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
Jun 12, 2013 Newton, MS N7045G Fatal (1) substantial
The student pilot's failure to increase engine power during the descent for landing when instructed to do so by the flight instructor and the flight i…

The student pilot's failure to increase engine power during the descent for landing when instructed to do so by the flight instructor and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in collision with a static wire. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to use hearing amplification as required by his Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate.

Jun 12, 2013 Louisville, KY N118JD Serious (4) substantial
The pilot's failure to set the correct flap position before takeoff and his inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the operation of the airp…

The pilot's failure to set the correct flap position before takeoff and his inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the operation of the airplane over the maximum allowable gross weight, both of which led to an aerodynamic stall at too low an altitude at which to recover.

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 Eatonville, WA N7701T Minor substantial
A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in a s…

A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in a stall.

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 18, 2013 Geneva, FL N4702F Serious (1) The passenger’s failure to adhere to the pilot’s instructions to stay away from the front of the airplane when the engine was operating.
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.
May 08, 2013 Den Helder, NL PH-ACM Fatal (1) substantial Investigation pending
May 01, 2013 Covington, LA N8899V Minor substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a banner towing operation, which resulted in the airplane stalling and landing hard.
Apr 29, 2013 Calabasas, CA N64030 Fatal (2) substantial The failure of the pilots in both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision.
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 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 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 27, 2013 Dade City, FL N5944J Minor substantial The in-flight loosening of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm stud, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power.
Apr 26, 2013 Davis, WV N96178 Serious (3) substantial The pilot’s improper glidepath as he approached the runway and his subsequent delayed decision to abort the landing.
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 20, 2013 Stow, MA N739CK Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty wind conditions.
Apr 13, 2013 Summersville, WV N6136F Minor substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Apr 08, 2013 Manvel, TX N7825T Minor substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while taking off in gusting wind conditions.
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.

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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