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
May 03, 1990	SAN ANGELO, TX	N3941R	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF IN VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
May 02, 1990	PLAINFIELD, IL	N54093	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTO… THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 28, 1990	ANGOLA, IN	N5685E	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE LANDING IN GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A RELATED FAC… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE LANDING IN GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 28, 1990	MT. PLEASANT, PA	N7616T	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE… THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Apr 27, 1990	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N6356D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT LANDED WITH A TAILWIND, AND COST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING ROLLOUT.
Apr 18, 1990	COLUMBIA FALLS, MT	N3233L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PREFLIGHT AND SECURE THE FUEL CAP WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF FUEL AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUTION. FACTOR W… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PREFLIGHT AND SECURE THE FUEL CAP WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF FUEL AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUTION. FACTOR WAS SOFT TERRAIN DURING FORCED LANDING.
Apr 13, 1990	ROMEOVILLE, IL	N9694B	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO CORRECT A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A LANDING ROLL IN A TIMELY MANNER.
Apr 13, 1990	VILLA RICA, GA	N7677T	Incident	substantial	FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE, INITIATED BY THE COMBINATION OF A BLOCKED FUEL TANK VENT LINE AND A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL FILLER CAP. A FACTOR IN THE ACC… FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE, INITIATED BY THE COMBINATION OF A BLOCKED FUEL TANK VENT LINE AND A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL FILLER CAP. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, IN THAT HE DID NOT DETECT THE FUEL VENT LINE BLOCKAGE.
Apr 12, 1990	ANCHORAGE, AK	N46410	Incident	substantial	PILOT-IN-COMMAND USED POOR JUDGEMENT WHEN HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF ON ROUGH & UNEVEN FROZEN LAKE WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILED NOSE SKI.
Apr 08, 1990	SAVANNA, IL	N89594	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE STRONG/GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 07, 1990	OGALLALA, NE	N64739	Incident	substantial	THE MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Mar 30, 1990	GROVELAND, CA	N13685	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT.
Mar 25, 1990	COLORADO SPRING, CO	N19948	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADV… THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE.
Mar 22, 1990	COLUMBUS, OH	N7275G	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION.
Mar 21, 1990	THREE FORKS, MT	N80830	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE.
Mar 18, 1990	ELKHORN, MT	N61918	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT FLIGHT IN TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRPLANE.
Mar 18, 1990	ANDOVER, NJ	N8213L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE DURING LANDING.
Mar 17, 1990	RIO HONDO, TX	N4696L	Incident	substantial	OIL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND THE … OIL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND THE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Mar 13, 1990	HURRICANE, UT	N1530V	Incident	substantial	THE ENGINE OIL LEAK INDUCED CONNECTING ROD FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT TOTAL POWER LOSS.
Mar 11, 1990	ISABEL, SD	N35485	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS.
Mar 10, 1990	ARLINGTON, TX	N5193F	Incident	substantial	INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT WHICH LED TO THE ENSUING ENGI… INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT WHICH LED TO THE ENSUING ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE'S ERRONEOUS QUANTITY READINGS AND THE SOFT/UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THAT LED TO A NOSE OVER DURING THE SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY LANDING.
Mar 03, 1990	WANCHESE, NC	N3663L	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S PREMATURE, DISCONTINUED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Feb 15, 1990	FAIRBANKS, AK	N4305L	Incident	substantial	WATER (OR ICE) CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SNOW COVERED TE… WATER (OR ICE) CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Feb 11, 1990	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N98673	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A TIE DOWN HOLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE HA… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A TIE DOWN HOLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE HANGAR.
Feb 09, 1990	SUNAPEE LAKE, NH	N65057	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE LAKE, WHICH RESULTED IN UNPLANNED CONTACT WITH ITS FROZEN SURFACE.

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.

← Cessna 172 For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 172? View 548 Cessna 172 for sale ↓

Cessna 172 Safety Record

Report an Issue