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
Oct 19, 1989	OMAHA, NE	N5336R	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE ASSEMBLY WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A FENCE.
Oct 17, 1989	VALDOSTA, GA	N172SC	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT (FAILURE TO SEE & AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE AND LACK OF V… INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT (FAILURE TO SEE & AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES (PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION).
Oct 16, 1989	NEW LENOX, IL	N4269F	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN WIND INFORMATION, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS SELECTION OF AN UNFAVORABLE (WRONG) RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WA… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN WIND INFORMATION, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS SELECTION OF AN UNFAVORABLE (WRONG) RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Oct 14, 1989	RIDGELAND, SC	N734PL	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRSPEED AND FAILED TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Oct 14, 1989	CEDARBURG, WI	N1325U	Incident	substantial	DELAY OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN MAKING A GO-AROUND AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CLIMB AFTER TAKING OFF AGAIN. THE TRANSMIS… DELAY OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) IN MAKING A GO-AROUND AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CLIMB AFTER TAKING OFF AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION WIRE (POWER LINE) AND HIGH VEGETATION WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Oct 14, 1989	BAY CITY, MI	N1407F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND IN A TIMELY MANNER.
Oct 01, 1989	BENNINGTON, VT	N20017	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE CROSSWIND.
Sep 26, 1989	EAST SOUND, WA	N84152	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Sep 23, 1989	PHOENIX, AZ	N252ER	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE WINGTIP AND THE BLAST DEFLECTOR SHIELD. THE PROXIMITY OF THE SHIELD WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Sep 21, 1989	CHANDLER, AZ	N6277D	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT'S OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Sep 17, 1989	WAXAHACHIE, TX	N738BB	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO EXPOSURE TO OVERTEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Sep 17, 1989	YPSILANTI, MI	N736HC	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. RAIN SOFTENED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE IS A CONTR… THE FAILURE OF THE PLT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. RAIN SOFTENED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Sep 14, 1989	PROVO, UT	N75815	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) … THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.
Sep 10, 1989	KEY WEST, FL	N6552F	Incident	minor	INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT … INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION.
Sep 09, 1989	BAYPORT, NY	N734UG	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING SPEED AND DISTANCE RESULTING IN HIS OVERSHOOTING THE LANDING AND RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Sep 07, 1989	TUCSON, AZ	N758HB	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Sep 07, 1989	BURLINGTON, CO	N734VH	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Sep 05, 1989	MIDLOTHIAN, TX	N736YG	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Sep 04, 1989	ALDERWOOD MANOR, WA	N98354	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE TAILWIND AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Sep 02, 1989	BELLVILLE, TX	N13620	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE GEAR FAILU… IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE GEAR FAILURE.
Sep 01, 1989	SPARREVOHN, AK	N2459L	Incident	substantial	THE BUCKET WHICH WAS BLOWN INTO THE FLIGHT PATH BY A CROSSWIND.
Aug 31, 1989	BULLHEAD CITY, AZ	N6270E	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM INFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT'S COMPLETIO… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM INFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT'S COMPLETION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE STRONGER THAN ANTICIPATED HEADWIND COMPONENT TO THE FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT.
Aug 27, 1989	MADISON, MS	N5215E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN PORPOISING OF THE AIRCRAFT AND AN UNCONTROLLED GROUND SWERV… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN PORPOISING OF THE AIRCRAFT AND AN UNCONTROLLED GROUND SWERVE.
Aug 26, 1989	JACKSONVILLE, FL	N738WM	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, LIGHT POLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE LIGHT, AND THE LACK OF VISU… INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, LIGHT POLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE LIGHT, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION CONCERNING THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO SEE THE POLE AT NIGHT.
Aug 23, 1989	CLEAR LAKE, MN	N80357	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH INADEQUATE VISUAL CUES WHICH PRECLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF A CORRECT RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. A SUITAB… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH INADEQUATE VISUAL CUES WHICH PRECLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF A CORRECT RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT WAS READILY AVAILABLE.

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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