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
Aug 30, 2015 New Enterprise, PA N8404X Incident substantial The pilot's exceedance of the critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Aug 23, 2015 Springfield, OH N691SP Incident substantial The pilot's improper pitch control during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aug 22, 2015 Riviera Beach, FL N8952B Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat prior to descending in atmospheric conditions conducive to icing, which resulted in a total loss of power…

The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat prior to descending in atmospheric conditions conducive to icing, which resulted in a total loss of power.
Aug 19, 2015 Kalispell, MT N733NH Incident substantial The pilot's loss of directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion, and collision with runway and taxiway lights and terrain.
Aug 17, 2015 Chiefland, FL N84308 Incident substantial
The partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident airframe and engine examination …

The partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident airframe and engine examination and engine test run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Aug 03, 2015 Miami, FL N6223D Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane firewall.
Jul 23, 2015 North Vernon, IN N133VU Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing touchdown, resulting in a hard landing.
Jul 19, 2015 Linden, NJ N962SP Incident substantial
The pilot’s delayed decision to reject the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to proper…

The pilot’s delayed decision to reject the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly configure the flaps for maximum takeoff performance with the airplane near its maximum gross weight.
Jul 17, 2015 Anoka, MN N6511V Incident substantial Failure of the left landing gear actuator for reasons that could not be determined because the actuator was not made available for examination.
Jul 03, 2015 Lubbock, TX N6326J Incident substantial The student pilot's improper flare during landing which resulted in abnormal runway contact and damage to the firewall.
Jun 26, 2015 Vernal, UT N3159E Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with an…

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with an airport sign.
Jun 25, 2015 Traverse City, MI N195NW Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, resulting in a hard landing.
Jun 22, 2015 Upperville, VA N5210A Incident substantial An inflight bird strike, which resulted in wing spar damage.
Jun 10, 2015 Galesburg, IL N740SP Incident substantial
Firewall damage reported by maintenance personnel that occurred during an unknown phase of flight, because the accident flight and pilot could not be …

Firewall damage reported by maintenance personnel that occurred during an unknown phase of flight, because the accident flight and pilot could not be determined.
Jun 06, 2015 Cottonwood Falls, KS N2536L Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed to climb the airplane out of ground effect, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a collision wit…

The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed to climb the airplane out of ground effect, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a collision with terrain.
Jun 06, 2015 Addison, TX N178AF Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing touchdown, resulting in a hard landing.
May 28, 2015 State College, PA N2254U Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach to landing which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing.
May 28, 2015 Beaver Falls, PA N984WU Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane attitude control during the landing, resulting in a hard landing.
May 25, 2015 Mitchellville, MD N6155K Incident substantial The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and damage to the airplane.
May 07, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL N487ER Incident substantial
The landing airplane pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision with a …

The landing airplane pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision with a taxiing airplane.
Apr 24, 2015 Clearwater, FL N1576V Incident substantial The pilot's excessive airspeed during landing, which resulted in abnormal runway contact, a runway excursion, and substantial damage to the airplane.
Apr 19, 2015 Naples, FL N100PM Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control, resulting in a hard landing.
Apr 17, 2015 Sebastian, FL N66090 Incident substantial The pilot's misjudged airspeed and glidepath, which resulted in a landing area overshoot and runway excursion.
Apr 17, 2015 Tamuning, USA N9853L Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control, resulting in a hard landing.
Mar 28, 2015 Vernal, UT N2168D Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain attitude control during landing flare.
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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