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
Jul 22, 2013	New Smyrna Beach, FL	N121CW	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Jul 17, 2013	Santa Barbra, CA	N971TA	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Jul 15, 2013	Redlands, CA	N625SP	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper flare and unsuccessful attempt to correct a bounced landing, which resulted in the overrun landing.
Jun 28, 2013	Trout Lake, WA	N75542	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff from a soft field and to abort the landing when the airplane reached the runway’s … The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff from a soft field and to abort the landing when the airplane reached the runway’s midpoint at a low airspeed.
Jun 19, 2013	Clearwater, FL	N426SJ	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because neither postaccident visual examinations nor test runs of the engine rev… A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because neither postaccident visual examinations nor test runs of the engine revealed any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Jun 19, 2013	Burlington, VT	N61947	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper turn down an airport access road while attempting to taxi to a runway. Contributing to the accident was the airport management's … The pilot's improper turn down an airport access road while attempting to taxi to a runway. Contributing to the accident was the airport management's failure to install proper signage indicating that an airport access road was prohibited to aircraft.
Jun 09, 2013	Ann Arbor, MI	N857SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to make a go-around in a timely manner and his loss of control during landing.
Jun 06, 2013	Pontiac, MI	N549TT	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff and his interference with the flight instructor's ability to provide remed… The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff and his interference with the flight instructor's ability to provide remedial action.
May 31, 2013	Millinocket, ME	N9816G	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
May 23, 2013	Truckee, CA	N8879V	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a collision with a tree.
May 16, 2013	Abbeville, LA	N5219U	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane before hand starting the engine and the failure of the brass tie down hook.
May 14, 2013	Ankeny, IA	N947SP	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
May 10, 2013	Newcastle, WY	N7610F	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.
May 09, 2013	Thief River Falls, MN	N1820V	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power line while on approach to landing.
Apr 29, 2013	Lakeport, CA	N20800	Incident	substantial	Loss of engine power during climb due to a failure of the No. 2 piston assembly; the reason for the failure could not be determined because of the ext… Loss of engine power during climb due to a failure of the No. 2 piston assembly; the reason for the failure could not be determined because of the extent of damage to the piston assembly.
Apr 28, 2013	Henderson, NV	N3483E	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, including operating in excess of the maximum certified gross weight and center of gravity limits at a high … The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, including operating in excess of the maximum certified gross weight and center of gravity limits at a high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff.
Apr 28, 2013	New Orleans, LA	N737FK	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to perform a steep climb before going around following a low pass for a banner tow pickup.
Apr 20, 2013	Stow, MA	N739CK	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty wind conditions.
Apr 20, 2013	Reading, MI	N3682L	Incident	substantial	The partial loss of engine power due to the improper securing of the throttle linkage by maintenance personnel.
Apr 07, 2013	New Castle, VA	N92804	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing that the airplane was not accelerating properly, which led to an aerodynamic stall. The rea… The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing that the airplane was not accelerating properly, which led to an aerodynamic stall. The reason for the lack of acceleration could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Apr 04, 2013	Phoenix, AZ	N2166K	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's excessive directional control inputs during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor's delayed and ineffective corrective action… The student pilot's excessive directional control inputs during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor's delayed and ineffective corrective actions, which resulted in the loss of airplane control.
Apr 01, 2013	Wonewoc, WI	N8033B	Incident	substantial	The restricted vented fuel cap and obstructed fuel vent lines, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Mar 30, 2013	Bally, PA	N4601D	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Mar 30, 2013	Immokalee, FL	N410LR	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Mar 24, 2013	Tistusville, FL	N7113G	Incident	substantial	The pilot's loss of airplane control while taxiing in gusting wind conditions associated with nearby thunderstorm activity.

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.

← Cessna 172 For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 172? View 411 Cessna 172 for sale ↓

Cessna 172 Safety Record

Report an Issue