How many accidents has the Cessna 172B had?

The NTSB has recorded 70 events involving the Cessna 172B: 6 fatal, 10 serious, 14 minor injuries, and 40 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172B a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172B has 70 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172B Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 70 events recorded from 1982 to 2023.

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (10 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jul 08, 2002	Denton, TX	N7550X	Fatal (1)	substantial	The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the runway localizer antenna.
Oct 04, 2001	Phillips, ME	N7591X	Serious (1)	substantial	Loss of engine power due to a blockage of the left fuel tank vent line with mud, and the subsequent inadvertent stall.
Apr 18, 2001	Lancaster, CA	N4672L	Serious (2)	substantial	The pilot's delay reversing course while flying toward rising terrain in a box canyon. Factors in the accident included a downdraft on the lee side o… The pilot's delay reversing course while flying toward rising terrain in a box canyon. Factors in the accident included a downdraft on the lee side of a ridge forming the box canyon, high density altitude, and the pilot's improper use of flaps.
Sep 02, 2000	HALFMOON, NY	N8019X	Minor	substantial	The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, and his continued flight into, and attempted landing during a thunderstorm. A factor was the thunderstorm.
Aug 20, 2000	SUNRIVER, OR	N8178X	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper decision to continue the takeoff after the aircraft failed to climb or accelerate immediately after the initial liftoff. Factors … The pilot's improper decision to continue the takeoff after the aircraft failed to climb or accelerate immediately after the initial liftoff. Factors were inadequate preflight planning, to include the pilot's failure to calculate takeoff performance data, trees off the departure end of the runway, a high density altitude environment, and wet, swampy/marshy terrain in the area where the pilot found it necessary to execute a precautionary/emergency landing.
Jul 27, 2000	OLNEY, TX	N7501X	Serious (1)	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor was the gusty crosswind.
Nov 01, 1999	BEAUMONT, TX	N7833X	Incident	substantial	Fuel exhaustion as a result of the flight instructor's failure to refuel the airplane. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landi… Fuel exhaustion as a result of the flight instructor's failure to refuel the airplane. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Oct 27, 1999	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N7906X	Incident	substantial	The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were the gusty crosswind and the runway l… The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were the gusty crosswind and the runway light.
Mar 31, 1999	WINSLOW, AZ	N7882X	Incident	substantial	The pilot's decision to continue flight into known adverse wind conditions which exceeded the ground handling capability of the aircraft.
Mar 30, 1999	MT. AIRY, NC	N7821X	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during landing and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point on the runway.
Sep 07, 1998	NEW PORT RICHEY, FL	N8096X	Incident	substantial	The pilots disregard of the performance capabilities of the airplane, his failure to attain and maintain flying speed, and his exceeding of the airpla… The pilots disregard of the performance capabilities of the airplane, his failure to attain and maintain flying speed, and his exceeding of the airplane's maximum weight.
Dec 06, 1997	HENDERSON, NC	N172MT	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Dec 16, 1996	CHARLESTON, WV	N6937X	Serious (1)	destroyed	improper planning/decision by the pilot, and his mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forc… improper planning/decision by the pilot, and his mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing into wooded terrain.
Jul 30, 1995	NORTH POLE, AK	N9192R	Minor	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, WHEN THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO REACH THE DESTINATION.
May 27, 1995	SINCLAIR ISLAND, WA	N7996X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A TAILWIND, WET GRASS, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIA… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A TAILWIND, WET GRASS, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Dec 07, 1994	SEGUIN, TX	N7697X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Oct 21, 1994	HONESDALE, PA	N7491E	Incident	substantial	the fuel selector was in the improper position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, due to fuel starvation, a forced landing, and subseque… the fuel selector was in the improper position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, due to fuel starvation, a forced landing, and subsequent impact with a stone wall.
Sep 28, 1994	POTEAU, OK	N7617X	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE RESULTANT CARBURETOR ICING. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITION AND … THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE RESULTANT CARBURETOR ICING. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITION AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Jul 01, 1994	SHIOCTON, WI	N7472X	Serious (3)	destroyed	the pilot's failure to maintain Vso during takeoff. Factors related to the accident was the disregard for performance data and trees.
May 24, 1992	CHEROKEE, NC	N8102X	Fatal (3)	destroyed	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A RESULT OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, AND RAIN IN THE ACC… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A RESULT OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, AND RAIN IN THE ACCIDENT AREA WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
May 22, 1992	EATONVILLE, WA	N7579X	Fatal (1)	destroyed	UNDETERMINED.
Apr 01, 1992	SCOTTSVILLE, TX	N7492X	Incident	substantial	PILOTS' INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR UNFAVORABLE WINDSHIFT. A FACATOR WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Mar 08, 1992	GOLDEN, TX	N6938X	Incident	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS WERE FALSE FUEL SENSOR INDICATIONS AND A FENCE.
Dec 05, 1991	TULSA, OK	N6947X	Incident	substantial	CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A WIRE. A FACTOR WAS THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN STOLEN BY TWO UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS.
Aug 11, 1991	KING CITY, CA	N7910X	Incident	substantial	THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING, AND SUBSEQUE… THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING, AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER ON LANDING ROLL OUT.

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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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Cessna 172B Safety Record

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