Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 1997 | SAN ANTONIO, TX | N80814 | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience. |
| Feb 14, 1997 | SAN PABLO BAY, CA | N3757F | Minor | substantial | total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat. |
| Feb 01, 1997 | WAXAHACHIE, TX | N5598T | Minor | destroyed | The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factors was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. |
| Jan 19, 1997 | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | N136FR | Minor | substantial | Failure of other maintenance personnel to properly torque a connecting rod bolt and nut for the No. 3 cylinder during engine overhaul. |
| Dec 27, 1996 | MANVILLE, NJ | N738UW | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to perform a go-around, and his failure to retract the flaps in increments. |
| Dec 21, 1996 | STAMFORD, CT | N4829V | Minor | destroyed |
inadequate preflight by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate fuel supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency la…inadequate preflight by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate fuel supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors. |
| Oct 22, 1996 | VENICE, FL | N5130F | Minor | substantial |
inadequate maintenance servicing of the airplane during an oil change by the owner/pilot for his failure to secure the oil temperature probe securing …inadequate maintenance servicing of the airplane during an oil change by the owner/pilot for his failure to secure the oil temperature probe securing nut. Also, inadequate maintenance of the airplane by the owner/pilot for his failure to operate the engine with the engine cowling removed following the oil change to check for oil leaks. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. |
| Oct 15, 1996 | KINGSBURG, CA | N6187K | Minor | destroyed |
the student pilot's use of an excessively lean mixture, which led to engine overheating, detonation, subsequent failure of the number 2 piston, and a …the student pilot's use of an excessively lean mixture, which led to engine overheating, detonation, subsequent failure of the number 2 piston, and a forced landing. |
| Oct 13, 1996 | GERMANTOWN, KY | N8299U | Minor | substantial |
improper maintenance with the installation of an improper oil ring on the number four piston, which led to failure of both the ring and pistion, oil s…improper maintenance with the installation of an improper oil ring on the number four piston, which led to failure of both the ring and pistion, oil starvation, and subsequent loss of engine power. |
| Oct 12, 1996 | ALBANY, OR | N9579H | Minor | substantial |
failure of the SA-750 pilot to see-and-avoid the Cessna 172, which had landed ahead of him on the same runway. The inherent visual restrictions of th…failure of the SA-750 pilot to see-and-avoid the Cessna 172, which had landed ahead of him on the same runway. The inherent visual restrictions of the SA-750 (a tandem two-place biplane) was a related factor. |
| Sep 22, 1996 | GERMANTOWN HILL, IL | N904SW | Minor | substantial | the pilot's inadequate fuel supply and his misjudging distance and altitude. The trees were a factor. |
| Aug 14, 1996 | KAYENTA, AZ | N65963 | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's failure to adhere to the manufacturer's performance data by not maintaining the recommended best rate of climb speed, resulting in an inad…the pilot's failure to adhere to the manufacturer's performance data by not maintaining the recommended best rate of climb speed, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush event. The high density altitude was a related factor. |
| Aug 09, 1996 | ENUMCLAW, WA | N738PM | Minor | substantial |
failure of the engine magneto drive, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor…failure of the engine magneto drive, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. |
| Aug 01, 1996 | VICTORIA, MS | N737DK | Minor | substantial | The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. |
| Jul 27, 1996 | BACKUS, MN | N1620V | Minor | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and his abrupt maneuver to avoid the tree tops. The dark night was a factor. |
| Jul 26, 1996 | NEZ PERCE, ID | N61842 | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's improper in-flight decision to turn up a canyon, which the aircraft was unable to out-climb. Factors relating to the accident were: high …the pilot's improper in-flight decision to turn up a canyon, which the aircraft was unable to out-climb. Factors relating to the accident were: high ambient temperature, high density altitude, blind/box canyon, and trees in the area where the aircraft's climb profile caused it to come in contact with the raising terrain. |
| Jul 25, 1996 | KETTLE FALLS, WA | N4478L | Minor | destroyed |
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Factors relating to the accident were: high ambient temperatures; departing from a short, grass runway; an…the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Factors relating to the accident were: high ambient temperatures; departing from a short, grass runway; and tall trees off the departure end of the airstrip. |
| Jul 05, 1996 | HILLSBOROUGH, NC | N75814 | Minor | substantial | The failure of the magneto impulse coupling spring. A factor was the power line at the approach end of the forced landing site. |
| Jun 27, 1996 | COTTAGE GROVE, WI | N1674E | Minor | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A factor was the delayed go-around. |
| Jun 07, 1996 | TOOELE, UT | N9594V | Minor | substantial |
failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to ensure that adequate airspeed was maintained during initial climb after lift-off, which resulted in an inadv…failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to ensure that adequate airspeed was maintained during initial climb after lift-off, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. High density altitude was a related factor. |
| May 20, 1996 | VILARICA, GA | N2814U | Minor | substantial |
The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) during a go-around resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequen…The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) during a go-around resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper use of flaps. |
| May 13, 1996 | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | N738CS | Minor | substantial | the pilot not flying a proper glidepath for the displaced runway threshold. |
| May 09, 1996 | OKMULGEE, OK | N202EX | Minor | substantial |
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTH…THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE RESULTING IN THE MALFUNCTIONING OF A WORN IGNITION SWITCH. A FACTOR WAS TREES. |
| Apr 04, 1996 | ROANOKE, VA | N5730T | Minor | destroyed |
the pilot's misjudged estimation of the airplane's fuel supply for the flight. Related factors are the inadequate preflight inspection, the pilot's e…the pilot's misjudged estimation of the airplane's fuel supply for the flight. Related factors are the inadequate preflight inspection, the pilot's expectation that the airplane had been topped off, and the soft terrain encountered during the forced landing. |
| Mar 27, 1996 | TAPLIN, WV | N61546 | Minor | substantial | the pilot's improper level off and recovery from a bounced landing. |