATELY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ROUGH WATER LANDING CONDITIONS, POOR SUPERVISION BY T…

AN INADEQUATELY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ROUGH WATER LANDING CONDITIONS, POOR SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, AND THE OVERLOAD CONDITION TO THE FLOAT ASSEMBLY.

Apr 05, 1991 STOCKTON, CA N733MQ Incident substantial THE INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF AN INCORRECT GASKET THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE MAGNETO.
Apr 02, 1991 WEST CHICAGO, IL N9592B Incident minor
FAILURE OF THE SPLINED SHAFT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE INCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE LANDING GEA…

FAILURE OF THE SPLINED SHAFT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE INCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE LANDING GEAR PIVOT ASSEMBLY.

Mar 31, 1991 OGDEN, UT N6852H Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACHED FOR LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND THE INADEQUACY OF THE PILOT'S RECOVERY FR…

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACHED FOR LANDING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND THE INADEQUACY OF THE PILOT'S RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

Mar 27, 1991 YANKTON, SD N1743V Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIE…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Mar 23, 1991 CLEWISTON, FL N739BW Incident substantial
MISJUDGED WIND DIRECTION RESULTING IN INCORRECT RUNWAY SELECTION AND FAILURE BY THE PIC TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. CONTRIB…

MISJUDGED WIND DIRECTION RESULTING IN INCORRECT RUNWAY SELECTION AND FAILURE BY THE PIC TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF THE PILOT'S TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Mar 23, 1991 WICHITA, KS N96868 Incident substantial
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND REMEDIAL ACTION WAS DELAYED BY THE CFI. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY C…

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND REMEDIAL ACTION WAS DELAYED BY THE CFI. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY CROSSWIND AND A DRAINAGE DITCH.

Mar 22, 1991 HAGERSTOWN, MD N5241D Incident substantial WORN CAMSHAFT LOBES WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Mar 18, 1991 LEROY, NY N20360 Incident substantial
THE HARD LANDING MADE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY DESPITE THE RUNWAY LIGHTING…

THE HARD LANDING MADE BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY DESPITE THE RUNWAY LIGHTING SYSTEM BEING PARTIALLY INOPERATIVE, AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF THE PILOT AT NIGHT.

Mar 16, 1991 BRIDGMAN, MI N78195 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT A DESCENT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MANEUVERING AT AN IMPROPER ALTITUDE.
Mar 09, 1991 SEATTLE, WA N64599 Incident substantial A HARD LANDING DUE TO THE PILOT'S MIDJUDGEMENT OF HIS TOUCHDOWN.
Mar 04, 1991 EVERGLADES CITY, FL N84461 Incident substantial
INFORMATION GIVEN DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS DISREGARDED, IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUST, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. CONT…

INFORMATION GIVEN DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS DISREGARDED, IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUST, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE PLACEMENT OF A WINDSOCK WHICH WAS BLOCKED BY TREES RESULTING IN AN INCORRECT INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION AND VELOCITY OF THE WIND.

Mar 02, 1991 RENO, NV N4417L Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY T…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/PREPARATION DECISION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITION.

Mar 01, 1991 NASHUA, NH N97313 Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Feb 17, 1991 SAN CARLOS, CA N5300F Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE LANDING.
Feb 10, 1991 EASTON, PA N9796V Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPERLY EXECUTED APPROACH, RESULTING IN A LANDING WITH EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED.
Feb 07, 1991 HELENA, MT N13654 Incident substantial
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE ON LANDING INAD…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE ON LANDING INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT EXPERIENCE.

Feb 07, 1991 ANCHORAGE, AK N63541 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TERRAIN (SNOWBANK).
Feb 02, 1991 NASHUA, NH N13341 Incident substantial FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION BY OTHER PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE AND A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Jan 27, 1991 SEDONA, AZ N54863 Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Jan 26, 1991 ROCHESTER, MN N9419E Incident substantial
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOT…

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

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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