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
Jan 07, 2017 Hollywood, FL N907WA Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Dec 28, 2016 Prairie Du Sac, WI N6941X Incident substantial
The pilot's decision to taxi the airplane from the roadway and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from signs and a fence after a successful …

The pilot's decision to taxi the airplane from the roadway and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from signs and a fence after a successful emergency landing following a total loss of engine power.

Dec 24, 2016 Palm Coast, FL N1289Y Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and porpoise.
Nov 20, 2016 Dayton, TN N4331R Incident substantial The student pilot’s inability to maintain pitch and bank control during the landing after the airplane was struck by a deer.
Nov 19, 2016 Woodbine, NJ N5249R Incident substantial The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing.
Nov 17, 2016 Destin, FL N9358L Incident substantial
The student pilot’s overcorrection with right rudder, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial ac…

The student pilot’s overcorrection with right rudder, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

Nov 10, 2016 Concord, NH N53402 Incident substantial The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Nov 08, 2016 Sarasota, FL N2272C Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Nov 08, 2016 Salmon, ID N737MY Incident substantial The airplane's encounter with a depression in a dirt runway during takeoff, which resulted in a tail strike.
Nov 07, 2016 Englewood, CO N6026Z Incident substantial An in-flight collision with multiple birds.
Nov 04, 2016 Danville, KY N456SP Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Oct 20, 2016 Carrabassett, ME N1706F Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Oct 08, 2016 Ocean Springs, MS N3379E Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing in windy conditions.
Oct 06, 2016 Phoenix, AZ N602ND Incident substantial
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control during a go-around and a runway excursi…

The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control during a go-around and a runway excursion.

Oct 05, 2016 Kapolei, HI N429ES Incident substantial The pilot’s use of an excessive pitch attitude during the landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
Oct 04, 2016 Wilmot, WI N46377 Incident substantial
A failure of the No. 1 piston pin plug due to corrosion in the cylinder barrel, which resulted in oil contamination, oil starvation to the crankshaft …

A failure of the No. 1 piston pin plug due to corrosion in the cylinder barrel, which resulted in oil contamination, oil starvation to the crankshaft connecting rod bearings, and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.

Oct 01, 2016 Fort Lauderdale, FL N497SJ Incident substantial The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse.
Sep 18, 2016 Auburn, CA N7560D Incident substantial The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Sep 16, 2016 Tooele, UT N461SP Incident substantial The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Sep 12, 2016 Covington, GA N5283R Incident substantial The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Sep 01, 2016 Anchorage, AK N52950 Incident substantial The airplane’s encounter with a developing sink hole during taxi on the ramp area.
Aug 30, 2016 Delta, UT N734AV Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing.
Aug 30, 2016 Winchester, VA N2462E Incident substantial
The student pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise, a loss of directional control, and a runway excurs…

The student pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise, a loss of directional control, and a runway excursion.

Aug 23, 2016 Williamsport, PA N9480E Incident substantial The student pilot's distraction during taxi operations, which resulted in the airplane's left wing impacting a hangar.
Aug 20, 2016 Anchorage, AK N35408 Incident substantial
The facility's designation of the taxiway for use by maintenance personnel to conduct high thrust tests without appropriate safeguards in place, which…

The facility's designation of the taxiway for use by maintenance personnel to conduct high thrust tests without appropriate safeguards in place, which led to maintenance personnel conducting high-power, run-up thrust procedures across the active taxiway and resulted in the loss of directional control of a light, single-engine airplane on the taxiway when it encountered a sudden, unexpected blast of engine thrust.

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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