Cessna 172 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.

6810

All Events

4223

Incidents

1048

Minor

542

Serious

960

Fatal (1802 fatalities)
Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Apr 26, 2021 Grasmere, OF ZS-OMN Fatal (4) substantial Investigation pending
Apr 24, 2021 Fredericksburg, VA N80874 Incident substantial
The student pilot reported that, during the landing roll, he applied brakes and the airplane veered right. He was unable to correct back to the center…

The student pilot reported that, during the landing roll, he applied brakes and the airplane veered right. He was unable to correct back to the centerline or brake effectively; the airplane exited the runway and struck an embankment before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right brake torque plate. The right brake became stuck when actuated and sometimes required prying to release. After the torque plate was replaced, the brake functioned without any anomalies.
Apr 17, 2021 Venice, FL N60457 Incident substantial A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Apr 14, 2021 Bellingham, WA N51380 Incident substantial The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a loss of control during landing with a crosswind and subsequent nose over.
Apr 13, 2021 Canberra, OF VH-DLA Fatal (2) destroyed Investigation pending
Apr 06, 2021 Fayetteville, NC N5424R Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent noseover.
Apr 06, 2021 Orangeburg, SC N22467 Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Apr 03, 2021 Sand Point, ID N7616X Minor substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control and subsequent nose over.
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 23, 2021 Everett, WA N2164Z Minor substantial A total loss of engine power during climb, for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Mar 19, 2021 Toledo, SP EC-FJS Incident substantial Investigation pending
Mar 17, 2021 Watkins, CO N786CP Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff and the instructor pilot’s inadequate supervision of the pilot’s takeoff.
Mar 17, 2021 Bordeaux, FR F-HFBR Incident unk Investigation pending
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.
Feb 26, 2021 Boynton Beach, FL N5631E Incident substantial A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Feb 24, 2021 Winchester, VA N7832X Minor substantial The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Feb 21, 2021 Bloemfontein, OF ZS-SUI Incident substantial Investigation pending
Feb 12, 2021 Prairie du Sac, WI N3477E Incident substantial
The student pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in the collision with a snowbank. Contributing to the accident was the …

The student pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in the collision with a snowbank. Contributing to the accident was the compacted snow conditions on the runway surface.
Feb 08, 2021 Orange, VA N841SP Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Feb 07, 2021 Urbana, OH N348RM Incident substantial
The student pilot’s loss of directional control during landing which resulted in an impact with a snowbank. The slippery runway condition contributed …

The student pilot’s loss of directional control during landing which resulted in an impact with a snowbank. The slippery runway condition contributed to the accident.
Jan 31, 2021 Silt, CO N4376Q Serious (3) destroyed The pilot’s failure to avoid powerlines while flying at low altitude.
Jan 29, 2021 Clare, MI N22101 Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.
Jan 28, 2021 Lawrenceville, GA N997MC Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a loss of control and runway excursion.
Jan 14, 2021 Kelso, WA N5930R Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.
Dec 31, 2020 Hope, AK N949AF Minor substantial The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor was the certified flight instructor’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.
Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.
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