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
May 04, 2025 Longmont, CO N75775 Incident substantial The disconnected throttle control that resulted in a loss of engine power due to improper maintenance.
Apr 23, 2025 Louisburg, NC N6386V Incident substantial Investigation pending
Mar 29, 2025 Manley Hot Springs, AK N733KV Incident substantial
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a snow and ice-covered runway, which resulted in a runway excur…

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a snow and ice-covered runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.

Mar 16, 2025 Rusk, TX N52243 Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control and adequate airspeed during the go-around, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain…

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control and adequate airspeed during the go-around, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

Mar 10, 2025 Cantwell, AK N5375R Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low-altitude maneuver which resulted in inadvertent ground contact and a nose over.
Mar 09, 2025 Brooksville, FL N740SP Incident substantial The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage.
Mar 07, 2025 Romeo, MI N7550G Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the soft, wet grass.
Mar 03, 2025 Knoxville, TN N35411 Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a truck while taxiing.
Feb 23, 2025 La Verne, CA N137RJ Incident substantial Investigation pending
Feb 20, 2025 Argyle, NY N1609Y Incident substantial
The mechanic’s incorrect installation of the oil temperature gauge probe in the oil filter adapter and failure to test run the engine for oil leaks af…

The mechanic’s incorrect installation of the oil temperature gauge probe in the oil filter adapter and failure to test run the engine for oil leaks after the installation, which resulted in a total loss of oil and the pilot’s decision to perform a precautionary landing. Contributing was the pilot’s long/fast landing, which resulted in a runway overrun.

Feb 18, 2025 Oxnard, CA N3901L Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
Feb 17, 2025 Pearland, TX N2913E Incident substantial The pilot’s poor flight planning and decision making, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Feb 15, 2025 Syracuse, NY N1178F Incident substantial The truck driver’s to see and avoid the airplane, which resulted in a collision.
Feb 09, 2025 Rock Hill, SC N84048 Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborded crosswind landing.
Feb 06, 2025 Waco, TX N798SP Incident substantial
The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare that led to a bounced landing, and her improper pitch control during the attempted recovery that resulted…

The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare that led to a bounced landing, and her improper pitch control during the attempted recovery that resulted in a nose down pitch attitude upon the second touchdown.

Feb 05, 2025 Fort Myers, FL N94JA Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a truck while taxiing.
Feb 03, 2025 Clarksville, TN N62112 Incident substantial The flight instructor’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, which allowed the partially secured engine cowl to separate in flight.
Feb 02, 2025 Ramona, CA N5268K Incident substantial An in-flight collision with a bird in the airport traffic pattern.
Jan 29, 2025 Kennesaw, GA N1159K Incident substantial
The student pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path and the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the landing approach, which res…

The student pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path and the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring of the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting the ground short of the runway.

Jan 27, 2025 Air Force Academy, CO N51387 Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach after encountering an unexpected windshear.
Jan 25, 2025 PARÁ DE MINAS - MINAS GERAIS, OF PR-NEI Incident destroyed Investigation pending
Jan 09, 2025 Mayfield, KY N4942G Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and nose landing gear collapse.
Dec 31, 2024 Anchorage, AK N3552E Incident substantial
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during touch-and-go operations on an ice-covered runway during her first s…

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during touch-and-go operations on an ice-covered runway during her first solo flight.

Dec 19, 2024 Southport, NC N7085G Incident substantial
The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subseque…

The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subsequent overstress of the airplane during recovery.

Dec 13, 2024 Gig Harbor, WA N6750H Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go.
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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