How many accidents has the Cessna 172 had?

The NTSB has recorded 6810 events involving the Cessna 172: 960 fatal, 542 serious, 1048 minor injuries, and 4223 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172 has 6810 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

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
Jul 06, 1993	NORMALVILLE, PA	N7954U	Minor	substantial	THE PRESENCE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, WHICH CAUSED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE … THE PRESENCE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, WHICH CAUSED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND ROUGH TERRAIN.
Jul 04, 1993	MOCCASIN, CA	N7875T	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PR… FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION.
Jul 04, 1993	LANCASTER, TX	N54003	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Jul 02, 1993	LAMPASAS, TX	N2446U	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING
Jun 27, 1993	DANVILLE, CA	N2791U	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S POOR FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN.
Jun 27, 1993	VOLUNTOWN, CT	N6553E	Minor	substantial	The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point which resulted in an overrun of the runway and collision with trees. A factor is the pilot'… The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point which resulted in an overrun of the runway and collision with trees. A factor is the pilot's improper compensation for the wind condition.
Jun 26, 1993	WEST CHICAGO, IL	N1441Y	Minor	substantial	the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat. Conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice was a factor.
Jun 26, 1993	POINT LOOKOUT, MO	N76107	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDE PATH, AND HER FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT.
Jun 23, 1993	RAPID CITY, SD	N5435E	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Jun 09, 1993	CANYON LAKE, TX	N6446B	Minor	substantial	THE MOVEMENT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT AFT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF CONTROL, HIS INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND THE ENSUING INADVERTENT STALL. A FACT… THE MOVEMENT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT AFT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSS OF CONTROL, HIS INABILITY TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND THE ENSUING INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE.
Jun 05, 1993	RAVENEL, SC	N8279U	Minor	substantial	THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN T… THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANDING ATTEMPT INTO THE SHORT SOD FIELD WITHOUT THE USE OF FLAPS AND THE USE OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT FLAPS TO EXTEND
May 29, 1993	TURLOCK, CA	N12857	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
May 16, 1993	MANASSAS, VA	N5416T	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
May 16, 1993	PLAINWELL, MI	N8657B	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INITIATING HAND STARTING OF THE AIRPLANE UNATTENDED BY A QUALIFIED PERSON.
Mar 29, 1993	FRESNO, CA	N758XY	Minor	substantial	the improper installation of an electrical wire bundle, and, the chaffing and subsequent arcing of the wires against a fuel line which resulted in a f… the improper installation of an electrical wire bundle, and, the chaffing and subsequent arcing of the wires against a fuel line which resulted in a fire.
Mar 26, 1993	LEWISBURG, OH	N73436	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT AND INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL C… THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT AND INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Mar 14, 1993	GILA BEND, AZ	N4070F	Minor	substantial	THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PERFORM MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETINS DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION 20 FLYING HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WHICH R… THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PERFORM MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETINS DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION 20 FLYING HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE CARBURETOR'S PRIMARY VENTURI BECOMING LOOSE.
Mar 01, 1993	BROOMFIELD, CO	N4908G	Minor	destroyed	RUDDER CONTROL INTERFERENCE.
Jan 12, 1993	SANTA FE, NM	N734GD	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE SNOW CONDITIONS
Dec 12, 1992	COLUMBUS, GA	N8819Z	Minor	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PLAN A REFUELING STOP FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE EXHAUSTION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY AND A LOSS OF ENGINE … THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PLAN A REFUELING STOP FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE EXHAUSTION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Nov 26, 1992	HAMLIN, TX	N7124A	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM THE PRESCRIBED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOLLOWING THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED ENGINE F… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM THE PRESCRIBED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOLLOWING THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED ENGINE FAILURE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.
Nov 18, 1992	KEY LARGO, FL	N5190V	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFL… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING PREPARATION AND SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO THE WIND.
Nov 17, 1992	VANCOUVER, WA	N4324R	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO SEE BIRDS DUE TO DARKNESS.
Nov 08, 1992	AURORA, MO	N5889A	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, A SWITCHED OFF FUEL SELECTOR AND FUEL STARVATION.
Oct 07, 1992	APEX, NC	N4874D	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WERE THE TAIL WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE DOWNHILL, GRASS RUNWAY.

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.

← Cessna 172 For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 172? View 411 Cessna 172 for sale ↓

Cessna 172 Safety Record

Report an Issue