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
Jun 20, 2016 Honesdale, PA N54285 Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while departing in a heavily loaded airplane at high density altitude, which resulted in the airplan…

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while departing in a heavily loaded airplane at high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall, landing hard, and overrunning the runway.

Jun 16, 2016 Lenoir, NC N12184 Incident substantial
The student pilot’s failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the acciden…

The student pilot’s failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate review of the weather conditions with the student and his inadequate supervision of the student’s solo cross-country flight.

Jun 08, 2016 Thomson, GA N124CK Incident substantial
The student pilot's incorrect landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing, nose wheel collapse…

The student pilot's incorrect landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing, nose wheel collapse, and runway excursion.

Jun 08, 2016 Urbana, OH N8324E Incident substantial The pilot's abnormal runway contact during the landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise, hard landing, and runway excursion.
Jun 08, 2016 Cornelia, GA N444WM Incident substantial
The student pilot's unnecessary pedal application and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action resulting in a loss of directional control, runw…

The student pilot's unnecessary pedal application and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action resulting in a loss of directional control, runway excursion and ground impact during the aborted landing.

Jun 06, 2016 Arlington, WA N539MT Incident substantial The failure of the airplane’s right steering rod end, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control.
Jun 05, 2016 Henderson, AR N124ME Incident substantial The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and nose landing gear collapse.
May 31, 2016 Lumberton, NJ N7095G Incident substantial The pilot's hard landing, resulting in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the firewall.
May 19, 2016 Newport News, VA N1724U Incident substantial The student pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a substantially damaged firewall.
May 18, 2016 Carbondale, IL N4668G Incident substantial The student pilot's inadequate flare which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and a runway excursion.
May 14, 2016 Shawnee, OK N917CP Incident substantial The pilot's failure to remain a safe distance from obstacles while taxiing to parking, resulting in the airplane's wing striking a light pole.
May 13, 2016 Las Vegas, NV N6281V Incident substantial The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
May 06, 2016 Richmond, KY N89847 Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with tree(s).
May 02, 2016 Mesa, AZ N509ND Incident substantial
The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in an abnormal runway contact, porpoise, nose gear coll…

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in an abnormal runway contact, porpoise, nose gear collapse, runway excursion, and impact with terrain.

May 01, 2016 Boise, ID N5700R Incident substantial
The pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runwa…

The pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground loop.

Apr 27, 2016 Durant, OK N35387 Incident substantial
The pilot candidate's incorrect action performance by pulling the throttle off early and the subsequent failure to maintain the descent rate, resultin…

The pilot candidate's incorrect action performance by pulling the throttle off early and the subsequent failure to maintain the descent rate, resulting in a hard landing.

Apr 20, 2016 Camarillo, CA N6616D Incident substantial The student pilot's incorrect pitch control input, resulting in a porpoise during landing and substantial damage to the airplane's firewall.
Apr 15, 2016 Stillwater, OK N2663X Incident substantial
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursio…

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a runway distance remaining sign.

Apr 06, 2016 Payson, AZ N5275S Incident substantial
The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, resulting in the subsequent porpoise during landing and substantial da…

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, resulting in the subsequent porpoise during landing and substantial damage to the firewall.

Apr 04, 2016 Punta Gorda, FL N8926V Incident substantial The pilot's failure to avoid obstacles and maintain situational awareness while taxiing.
Apr 03, 2016 Orangeburg, SC N2124E Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and a nose over.
Mar 26, 2016 McNeil Island, WA N1151M Incident substantial
The student pilot's fuel mismanagement, which led to fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accide…

The student pilot's fuel mismanagement, which led to fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was his failure to follow the appropriate engine start, before takeoff, and emergency checklists.

Mar 23, 2016 Frederick, MD N65329 Incident substantial The student pilot's improper pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing.
Mar 20, 2016 Nashville, TN N118ET Incident substantial
The pilot's excessive pitch up and incorrect action of selecting flaps to zero degrees, which resulted in a tail strike during a go-around in crosswin…

The pilot's excessive pitch up and incorrect action of selecting flaps to zero degrees, which resulted in a tail strike during a go-around in crosswind conditions.

Mar 06, 2016 Scottsdale, AZ N6023V Incident substantial
The failure of the student pilot to maintain pitch control while landing, which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and runway ex…

The failure of the student pilot to maintain pitch control while landing, which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and runway excursion.

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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