Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2020 | West Palm Beach, FL | N66046 | Incident | substantial |
The failure of the nosewheel steerage linkage during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with an obstacle during an at…The failure of the nosewheel steerage linkage during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with an obstacle during an attempted aborted landing. |
| Mar 17, 2020 | Kahului, HI | N738DB | Minor | substantial |
The student pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence while landing behind a heavy jet airplane, which resulted in a loss of roll control and subsequen…The student pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence while landing behind a heavy jet airplane, which resulted in a loss of roll control and subsequent hard landing. |
| Mar 12, 2020 | Ocean City, MD | N52232 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around to avoid birds, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent …The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around to avoid birds, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over. |
| Mar 10, 2020 | Big Lake, AK | N52168 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's improper decision to initiate the takeoff roll from a snow-covered taxiway, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excurs…The pilot's improper decision to initiate the takeoff roll from a snow-covered taxiway, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a snow berm. |
| Mar 03, 2020 | Madison, IN | N5815E | Incident | substantial |
The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion a…The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over. |
| Mar 03, 2020 | Lincoln, IL | N157SF | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an aerial survey, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too l…The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an aerial survey, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low to recover. |
| Feb 27, 2020 | Dubois, ID | N7904G | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot's failure to maintain a proper airspeed and descent rate while conducting a low pass over a snow-covered runway after encountering a…The student pilot's failure to maintain a proper airspeed and descent rate while conducting a low pass over a snow-covered runway after encountering a downdraft and the flight instructor's delayed action, which resulted in the wheels contacting the snow and the airplane nosing over. |
| Feb 26, 2020 | Everglades City, FL | N291RP | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the left wing striking th…The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the left wing striking the runway. |
| Feb 20, 2020 | Boulder, CO | N370SP | Incident | substantial | The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll on the slush-covered runway. |
| 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. |
| Feb 16, 2020 | Rochester, NY | N1126U | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to take off after perceivin…The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to take off after perceiving a rudder issue during taxi operations. |
| Feb 06, 2020 | Palmer, AK | N817PS | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. |
| Jan 31, 2020 | Crystal River, FL | N739XT | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over. |
| Jan 20, 2020 | Sun River, OR | N73707 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a runway with icy patches, which resulted in impact with a snowbank and…The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a runway with icy patches, which resulted in impact with a snowbank and a subsequent nose-over. |
| Jan 17, 2020 | Big Timber, MT | N96145 | Incident | substantial | A loss of engine power during climbout for undetermined reasons. |
| Jan 08, 2020 | Palm Coast, FL | N536ND | Incident | minor | The student pilot's failure to allow adequate separation when passing the parked airplane, which resulted in a ground collision. |
| Jan 06, 2020 | Newborn, GA | N1612F | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot’s impairment/incapacitation from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a degraded muffler. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure t…The pilot’s impairment/incapacitation from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a degraded muffler. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly maintain the airplane. |
| Jan 06, 2020 | Cork, EI | EI-DDX | Minor | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jan 06, 2020 | El Monte, CA | N1658F | Incident | substantial | The inflight separation of a section of a propeller blade due to a fatigue crack which resulted in a forced landing. |
| Jan 03, 2020 | Dhana, IN | VT-CAF | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Dec 26, 2019 | Ormond Beach, FL | N882TC | Incident | substantial | The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. |
| Dec 23, 2019 | Pineville, LA | N739SB | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to attain an adequate climb rate during an aborted landing with a left quartering, gusting headwind, which resulted in impact with…The pilot's failure to attain an adequate climb rate during an aborted landing with a left quartering, gusting headwind, which resulted in impact with a tree. |
| Dec 21, 2019 | Rush City, MN | N9646Q | Incident | substantial |
The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the student pilot failed to reposition the fuel mixture control to full rich before take…The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the student pilot failed to reposition the fuel mixture control to full rich before takeoff. |
| Dec 19, 2019 | Harrison, OH | N5406R | Incident | substantial | A total loss of engine power during approach to land due to carburetor icing during a simulated engine failure, which resulted in impact with trees. |
| Dec 15, 2019 | Tokyo, JA | N22905 | Incident | substantial |
The airplane’s encounter with prop wash while taxiing behind a larger airplane that was conducting a high-power engine run on the same taxiway. Contri…The airplane’s encounter with prop wash while taxiing behind a larger airplane that was conducting a high-power engine run on the same taxiway. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to inform the smaller airplane’s pilot about the larger airplane pilot’s intentions. |