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 13, 2022 | Bluffton, OH | N78755 | Serious (1) | substantial | The student pilot’s loss of control during climb after an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. |
| Mar 25, 2022 | Winder, GA | N62283 | Serious (1) | destroyed |
Maintenance personnel’s failure to detect the damaged aileron cable during the most recent inspections, which resulted in the separation of the ailero…Maintenance personnel’s failure to detect the damaged aileron cable during the most recent inspections, which resulted in the separation of the aileron control cable and subsequent loss of airplane control. |
| Jan 09, 2022 | Los Angeles, CA | N8056L | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection during which he failed to remove all water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a total los…The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection during which he failed to remove all water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power on takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the condition of the fuel caps, which allowed the water to enter the fuel system. |
| Dec 22, 2021 | Auburn, CA | N6280F | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during an instrument approach, which resulted in an impact with power lines. |
| Sep 28, 2021 | Miramar, FL | N4118L | Serious (2) | substantial |
The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contri…The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the flight instructor’s injury was her failure to wear the shoulder harness. |
| Jun 18, 2021 | Jupiter, FL | N2797E | Serious (1) | substantial |
The flight instructor’s failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the improper service an…The flight instructor’s failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the improper service and subsequent inadequate inspection of the single-drive, dual magneto, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. |
| May 11, 2021 | Chandler, AZ | N47AF | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot’s failure to locate the airport which resulted in an approach to a road and subsequent collision with powerlines during a go-around in low l…The pilot’s failure to locate the airport which resulted in an approach to a road and subsequent collision with powerlines during a go-around in low light conditions. |
| Mar 31, 2021 | Crystal River, FL | N13632 | Serious (1) | substantial | The student pilot’s inadequate compensation for a crosswind during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a runway excursion. |
| Mar 04, 2021 | Sisters, OR | N4456L | Serious (1) | substantial | A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel. |
| Jan 31, 2021 | Silt, CO | N4376Q | Serious (3) | destroyed | The pilot’s failure to avoid powerlines while flying at low altitude. |
| Dec 10, 2020 | Glencoe, MN | N1956V | Serious | — | A bystander’s inadvertent contact with the propeller while the engine was running. |
| Dec 08, 2020 | Dillon, MT | N46017 | Serious (1) | substantial | The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. |
| Dec 04, 2020 | Palm Springs, CA | N737NB | Serious (1) | substantial |
The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical ang…The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with terrain. |
| Jul 19, 2020 | Wellington, FL | N1655V | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate compensation for a wind gust during landing. |
| May 15, 2020 | Colchester, IL | N92036 | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's inadequate preflight of the fuel quantity which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during cruise flight. |
| Feb 17, 2020 | Fayetteville, NC | N5185R | Serious (4) | substantial |
The passenger’s excessive control application during the takeoff and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in an aerodyna…The passenger’s excessive control application during the takeoff and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. |
| Dec 04, 2019 | Potts Camp, MS | N2876Q | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing and a subsequent total loss of engine power. |
| Oct 13, 2019 | Key West, FL | N5522S | Serious (1) | — |
The pilot’s and the passenger's improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted …The pilot’s and the passenger's improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted in a serious injury. |
| Sep 10, 2019 | Grassy Butte, ND | N5347T | Serious (1) | substantial | A total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel, and the pilot's failure to conduct a preflight inspection. |
| Aug 13, 2019 | Jay, FL | N84287 | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's improper decision to fly over a river at a very low altitude, which resulted in a collision with power lines. |
| Jul 08, 2019 | Newport, OR | N9919V | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's improper verification of the fuel quantity during the preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss …The pilot's improper verification of the fuel quantity during the preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. |
| May 11, 2019 | Dexter, MI | N21794 | Serious (2) | substantial | The airplane's failure to maintain a climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. |
| Sep 15, 2018 | St. Johns, AZ | N734FT | Serious (3) | substantial |
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning before takeoff in the high density altitude conditions, which resulted in the airplane being unable to maint…The pilot's inadequate preflight planning before takeoff in the high density altitude conditions, which resulted in the airplane being unable to maintain sufficient airspeed to continue to climb. |
| Aug 26, 2018 | New Kent, VA | N1537U | Serious (1) | substantial | The student pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around. |
| Aug 18, 2018 | Addison, TX | N893JA | Serious (3) | substantial |
The pilot's improper flap setting for takeoff and subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic s…The pilot's improper flap setting for takeoff and subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing was the overgross state of the airplane. |