Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 1989 | TOWNSEND, TN | N8855B | Serious (1) | destroyed |
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING REMEDIAL ACTION, WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRA…IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING REMEDIAL ACTION, WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS FAILURE TO USE IN-FLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING SERVICE, HIS PROBABLE PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM MEDICATION/DRUGS, AND THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. |
| Jun 12, 1989 | NEW ERA, MI | N35561 | Serious (3) | substantial | THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. |
| Jun 12, 1989 | CHEMULT, OR | N1365E | Serious (1) | destroyed |
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUDDEN ALTITUDE DEVIATION, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING REMEDIAL ACTION TO MAINTA…IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUDDEN ALTITUDE DEVIATION, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING REMEDIAL ACTION TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE DOWNDRAFTS, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE PILOT DIVERTING ATTENTION, AND THE TREES. |
| May 28, 1989 | OAKLAND, AR | N9646H | Serious (2) | substantial | PILOT ELECTING TO BUZZ PERSONS ON THE LAKE AT LOW ALTITUDE AND COLLIDING WITH POWER LINES. |
| Mar 28, 1989 | SANTA BARBARA, CA | N20356 | Serious (1) | substantial |
THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS BY THE PLT WHEN HE DECIDED TO INTENTIONALLY FLY LOW OVER ROUGH WATER IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE PARTIAL LOS…THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS BY THE PLT WHEN HE DECIDED TO INTENTIONALLY FLY LOW OVER ROUGH WATER IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. |
| Mar 21, 1989 | MELBOURNE, FL | N1480F | Serious (1) | substantial | THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN INAPPROPRIATE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. |
| Mar 17, 1989 | GALVESTON, TX | N5280R | Serious (1) | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIO…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHICH WERE BELOW MINIMUMS, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH. |
| Feb 26, 1989 | FORT WASHINGTON, MD | N8359L | Serious (1) | — |
THE PASSENGER FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH THE PILOT FAILURE TO SUPERVISE THE…THE PASSENGER FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH THE PILOT FAILURE TO SUPERVISE THE BOARDING OF THE PASSENGER AND THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT. |
| Feb 12, 1989 | DEER VALLEY, AZ | N3388E | Serious (2) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE WING FLAPS DURING THE ABORTED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. |
| Jan 31, 1989 | BRUCETON MILLS, WV | N8264U | Serious (1) | destroyed |
THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH OBSTRUCTED AIRFLOW TO THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR IC…THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICE WHICH OBSTRUCTED AIRFLOW TO THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, THE HIGHWAY AND THE DITCH WHICH WAS CONTACTED. |
| Jan 27, 1989 | CUMMING, GA | N2556U | Serious (1) | destroyed |
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND INSUFFICIENT FUEL …THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN ADVERSE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND INSUFFICIENT FUEL RESERVE FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT. |
| Dec 03, 1988 | PLANO, TX | N7917X | Serious (1) | substantial |
FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO UTILIZE NUMEROUS SUITABLE SOURCES OF FUEL …FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO UTILIZE NUMEROUS SUITABLE SOURCES OF FUEL ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. |
| Nov 13, 1988 | LUMBERTON, NC | N993NA | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Oct 23, 1988 | SAN ANTONIO, TX | N7185Q | Serious (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Oct 02, 1988 | AUBERRY, CA | N20680 | Serious (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 11, 1988 | SHELTON, WA | N54867 | Serious (3) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 10, 1988 | BATTLE MOUNTAIN, NV | N8895V | Serious (4) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 05, 1988 | LEAVENWORTH, WA | N2811Q | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Aug 17, 1988 | CRANDON, WI | N5318R | Serious (2) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Aug 14, 1988 | LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA | N4788F | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jul 27, 1988 | NEILLSVILLE, WI | N5700A | Serious (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Jul 14, 1988 | MICHIE, TN | N19632 | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jun 09, 1988 | FREDERICK, OK | N1103F | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jun 03, 1988 | JACKSONVILLE, FL | N5245E | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| May 29, 1988 | BISMARK, MO | N8122V | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |