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 13, 2005 Madison, WI N6454J Incident substantial
The pilot's improper pre-flight which resulted in the control lock not being removed and his subsequent inability to control the airplane. The unmark…

The pilot's improper pre-flight which resulted in the control lock not being removed and his subsequent inability to control the airplane. The unmarked control lock and the FBO's failure to replace the unmarked control lock were factors in the accident.

Jun 12, 2005 Santa Maria, CA N2384L Incident substantial the student pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Jun 10, 2005 Carlsbad, CA N1126U Incident substantial the other pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain separation while taxiing.
Jun 07, 2005 Santa Ynez, CA N7668G Minor substantial the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain.
Jun 03, 2005 Crossville, TN N1202V Minor substantial The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC conditions which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A related factor was the clouds.
May 30, 2005 Stockton, CA N172MR Incident substantial the pilot's improper use of the brakes, and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
May 28, 2005 Fort Myers, FL N416FR Incident substantial The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
May 28, 2005 Louisburg, NC N22055 Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and subsequent loss of control and collision with the ground.
May 27, 2005 Raleigh, NC N496AC Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees
May 21, 2005 Brooklyn, NY N778LP Fatal (4) substantial The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
May 21, 2005 Port Huron, MI N860SA Incident substantial The pilot not performing a go-around and misjudging the flare leading to a hard landing.
May 20, 2005 Daytona Beach, FL N864CP Incident substantial The student pilot's improper landing flare and the CFI's inadequate supervision resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane.
May 18, 2005 Tucson, AZ N9017H Incident substantial The student pilot's improper flare that induced a porpoise, which resulted in the overload failure of the nose wheel assembly.
May 17, 2005 Islip, NY N9344L Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a parked vehicle while taxiing.
May 11, 2005 Caldwell, NJ N64815 Incident substantial The student pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
May 10, 2005 Plattsmouth, NE N4987R Incident substantial
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. A factor associated with the accide…

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. A factor associated with the accident was the gusting crosswind.

May 07, 2005 Grand Canyon, AZ N4970V Minor substantial
the pilot-in-command's failure to properly lean the mixture, which resulted in a power deficiency, a degraded climb capability, and the inability to a…

the pilot-in-command's failure to properly lean the mixture, which resulted in a power deficiency, a degraded climb capability, and the inability to attain/maintain an adequate airspeed that led to a stall/mush condition while departing during high density altitude conditions. Also causal, was the pilot-in-command's inaccurate preflight performance and weight and balance calculations.

May 02, 2005 Clearwater, FL N66113 Incident substantial The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Apr 28, 2005 Midland, TX N8314L Fatal (2) substantial The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the low altitude.
Apr 27, 2005 Palo Alto, CA N737WF Incident substantial The student's failure to maintain directional control and the CFI's failure to adequately supervise the flight.
Apr 23, 2005 Armonk, NY N61AF Fatal (2) destroyed
The flight instructor's failure to maintain the proper altitude\clearance during the approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. F…

The flight instructor's failure to maintain the proper altitude\clearance during the approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Factors in this accident were low ceilings, fog, and gusty wind conditions.

Apr 17, 2005 Wellington, OH N1086F Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to initiate a go-around, which resulted in an overrun during landing. A fac…

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to initiate a go-around, which resulted in an overrun during landing. A factor in the accident was the tail wind.

Apr 17, 2005 Oakwood, GA N1643F Incident substantial Loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination.
Apr 16, 2005 Collegeville, PA N7653X Incident substantial
The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor related to the accident was the downdraft wind…

The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor related to the accident was the downdraft wind conditions.

Apr 14, 2005 Olney, TX N733UV Minor substantial
The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing factors were the weather conditions conducive for carburetor icing and the lack of suita…

The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing factors were the weather conditions conducive for carburetor icing and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced 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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