Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 1989 | BRADFORD, VT | N1272U | Fatal (2) | destroyed | FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISON. |
| May 06, 1989 | INDUSTRY, CA | N6129E | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO ENSURE OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LOW CEILING…THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO ENSURE OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LOW CEILING, FOG, AND THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. |
| May 03, 1989 | BURNET, TX | N5253K | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO SPATIAL…CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. |
| Mar 28, 1989 | HONDO, TX | N736RT | Fatal (4) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S DECISION TO DEPART INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. |
| Mar 17, 1989 | PASCAGOULA, MS | N80542 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, WEATHER CONDI…CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, WEATHER CONDITIONS, PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME, LACK OF VISUAL CUES AT NIGHT, AND TREES AT THE CRASH SITE. |
| Feb 20, 1989 | BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS | N3937F | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
THE CONTINUATION OF A VFR FLIGHT INTO NIGHT, INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. CO…THE CONTINUATION OF A VFR FLIGHT INTO NIGHT, INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE OVERCONFIDENCE OF THE PILOT. |
| Feb 18, 1989 | SAFFORD, AZ | N8492U | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT…FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF WING FLAPS. |
| Feb 08, 1989 | MOSINEE, WI | N6525V | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT AS A RESULT OF INITIATING THE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT,…SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT AS A RESULT OF INITIATING THE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, SNOW, AND LOW CEILINGS. |
| Jan 21, 1989 | HARTSVILLE, TN | N5834A | Fatal (2) | substantial |
THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE INADVERTENTLY ENTERIN…THE PILOT ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT-OFF PREMATURLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BEFORE INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND LACK OF QUALIFICATIONS. |
| Jan 06, 1989 | OXNARD, CA | N61587 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLSION WITH TERRAIN. RELATED FACTORS WERE…CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLSION WITH TERRAIN. RELATED FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING SERVICE, HIS DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION AT DUSK, AND THE RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. |
| Dec 24, 1988 | WADSWORTH, OH | N8193B | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Nov 17, 1988 | FREMONT, CA | N6256F | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Oct 22, 1988 | PETALUMA, CA | N9372E | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED V.F.R. FLIGHT DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION W…PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED V.F.R. FLIGHT DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHEN HE ENTERED INTO THE CLOUDS. |
| Oct 19, 1988 | UNION CITY, CA | N52222 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT …LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT WHEN HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE, DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS AND FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS, INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, FAILURE TO PERFORM A WEATHER EVAULATION AFTER RECEIVING PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. |
| Sep 17, 1988 | ADAMS, MA | N6586J | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISIONS, HE CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS. THE AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER SERV…PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISIONS, HE CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS. THE AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER SERVICE WAS IMPROPER. |
| Sep 05, 1988 | MARIETTA, OK | N99144 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 05, 1988 | PETERSBURG, AK | N3841S | Fatal (4) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 04, 1988 | GRAND CANYON, AZ | N54814 | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING NIGH VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK …THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING NIGH VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE AT NIGH AND THE LACK OF OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCES DUE TO DARKNESS. |
| Sep 04, 1988 | BOYNE CITY, MI | N52601 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Sep 03, 1988 | KAUAI, HI | N51886 | Fatal (3) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 17, 1988 | ADEL, GA | N65790 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 15, 1988 | ISLAND FALLS, ME | N1183M | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
PILOT'S POOR IN-INFLIGHT DECISIONS AND PLANNING AND FAILED TO FOLLOW ATC DIRECTIVES TO MAINTAIN VFR. THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND C…PILOT'S POOR IN-INFLIGHT DECISIONS AND PLANNING AND FAILED TO FOLLOW ATC DIRECTIVES TO MAINTAIN VFR. THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN. |
| Aug 13, 1988 | FLOWEREE, MS | N5555T | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 03, 1988 | POST MILLS, VT | N62541 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Jul 13, 1988 | SARCOXIE, MO | N4288L | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |