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
May 09, 2009	Coeur d'Alene, ID	N2383Q	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswinds while landing.
May 08, 2009	Roanoke, TX	N172SV	Incident	substantial	The partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the throttle control rod-end to carburetor arm hardware. A contributing factor was the pilot's de… The partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the throttle control rod-end to carburetor arm hardware. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to fly the airplane without a current annual inspection.
Apr 30, 2009	Greenville, ME	N739RH	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s premature rotation during takeoff.
Apr 24, 2009	Pinehurst, NC	N500TC	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper landing flare.
Apr 22, 2009	Tucson, AZ	N3880S	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds.
Apr 21, 2009	Corona, CA	N9504H	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare.
Apr 20, 2009	Livermore, CA	N64204	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Apr 13, 2009	York, PA	N144ME	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Apr 07, 2009	Richland, WA	N7582G	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare.
Apr 05, 2009	Charleston, SC	N6208V	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the diversion of the pilot's attention to an airplane … The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the diversion of the pilot's attention to an airplane on a converging final approach course.
Apr 04, 2009	Snohomish, WA	N4915F	Incident	substantial	An in-flight collision with a crow.
Mar 20, 2009	Corsicana, TX	N7326T	Incident	destroyed	The pilot's improper flare.
Mar 17, 2009	Lafayette, IN	N2382R	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare. Contributing to the accident were the wind gusts.
Mar 06, 2009	Cleveland, MS	N6089K	Incident	substantial	The inadvertent encounter with a bird in flight.
Mar 01, 2009	Carlisle, AR	N739NP	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Feb 26, 2009	Broomfield, CO	N737KR	Incident	substantial	The pilot and airplane's inability to compensate for the unforecasted gusting wind conditions.
Feb 25, 2009	Johnson County Exec Airport, KS	N734WD	Incident	minor	Failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172S to ensure the taxiway was clear prior to initiating the turn. Contributing to the accident was the failure of… Failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172S to ensure the taxiway was clear prior to initiating the turn. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172N to obtain taxi clearance prior to entering the movement area.
Feb 22, 2009	Tucson, AZ	N1408F	Incident	minor	The flight instructor’s inadequate situational awareness while taxiing that led to an encounter with jet blast.
Feb 22, 2009	Manhattan, KS	N733FR	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Feb 16, 2009	Reidsville, GA	N9289H	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted recovery from a stall/spin.
Feb 07, 2009	Le Roy, NY	N3554Q	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gustin… The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gusting crosswinds in excess of the manufacturer's recommended crosswind limit.
Feb 01, 2009	Union Mills, IN	N53576	Incident	substantial	The certificated flight instructor's failure to follow correct engine clearing procedures. A factor was the unsuitable landing area.
Jan 23, 2009	Plano, TX	N5420T	Incident	substantial	A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.
Jan 22, 2009	Little Rock, AR	N20275	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power due to the missing nut on the bolt connecting the throttle cable and carburetor's lever arm.
Jan 19, 2009	Rockford, IL	N35571	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll after contacting a low-lying snow bank that was obscured by drifting sno… The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll after contacting a low-lying snow bank that was obscured by drifting snow.

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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