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 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 14, 2007	Yellow Pine, ID	N6233E	Fatal (1)	substantial	The pilot's selection of the wrong routing through mountainous terrain and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance.
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 03, 2007	Meranges, SP	EC-HOT	Fatal (1)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Jun 02, 2007	Wendover, UT	N65755	Minor	destroyed	The pilot's failure to maintain 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 23, 2007	Leesburg, VA	N3982S	Minor	substantial	The loss of engine power that resulted from the failure of an exhaust valve rocker arm during cruise.
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	Shelby, OH	N8469L	Minor	substantial	The pilot's failure to properly achieve the correct touch down point which resulted in a runway over run and subsequent nose over into a ditch. Other … The pilot's failure to properly achieve the correct touch down point which resulted in a runway over run and subsequent nose over into a ditch. Other factors were the pilot's improper decision to land with a tailwind and the ditch.
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	Oxford, ME	N80132	Minor	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain a climb during a go-around resulting in collision with an embankment.
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.
May 07, 2007	Chesterfield, MO	N51827	Incident	substantial	Inadequate flare during landing. The induced oscillation, not performing a go-around, the pilot's lack of experience and the failure to perform remed… Inadequate flare during landing. The induced oscillation, not performing a go-around, the pilot's lack of experience and the failure to perform remedial action were factors.
May 05, 2007	Daytona Beach, FL	N462ER	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare at night, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent night experience.
May 05, 2007	Montgomery, NY	N12152	Minor	substantial	The pilot's improper flare while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with terrain.

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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