Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 09, 2004 | Dubuque, IA | N105FS | Minor | substantial |
The flight instructor's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in ice accretion on the airframe, and his failure to maintain adequate a…The flight instructor's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in ice accretion on the airframe, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. Contributing factors were the ice contamination, the aircraft's low altitude and the flight instructor's flight into known icing conditions in an aircraft not equipped with deice/anti-icing equipment. |
| Feb 13, 2004 | Upland, CA | N5107K | Minor | substantial | A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff. |
| Nov 26, 2003 | Wichita Falls, TX | N8058L | Minor | destroyed | The loss of engine power due to an obstruction in the fuel line. |
| Nov 24, 2003 | Fountain Hills, AZ | N97056 | Minor | substantial |
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate altitude during a go-around following a simulated forced landing, which resulted in an …The flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate altitude during a go-around following a simulated forced landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. |
| Nov 21, 2003 | La Grange, TX | N739YK | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to properly navigate during the day VFR cross-country flight, which resulted in the pilot becoming disoriented. |
| Nov 09, 2003 | Philippi, WV | N738UL | Minor | substantial | The pilot's improper decision to depart from a runway of insufficient length. Factors in the accident were the turf runway and tailwind condition. |
| Oct 19, 2003 | Everglades City, FL | N933JH | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation which resulted in the airplane's gust lock being left installed, which resulted in the airplane no…The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation which resulted in the airplane's gust lock being left installed, which resulted in the airplane not being able lift off during the takeoff roll, and damage to the airplane when it overran the runway and crashed into the water at the end of the runway. |
| Oct 16, 2003 | Sanford, NC | N64255 | Minor | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing roll resulting in a collision with a ditch, and subsequent nose over. |
| Oct 15, 2003 | Columbus, NE | N5204F | Minor | substantial |
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted take…The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind condition, the delayed aborted takeoff, and the student's lack of experience. |
| Oct 15, 2003 | Manvel, TX | N3760R | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the attempted go-around resulting in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's fail…The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the attempted go-around resulting in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the crosswind landing. |
| Sep 25, 2003 | Houston, TX | N168ME | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention while performing the afte…The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention while performing the after landing check. |
| Sep 11, 2003 | Ardmore, OK | N9651Q | Minor | substantial |
The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind conditions from the eas…The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind conditions from the east. |
| Aug 30, 2003 | Lemont Furnace, PA | N5628T | Minor | destroyed | The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery. A factor was the pilot's inadequate flare during the initial touchdown. |
| Jul 02, 2003 | Roscommon, MI | N172DE | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a water landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the rough water. |
| Jul 02, 2003 | Linden, NJ | N314TM | Minor | substantial | The mechanic's improper installation of the carburetor, and his failure to secure the mixture control wire to the mixture control arm pivot bolt. |
| Jun 29, 2003 | White Marsh, MD | N5138G | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's in-flight decision to not land and refuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate communi…The pilot's in-flight decision to not land and refuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate communications. |
| Jun 15, 2003 | Gridley, IL | N20553 | Minor | substantial |
The checklist not followed by the pilot and the fuel starvation of the engine. The incorrect fuel tank selector position by the pilot,, and the lack …The checklist not followed by the pilot and the fuel starvation of the engine. The incorrect fuel tank selector position by the pilot,, and the lack of recurrent training were contributing factors. |
| Jun 11, 2003 | East Vincent, PA | N3027U | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight. The pilot's inadequate preflight prepar…The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight. The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation in which he failed to refuel the airplane is a contributing factor. |
| Jun 02, 2003 | Gainesville, TX | N51611 | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing factors were the prevailing crosswind and the pilot's failure to abor…The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing factors were the prevailing crosswind and the pilot's failure to abort landing. |
| Jun 01, 2003 | Conroe, TX | N9900V | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to attain/maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush. |
| May 29, 2003 | Hampton, GA | N140PF | Minor | substantial | The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the runway during a low pass. A factor was gusty wind conditions. |
| May 17, 2003 | PAYSON, AZ | N739NS | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, failure to retract the flaps during an aborted landing attempt, failure to maintain an adequat…the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, failure to retract the flaps during an aborted landing attempt, failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, and failure to maintain directional control. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude. |
| May 15, 2003 | Bristol, TN | N7412G | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's improper use of the rudder controls during the takeoff roll resulting in a loss of directional control, and the on-ground collision with a…The pilot's improper use of the rudder controls during the takeoff roll resulting in a loss of directional control, and the on-ground collision with an embankment. |
| Apr 22, 2003 | Pecos, TX | N1667Y | Minor | substantial | The failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control while landing. A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition. |
| Mar 23, 2003 | Erie, CO | N3544Q | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during aborted landing. Contributing factors include the crosswind component, and the snow covered mu…the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during aborted landing. Contributing factors include the crosswind component, and the snow covered muddy terrain. |