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
Feb 03, 1990	PAHOKEE, FL	N6812X	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AM UNDETERMINED REASON.
Jan 27, 1990	INYOKERN, CA	N12528	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING, WHICH RESULTED IN… IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Jan 21, 1990	GOLIAD, TX	N9892Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT FOR CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND PRECIPITATED THE … THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT FOR CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND PRECIPITATED THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Jan 12, 1990	MESA, AZ	N739BB	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COMPENSATE FOR GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.
Jan 10, 1990	STAUNTON, VA	N8488U	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING.
Jan 08, 1990	RENO, NV	N7878T	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO AR… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO ARRIVE AT WORK ON TIME, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE.
Jan 07, 1990	ST CLOUD, MN	N97984	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE LIGHT POLE. THE LOCATION OF THE POLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELA… INADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE LIGHT POLE. THE LOCATION OF THE POLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Jan 07, 1990	KILLEN, AL	N7401X	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.
Jan 06, 1990	NEWARK, IL	N98923	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE WET CONDITION OF THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Jan 05, 1990	ASTATULA, FL	N6290R	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING.
Jan 03, 1990	APPLE VALLEY, CA	N12963	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE MOONEY TO STOP HIS AIRCRAFT IN A TIMELY MANNER TO AVOID A COLLISION.
Dec 28, 1989	BROOMFIELD, CO	N75702	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE SNOWBANK WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Dec 27, 1989	BILLINGS, MT	N53432	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Dec 26, 1989	MIDDLETOWN, OH	N65673	Incident	substantial	THE INABILITY TO ESTABLISH A SUFFICIENT CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF.CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERINECE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRC… THE INABILITY TO ESTABLISH A SUFFICIENT CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF.CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERINECE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Dec 25, 1989	SALEM, OR	N21543	Incident	substantial	THE PILOTS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE: THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION AND THE POLE.
Dec 18, 1989	ROMEOVILLE, IL	N9562B	Incident	substantial	DUAL STUDENT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT ATTAINED BY THE CFI. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A SNOW B… DUAL STUDENT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT ATTAINED BY THE CFI. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A SNOW BANK ADJACENT THE RUNWAY.
Dec 14, 1989	MONTEREY, CA	N739EQ	Incident	substantial	PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT'S WING TIP & THE FUEL TRUCK. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLE (FUEL T… PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT'S WING TIP & THE FUEL TRUCK. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLE (FUEL TRUCK).
Dec 10, 1989	MIDDLETON, WI	N75912	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS TO PROVIDE LIFT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH INSTEAD OF APPLYING POWER AND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Dec 03, 1989	COLORADO SPGS, CO	N6251E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH THE FUEL MIXTURE FULL RICH, WITH A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DU… THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH THE FUEL MIXTURE FULL RICH, WITH A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB.
Dec 02, 1989	SAVOY, IL	N3783L	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: … IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION.
Nov 20, 1989	PORT ALLEN, LA	N13055	Incident	substantial	FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/SERVICE OF THE AIRPLANE.
Nov 19, 1989	MITCHELLVILLE, MD	N52491	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF.
Nov 11, 1989	FABENS, TX	N7337G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING LANDING AND INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM THE ENSUING BOUNCED LANDING. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Oct 29, 1989	LANSING, IL	N1316U	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (TAXIWAY/CONSTRUCTION AREA). THE STEEL MARKER POLES CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE.
Oct 20, 1989	HIWASSE, AR	N96299	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE FLIGHT AND INSURE THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO MONITOR THE… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN THE FLIGHT AND INSURE THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO MONITOR THE FUEL LEVEL DURING THE FLIGHT.

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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