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 03, 2007	Spanish Fork, UT	N619TH	Incident	substantial	The pilot's misjudged landing flare resulting in a porpoise and hard touchdown.
Jul 02, 2007	Santa Barbara, CA	N214GZ	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Jul 02, 2007	Newcastle, UT	N84888	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty and crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.
Jun 30, 2007	Yorkville, IL	N738SV	Incident	substantial	The inadequate fuel consumption calculations by the pilot, the fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, and the unsuitable landing area encountered by th… The inadequate fuel consumption calculations by the pilot, the fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, and the unsuitable landing area encountered by the pilot. Contributing factors were the night light conditions and trees.
Jun 29, 2007	Perry, GA	N54730	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing roll out resulting in the airplane departing the runway and collision with a di… The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing roll out resulting in the airplane departing the runway and collision with a ditch.
Jun 28, 2007	Oak Grove, MN	N6267E	Incident	substantial	A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain.
Jun 26, 2007	Greenwater, WA	N733XW	Incident	substantial	The in-flight encounter with a sudden windshift during the takeoff initial climb, to which the certified flight instructor responded by aborting the t… The in-flight encounter with a sudden windshift during the takeoff initial climb, to which the certified flight instructor responded by aborting the takeoff and landing off the end of the runway. The ditch was a contributing factor.
Jun 25, 2007	Long Beach, CA	N137RJ	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall and a hard landing. The crosswind was a factor.
Jun 24, 2007	Jacksonville, FL	N567DD	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Jun 19, 2007	Brinson, GA	N921JR	Incident	substantial	A partial loss of engine power due to a blocked carburetor jet.
Jun 15, 2007	Batavia, NY	N2228L	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to flare the airplane during landing resulting in a hard landing.
Jun 12, 2007	Katy, TX	N4260L	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's improper flare and his failure to recover from a bounced landing.
Jun 10, 2007	Halls Crossing, UT	N2579U	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to select suitable terrain for landing. A contributing factor was the rough/uneven terrain.
Jun 10, 2007	Lantana, FL	N522GC	Incident	substantial	Separation of a landing gear hydraulic line at the fitting for undetermined reasons.
Jun 07, 2007	Amarillo, TX	N7370G	Incident	substantial	The failure of the left main landing gear spring assembly as a result of an unapproved repair by an unknown person(s), which resulted in a loss of dir… The failure of the left main landing gear spring assembly as a result of an unapproved repair by an unknown person(s), which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Jun 02, 2007	Raleigh-Durham, NC	N2298W	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
May 25, 2007	Manhattan, KS	N65685	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing. A contributing factor was the inadvertent encounter with the … The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing. A contributing factor was the inadvertent encounter with the military helicopter's rotor wash.
May 16, 2007	Harrah, OK	N62960	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to compensate for the existing wind conditons while landing. A factor was the crosswind.
May 14, 2007	Emporia, VA	N79941	Incident	substantial	The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a d… The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a ditch.
May 12, 2007	St. George, UT	N5285H	Incident	substantial	the pilot's inadequate compensation for a gusting crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control.
May 12, 2007	Carson City, NV	N5023A	Incident	substantial	The loss of directional control for undetermined reasons.
May 10, 2007	Hollywood, FL	N369ES	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with a sign.
May 09, 2007	Asheville, NC	N924LP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident was the visual illusion experienced by the pilot from l… The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident was the visual illusion experienced by the pilot from landing on a long, wide runway.
May 08, 2007	Kenosha, WI	N97464	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a flat nose wheel tire and a buckled firewall. A factor was the porpoising tha… The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a flat nose wheel tire and a buckled firewall. A factor was the porpoising that was encountered during the flare.
May 07, 2007	Payson, AZ	N533ER	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, excessive airspeed on final approach, and failure to execute a go-around resulting in a misjudged … The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, excessive airspeed on final approach, and failure to execute a go-around resulting in a misjudged flare and hard landing.

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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