Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 1990 | BRIGHAM CITY, UT | N5030A | Serious (2) | substantial | THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE. |
| Nov 09, 1990 | HAYWARD, WI | N64406 | Serious (1) | destroyed | THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. |
| Sep 28, 1990 | BROTHERS, OR | N6522V | Serious (1) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS THAT LED TO HIM FLYING INTO RISING TERRAAIN WHILE ENGAGED IN LOW LEVEL FLIGHT ACTIVITIES. |
| Sep 22, 1990 | RENO, NV | N6617D | Serious (1) | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STRONG CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. |
| Jun 16, 1990 | AUGUSTA, ME | N2898U | Serious (1) | destroyed |
POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, HIS DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO…POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, HIS DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF PROPER CERTIFICATION (QUALIFICATION), HIS POSSIBLE IMPAIRMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT AND FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. |
| Jun 10, 1990 | WINFIELD, IA | N73566 | Serious (1) | substantial | THE PILOT'S DECISION TO GO-AROUND WAS DELAYED AND CLEARANCE OF THE POWER LINES WAS NOT ATTAINED. |
| May 25, 1990 | BRENTWOOD, CA | N5714T | Serious (2) | substantial | THE PILOT IMPROPERLY CALCULATED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. |
| May 06, 1990 | SAN JOSE, CA | N1495V | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED I…THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. |
| Apr 29, 1990 | AMES, IA | N8472X | Serious (1) | substantial | THE WRONG RUNWAY WAS SELECTED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. |
| Apr 13, 1990 | INCLINE VILLAGE, NV | N9021H | Serious (3) | destroyed |
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. FA…IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE TREES (OBSTRUCTIONS). |
| Mar 18, 1990 | JUNEAU, AK | N1220F | Serious (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AND DID NOT ADEQUATELY CORRECT THE SITUATION PRIOR TO COLLIDIN…THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AND DID NOT ADEQUATELY CORRECT THE SITUATION PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH AN OBJECT. |
| Mar 12, 1990 | TAMPA, FL | N9899L | Serious (2) | destroyed | PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS), WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL/SPIN), AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. |
| Feb 10, 1990 | PRUE, OK | N1407Y | Serious (2) | substantial | FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWERLINES. THE POWERLINES WERE A RELATED FACTOR. |
| Jan 27, 1990 | GAITHERSBURG, MD | N75946 | Serious (1) | destroyed |
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE A…INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND THE CFI'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT. |
| Jan 16, 1990 | DANBURY, CT | N9093H | Serious (1) | destroyed |
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE DURING AN ATTEM…IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY/OPERATOR, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE DURING AN ATTEMPTED ENGINE START. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE UNSECURED FUEL LINE. |
| Dec 09, 1989 | UXBRIDGE, MA | N4289L | Serious (2) | destroyed |
ICE IN THE FUEL STRAINER, WHICH RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW & RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE, WHEN HE ABRUPTLY…ICE IN THE FUEL STRAINER, WHICH RESTRICTED FUEL FLOW & RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE, WHEN HE ABRUPTLY MANEUVERED IT TO AVOID A TRANSMISSION WIRE DURING A FORCED LANDING. |
| Nov 18, 1989 | OSAGE CITY, KS | N20428 | Serious (2) | substantial |
THE PILOT MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE TO THE RUNWAY WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT AND STATIC…THE PILOT MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE TO THE RUNWAY WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT AND STATIC WIRES. |
| Nov 13, 1989 | BRYCE CANYON, UT | CGPGA | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLIMB SPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CONS…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLIMB SPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CONSIDER THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE EFFECT ON THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE. |
| Oct 24, 1989 | KNIGHTDALE, NC | N737QG | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH TREES WHILE MAKING AN APPROACH TO LANDING…THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH TREES WHILE MAKING AN APPROACH TO LANDING WITH NO ELECTRICAL POWER. |
| Oct 21, 1989 | DEL NORTE, CO | N1639F | Serious (2) | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMB RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. |
| Oct 01, 1989 | BINGHAM, ME | N89219 | Serious (2) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CAPABLE OF OUTCLIMBING THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN UNDER THE EXISTING WIND AND A…THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CAPABLE OF OUTCLIMBING THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN UNDER THE EXISTING WIND AND AIRPLANE WEIGHT CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN AN INTENTIONAL STALL INTO THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE TERRAIN AND WIND CONDITIONS. |
| Sep 21, 1989 | HYANNIS, NE | N733FY | Serious (2) | substantial | FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. DARKNESS AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS. |
| Aug 27, 1989 | TREMONTON, UT | N4129F | Serious (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE WHILE MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HIGHWAY. THE POWERLINE WAS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUT…THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE WHILE MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HIGHWAY. THE POWERLINE WAS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. |
| Aug 17, 1989 | SUPERIOR, WI | N98584 | Serious (1) | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. |
| Jul 13, 1989 | FOREST, MS | N3905L | Serious (1) | substantial |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FROM WATER IN THE FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: UNEVEN RUNWAY, PILOT'…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FROM WATER IN THE FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: UNEVEN RUNWAY, PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION, AND TREES. |