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
Jun 03, 2023	Prescott, AZ	N249K	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his delayed decision to initiate a go-aro… The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his delayed decision to initiate a go-around.
May 30, 2023	Miami, FL	N2447B	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in substantial damage the airplane’s fuselage.
May 24, 2023	Casa Grande, AZ	N60372	Incident	substantial	An in-flight separation of the throttle linkage, which resulted in a loss of throttle control. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’… An in-flight separation of the throttle linkage, which resulted in a loss of throttle control. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to follow the maintenance manual inspection procedure for the throttle cable assembly.
May 23, 2023	Romeoville, IL	N674MA	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to attain/maintain a proper landing flare and failure to perform a go-around that resulted in an impact with the runway.
May 17, 2023	Flower Mound, TX	N5550J	Incident	substantial	The fatigue failure of the rocker arm which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing was the airplane operator’s failure to inspect th… The fatigue failure of the rocker arm which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing was the airplane operator’s failure to inspect the rocker arm in accordance with the engine manufacturer’s service bulletin.
May 04, 2023	Brookings, SD	N1674E	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the student pilot’s d… The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the student pilot’s delay in relinquishing control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed reaction before the loss of directional control.
Apr 28, 2023	Nacogdoches, TX	N52602	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Apr 18, 2023	Usa City, JA	JA-395A	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Apr 17, 2023	Fredericksburg, TX	N478SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around resulting in abnormal contact with the runway pavement and a runway exc… The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around resulting in abnormal contact with the runway pavement and a runway excursion.
Apr 15, 2023	North Las Vegas, NV	N734NJ	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll resulting in collision with taxiway sign.
Apr 11, 2023	Terrell, TX	N1221U	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial response.
Apr 11, 2023	Charles Town, WV	N2554L	Incident	substantial	A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Apr 01, 2023	Santa Ana, CA	N1399U	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent lo… The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.
Mar 22, 2023	Madrid, OF	EC-GVD	Incident	minor	Investigation pending
Mar 11, 2023	Lewiston, ID	N7010Q	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel ex… The flight instructor’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Mar 10, 2023	Van Nuys, CA	N73726	Incident	substantial	The pilots failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Mar 07, 2023	Miami, FL	N64535	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power due to a lack of oil lubrication.
Mar 05, 2023	Kinston, NC	N2527L	Incident	substantial	The airplane’s impact with two deer while performing a takeoff at night.
Feb 25, 2023	Princeton, MN	N208SP	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the runway condition combined with a ri… The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the runway condition combined with a right crosswind.
Feb 24, 2023	Ephraim, UT	N84717	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s improper landing flare and loss of directional control.
Feb 19, 2023	Moline, IL	N84688	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.
Feb 01, 2023	Limon, CO	N5163H	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Jan 21, 2023	Skull Valley, AZ	N92570	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in a crosswind.
Jan 03, 2023	Opa-locka, FL	N2354E	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor’s decision to taxi behind a large multi-engine airplane, which resulted in an encounter with propeller blast and a loss of airpl… The flight instructor’s decision to taxi behind a large multi-engine airplane, which resulted in an encounter with propeller blast and a loss of airplane control on the ground.
Jan 01, 2023	Conway, AR	N7003G	Incident	substantial	The solo student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced 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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