Cessna 172 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 6810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 09, 2004 | Knoxville, TN | N78211 | Serious (1) | — | The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed on initial take off climb resulted in an inadvertent stall and an uncontrolled descent into the ground. |
| Sep 17, 2004 | Kill Devil Hlls, NC | N986AC | Serious (1) | substantial |
An in-flight encounter with a downdraft on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane and subsequent collision with the groun…An in-flight encounter with a downdraft on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane and subsequent collision with the ground. |
| Aug 13, 2004 | Spanish Fork, UT | N6249K | Serious (4) | destroyed |
the pilot's improper inflight planning and decision making, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were his intentional l…the pilot's improper inflight planning and decision making, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were his intentional low altitude flight and maneuvering, the aircraft's climb performance being exceeded, and the trees. |
| Aug 03, 2004 | Cooperstown, NY | N7957U | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and her premature rotation which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and subsequent impact with th…The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and her premature rotation which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and subsequent impact with the ground. |
| Jul 17, 2004 | Erwinna, PA | N262MC | Serious (1) | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and his failure to follow the go-around procedure which resulted in a stall. |
| Jun 25, 2004 | Asheville, NC | N2116P | Serious (1) | substantial | The CFII's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clear of objects during flight. Factors were clouds and dark night. |
| May 29, 2004 | Worcester, MA | N73704 | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the gusting w…The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the gusting wind. |
| Jan 28, 2004 | Rigby, ID | N734CB | Serious (2) | substantial |
The flight instructor's failure to follow procedures, i.e., operating the non-icing certified aircraft in known icing conditions contrary to the pilot…The flight instructor's failure to follow procedures, i.e., operating the non-icing certified aircraft in known icing conditions contrary to the pilot operators handbook which resulted in ice accretion and ultimately a stall and loss of control in flight. Contributing factors were the icing conditions and degraded aircraft performance. |
| Dec 26, 2003 | Elk City, ID | N1363U | Serious (2) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around. Factors include dark night conditions and trees. |
| Nov 01, 2003 | Cloudcroft, NM | N9864F | Serious (2) | destroyed |
the dual student's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Low altitude flig…the dual student's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Low altitude flight and rising terrain are contributing factors. |
| Sep 03, 2003 | Jay, FL | N52615 | Serious (2) | substantial |
**This case was modified on 2/18/2016. Refer to the public docket for this accident to view the changes.** Loss of engine power for undetermined re…**This case was modified on 2/18/2016. Refer to the public docket for this accident to view the changes.** Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| Aug 30, 2003 | Hendersonville, NC | N19929 | Serious (2) | substantial | The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather. The downdraft was a contributing factor. |
| Jul 12, 2003 | Sullivan Lake, WA | N2805L | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot-in-command's downwind landing. A contributing factor was the tailwind condition. |
| Jun 25, 2003 | Bristow, OK | N20679 | Serious (2) | substantial | The pilot's premature retracting of the flaps, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. |
| Jun 22, 2003 | Beaumont, TX | N753MF | Serious (1) | substantial |
The instructor's delay in executing a go-around and his failure to maintain aircraft control due to inadequate compensation of wind gusts. A contrib…The instructor's delay in executing a go-around and his failure to maintain aircraft control due to inadequate compensation of wind gusts. A contributing factor was the gusty winds. |
| Jun 22, 2003 | San Antonio, TX | N912KD | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed, and his failure to perform a go-around. |
| Jun 07, 2003 | West Chicago, IL | N13474 | Serious (1) | destroyed |
The abrupt pull-up initiated by the pilot during takeoff before airspeed was attained resulting in a stall. Factors contributing to the accident were…The abrupt pull-up initiated by the pilot during takeoff before airspeed was attained resulting in a stall. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on takeoff and the crosswind. |
| May 20, 2003 | Ocean City, NJ | N3985L | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. A factor was a crosswind. |
| Apr 12, 2003 | Holt, MO | N3831R | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor to the accident were…The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor to the accident were the trees. |
| Mar 23, 2003 | Van Nuys, CA | N63788 | Serious (1) | substantial |
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. A contributing factor is the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced …the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing. A contributing factor is the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. |
| Mar 23, 2003 | Savannah, GA | N13591 | Serious (2) | substantial |
The pilot misjudged the landing distance, landed with excessive airspeed, did not attempt a go-around resulting in the airplane going off the overrun,…The pilot misjudged the landing distance, landed with excessive airspeed, did not attempt a go-around resulting in the airplane going off the overrun, and colliding with trees. |
| Feb 21, 2003 | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | N3550X | Serious (1) | substantial |
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the touch-and-go …the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the touch-and-go takeoff. A factor was his improper use of (failure to reduce) the throttle and normal brakes during the accident sequence. |
| Feb 18, 2003 | Santa Susana, CA | N65005 | Serious (2) | destroyed | The flight instructor's inadequate in-flight decision to cross mountainous terrain at a inadequate altitude to guarantee terrain clearance. |
| Oct 25, 2002 | Sebring, FL | N267EP | Serious (1) | substantial |
The student pilot's premature rotation and failure to maintain airspeed during the takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, an uncontrolled de…The student pilot's premature rotation and failure to maintain airspeed during the takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with the ground. |
| Sep 18, 2002 | Edinburg, VA | N5033H | Serious (1) | substantial | A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |