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
Dec 12, 1991	LOCKPORT, NY	N73627	Minor	substantial	AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND BY THE SECOND PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY BO… AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND BY THE SECOND PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY BOTH PILOTS AND THE SECOND PILOT'S ATTEMPTED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Dec 04, 1991	RAMSEUR, NC	N65013	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Nov 04, 1991	WILLIAMS, AZ	N5337K	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Nov 02, 1991	BEMIDJI, MN	N8283E	Minor	destroyed	INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, THE NON PERFORMANCE O FAN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND NOT MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RA… INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, THE NON PERFORMANCE O FAN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND NOT MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REMOVING ICE FROM THE AIRPLANE, NOT OBTAINING ALTITUDE DURING THE CLIMB, AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Oct 28, 1991	BELLAIRE, MI	N3795A	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER BALLOONING DURING A LANDING FLARE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE GUSTY CROSSWINDS AND THE PILOT… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER BALLOONING DURING A LANDING FLARE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE GUSTY CROSSWINDS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Oct 17, 1991	MAPLE LAKE, MN	N97984	Minor	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Oct 04, 1991	AUBURN, ME	N2065E	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT WAS BUZZING AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO RECOVER.
Sep 29, 1991	KNOXVILLE, TN	N5918E	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE. A FACT… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT.
Sep 28, 1991	PALM BEACH, FL	N1669Y	Minor	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S … TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, AND OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT.
Sep 27, 1991	ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO	N2983U	Minor	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Aug 31, 1991	LAKE CITY, FL	N737VK	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A DEMONSTRATED DOWNWIND SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL,… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A DEMONSTRATED DOWNWIND SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL, STALL, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Aug 28, 1991	CORBETT, OR	N6LG	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES ON RISING TERR… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES ON RISING TERRAIN. THE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Aug 16, 1991	SANDUSKY, OH	N64834	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WHEN THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO ZERO DUE TO A BROKEN TACHOMETER CABLE. HE DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POI… THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WHEN THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO ZERO DUE TO A BROKEN TACHOMETER CABLE. HE DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND OVERRAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Jul 28, 1991	GREENVILLE, ME	N5482K	Minor	substantial	INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR GUSTING WINDS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Jul 27, 1991	SHEBOYGAN, WI	N4821G	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE, HIS INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING A… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE, HIS INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Jul 21, 1991	VACAVILLE, CA	N5247U	Minor	substantial	THE PRIVATE PILOT PIC FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE CFI PILOT FAILED TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Jul 09, 1991	MEDFORD, OR	N734MD	Minor	substantial	AN INTENTIONAL PORPOISE. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION.
Jul 08, 1991	MINDEN, NV	N9598H	Minor	substantial	THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT PILOT DURING A SIMULATED EMERGENCY.
Jul 05, 1991	RONTONDA WEST, FL	N7354E	Minor	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO FLY THE AIRPLANE INTO WIRES.
Jul 04, 1991	SOUTH BOSTON, VA	N1378U	Minor	substantial	THE LOST OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING.
Jun 25, 1991	BECKLEY, WV	N20430	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED.
Jun 24, 1991	PAYSON, AZ	N8382B	Minor	substantial	A PREMATURE LIFTOFF, STALL, AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Jun 08, 1991	THERMAL, CA	N6230D	Minor	substantial	THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE/POWERPLANT FROM A WORN INTAKE VALVE AND THE FAILURE OF COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO PERFORM AN OVERHAUL ON THE ENG… THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE/POWERPLANT FROM A WORN INTAKE VALVE AND THE FAILURE OF COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO PERFORM AN OVERHAUL ON THE ENGINE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME RECOMMENDED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER.
Jun 01, 1991	POINT MAGU, CA	N9663B	Minor	substantial	A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE AIRPLANE'S STROBE LIGHT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH IGNITED THE PLASTIC TUBING OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM CAUSING AN INFLIGHT FIRE … A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE AIRPLANE'S STROBE LIGHT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH IGNITED THE PLASTIC TUBING OF THE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM CAUSING AN INFLIGHT FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
May 14, 1991	CLANTON, AL	N46240	Minor	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

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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Cessna 172 Safety Record

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