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
Mar 03, 1989	BASTROP, TX	N7407T	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILINGS AND F… INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG.
Feb 28, 1989	GRAND RAPIDS, MN	N6418D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Feb 26, 1989	JACKSBORO, TX	N8643U	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND, WHEN SHE DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT (LANDED LONG) AND HAD EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY.… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND, WHEN SHE DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT (LANDED LONG) AND HAD EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION (SUDDEN WIND SHIFT).
Feb 26, 1989	MARIETTA, OK	N734DR	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT THE PROPER RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A DOWNWIND LANDING AND AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. THE GUSTY TAILWIND, DITCH, AND RA… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT THE PROPER RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A DOWNWIND LANDING AND AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. THE GUSTY TAILWIND, DITCH, AND RAILING (FENCE) WERE FACTORS.
Feb 25, 1989	HOMESTEAD, FL	N734MC	Incident	—	FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY A STICKING NEEDLE VALVE WHICH WAS SOFTENED BY CONTACT WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL PREVIOUSLY USED TO OPERATE THE ENGINE.
Feb 25, 1989	UNIONVILLE, IA	N7662X	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTRO… THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL BY THE PILOT, AND THE IMPROPERLY RIGGED CARBURETOR AIR BOX WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED CARBURETOR HEATING CAPABILITY.
Feb 20, 1989	DURHAMVILLE, NY	N9530B	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE LANDING AFTER ALLOWING HIS ATTENTION TO BE DIVERTED.
Feb 18, 1989	QUINCY, IL	N6894H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACHIEVE A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING THE LANDING.
Feb 13, 1989	SACRAMENTO, CA	N73309	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR LANDING AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING LONG. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LIGHT CON… THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR LANDING AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING LONG. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LIGHT CONDITIONS AS DUSK AND A TAILWIND.
Feb 11, 1989	SAN JUAN, PR	N303CR	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Feb 06, 1989	MAYVILLE, ND	N9459D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON AN ICY RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON AN ICY RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY FOR TOUCHDOWN.
Feb 01, 1989	GALION, OH	N8121B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS PRIOR TO ADDING POWER FOR TAKEOFF RESULTING IN A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTIAN CONT… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS PRIOR TO ADDING POWER FOR TAKEOFF RESULTING IN A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTIAN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER LIFT-OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH.
Jan 29, 1989	AINSWORTH, NE	N4843G	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF POWER FROM UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONA… THE LOSS OF POWER FROM UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Jan 29, 1989	SENECA FALLS, NY	N12679	Incident	minor	FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE C-150, N17109, TO MAINTAIN PROPER SEPARATION FROM OTHER AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
Jan 21, 1989	LARIMORE, ND	N9439B	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POI… INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, HIS DELAY IN CONFIGURING THE AIRCRAFT & EXECUTING THE GO-AROUND, ICY/SNOWY RUNWAY CONDITIONS, AND THE SNOWBANK.
Jan 15, 1989	ASHLAND, VA	N901ZZ	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING AND THE FAILURE TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE GO-AROUND… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING AND THE FAILURE TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE GO-AROUND TO INITIATE A CLIMB.
Jan 07, 1989	Alturas, CA	N3857Q	Incident	destroyed	THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE SNOW-COVERED RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A NOSE-OVER WHEN THE AIRP… THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE SNOW-COVERED RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A NOSE-OVER WHEN THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO DEEPER SNOW.
Jan 04, 1989	LONGMONT, CO	N96319	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW ON THE EDGES OF… FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW ON THE EDGES OF THE RUNWAY, THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE SNOWBANK.
Jan 02, 1989	CHEYENNE, WY	N4440L	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WIND AND GUSTS, WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR.
Dec 31, 1988	ERIE, CO	N80650	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 30, 1988	ANCHORAGE, AK	N3752F	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 26, 1988	WISCASSET, ME	N3736S	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 16, 1988	VENICE, FL	N4419L	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 10, 1988	CHUGIAK, AK	N8319L	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Dec 06, 1988	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N6356D	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

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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