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
Dec 08, 2025 DeLand, FL N64859 Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Aug 15, 2025 Titusville, FL N7205Q Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Jul 13, 2025 Sisters, OR N787LF Serious (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Jan 23, 2025 Columbia, CA N79910 Serious (2) substantial Investigation pending
Sep 26, 2024 Kooskia, ID N54829 Serious (1) substantial
The pilot’s decision to descend into a canyon that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with trees and …

The pilot’s decision to descend into a canyon that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.

Sep 17, 2024 Arboles, CO N739JU Serious (1) substantial A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Jun 05, 2024 Santa Ynez, CA N9567L Serious (1) substantial
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin, with insufficient…

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin, with insufficient altitude for recovery. The student pilot’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack which resulted in a stall and subsequent spin during a go-around.

May 27, 2024 Citronelle, AL N658NV Serious (1) substantial A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a fuel vent line that was clogged by an insect nest.
Apr 29, 2024 Clearbrook, MN N12805 Serious (1) substantial The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat which resulted in the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Jan 14, 2024 Mooresville, NC N512SP Serious (1) substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions.
Dec 07, 2023 Zephyrhills, FL N906KS Serious (2) substantial An aerodynamic stall from which the pilots did not recover while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern.
Oct 31, 2023 Pembroke Pines, FL N140FS Serious (1) substantial
The pilot’s loss of airplane control and descent into terrain due to spatial disorientation during a solo night cross country flight. Contributing to …

The pilot’s loss of airplane control and descent into terrain due to spatial disorientation during a solo night cross country flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-reported fatigue.

Sep 23, 2023 Monacalieri, OF I-FFSW Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Aug 25, 2023 Carson City, NV N4432R Serious (1) substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted landing in gusting wind conditions.
Jul 13, 2023 Novosibirsk,, RS RA-2018G Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
May 11, 2023 South Bethlehem, NY N1596E Serious (2) substantial The pilot’s improper decision to attempt an intersection takeoff in a tailwind when the full runway in the opposite, headwind direction was available.
Feb 12, 2023 Crosby, TX N3238L Serious (1) substantial
The pilot’s delayed soft-field takeoff procedure, which prevented the pilot from achieving adequate airspeed and a proper climb rate resulting in a co…

The pilot’s delayed soft-field takeoff procedure, which prevented the pilot from achieving adequate airspeed and a proper climb rate resulting in a collision with a moving train.

Jan 01, 2023 Watsonville, CA N7181A Serious (1) substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during a go around.
Nov 02, 2022 Greenville, SC N65615 Serious (1) substantial
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to …

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to use the checklist aboard the airplane during her attempts to restore engine power.

Aug 30, 2022 Gates Mills, OH N204BE Serious (1) substantial
The instructor pilot’s decision to perform an inflight magneto check with no suitable area to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failu…

The instructor pilot’s decision to perform an inflight magneto check with no suitable area to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to correctly perform a magneto check that resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Aug 12, 2022 Jamestown, NY N4751F Serious (2) substantial A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be definitively determined.
Jul 25, 2022 Qualicum Beach, CA C-GGSN Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Jul 08, 2022 South Portland, ME N9946Q Serious (2) substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Jul 04, 2022 Akron, OH N12115 Serious (2) substantial The pilots’ improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Jun 16, 2022 Brevard, NC N5064H Serious (3) substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude, which resulted in impact with trees and 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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