Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2003 | Cambelltown, AS | VHTUR | Fatal (4) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Jun 08, 2003 | Sheboygan, WI | N63319 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane after encountering instrument meteorological conditions during takeoff. Factors associated with …The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane after encountering instrument meteorological conditions during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the low ceiling, fog and lack of instrument rating. |
| Jun 06, 2003 | Sidnaw, MI | N975SP | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The improper short/soft field landing procedure by the pilot and his lack of recent experience in type of operation. Contributing factors were the sh…The improper short/soft field landing procedure by the pilot and his lack of recent experience in type of operation. Contributing factors were the short/soft field runway, the trees and his delay in aborting the takeoff. |
| May 30, 2003 | Republic, WA | N7301A | Fatal (2) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall and subsequent loss of control during low altitude maneuvering. |
| May 26, 2003 | Little River, CA | N7555X | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Aircraft is missing. |
| Apr 04, 2003 | North Las Vegas, NV | N553CH | Fatal (2) | destroyed | the applicant pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. |
| Mar 28, 2003 | Cherokee, NC | N35255 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. |
| Mar 21, 2003 | Monroe, GA | N219ME | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot’s exceedence of the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in the overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers, followed by the ove…The pilot’s exceedence of the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in the overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers, followed by the overload separation of the right wing and subsequent loss of control. |
| Mar 16, 2003 | Foley, MN | N5315D | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to spatial disorientation and subsequent impact with the groun…The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to spatial disorientation and subsequent impact with the ground. Contributing factors was the pilot's lack of instrument rating, the pilot's disregard of the preflight briefing and his failure to follow in-flight weather advisories and a low ceiling. |
| Mar 14, 2003 | Trefoil Island, AS | VH-RPI | Fatal (4) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Mar 07, 2003 | Rosamond, CA | N19770 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a stall and impact with flat level terrain. …the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a stall and impact with flat level terrain. Also causal was the pilot's impaired judgment due to recent use of cocaine, and ethanol. |
| Feb 25, 2003 | Osteen, FL | N97890 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The intentional suicidal act by the pilot-in-command resulting in the in-flight collision with trees then the ground. |
| Feb 23, 2003 | ELY, NV | N9885J | Fatal (2) | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance while flying in a box canyon. |
| Feb 15, 2003 | Wellington, KS | N5898E | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
Spatial disorientation experienced by the pilot and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Contributing factors were the pilot's…Spatial disorientation experienced by the pilot and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to obtain an updated preflight weather briefing prior to the return flight, his attempted flight into known adverse weather, the lack of lighting (night) and the low ceilings. |
| Jan 25, 2003 | Kalaupapa, HI | N911FC | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
the student pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in his in-flight collision with mountainous terrain while maneuvering. A contribu…the student pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in his in-flight collision with mountainous terrain while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the low ceiling weather condition. |
| Jan 18, 2003 | Edgewater, FL | N65906 | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
The pilot's inflight loss of control and the pilot's failure to recover from the resultant dive for unknown reasons which resulted in flight beyond th…The pilot's inflight loss of control and the pilot's failure to recover from the resultant dive for unknown reasons which resulted in flight beyond the design stress limits of the airplane and subsequent in flight airframe breakup. |
| Nov 29, 2002 | Lindsay, OK | N5155E | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The in-flight separation of the right wing due to the missing nut that secures the right wing's strut to fuselage fitting to the fuselage. |
| Nov 26, 2002 | Malaga, WA | N65564 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot's attempted VFR flight into IMC resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees and up sloping terrain. Contributing factors were clouds, tr…The pilot's attempted VFR flight into IMC resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees and up sloping terrain. Contributing factors were clouds, trees, and uphill terrain. The pilot’s performance and judgment were likely impaired by the effects of diphenhydramine and possibly by the effects of doxylamine. |
| Oct 27, 2002 | Coral Springs, FL | N6101F | Fatal (2) | destroyed | The failure of the dual students and flight instructors on both N9840V and N6101F to see and avoid each other, which resulted in a midair collision. |
| Oct 15, 2002 | Mount Sterling, KY | N6413J | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The failure of the pilot to follow the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into an antenna tower. A factor wa…The failure of the pilot to follow the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into an antenna tower. A factor was the low ceiling. |
| Oct 10, 2002 | Belwaarde, NS | PZ-NAI | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 30, 2002 | Medford, OR | N514SP | Fatal (2) | substantial | Terrain clearance was not maintained during cruise flight. Dark night and mountainous terrain were factors. |
| Aug 19, 2002 | STANARDSVILLE, VA | N738JR | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance while descending over mountainous terrain. A factor was the night lighting conditions. |
| Aug 17, 2002 | Plainville, CT | N35073 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
An in-flight engine compartment fire of unknown origin, and a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal, was the pilot's failure to …An in-flight engine compartment fire of unknown origin, and a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal, was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn back to the airfield, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the ground. |
| Aug 14, 2002 | Shell Lake, WI | N4731D | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to departure leading to fuel exhaustion during the flight, the inadequate preflight/inflight plannin…The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to departure leading to fuel exhaustion during the flight, the inadequate preflight/inflight planning, and the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing attempt. Contributing factors were the pilot being fatigued, the night lighting condition, and the corn crop. |