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
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.
Jan 07, 1990	KILLEN, AL	N7401X	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.
Feb 25, 1989	UNIONVILLE, IA	N7662X	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTRO… THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL BY THE PILOT, AND THE IMPROPERLY RIGGED CARBURETOR AIR BOX WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED CARBURETOR HEATING CAPABILITY.
Mar 14, 1988	ELIZABETHTON, TN	N7609X	Incident	minor	Investigation pending
Jan 24, 1987	ROSWELL, NM	N8224X	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
May 19, 1986	ALAMOSA, CO	N6990X	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
May 18, 1986	TRACY, CA	N7176T	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 24, 1985	ADA, OK	N8301X	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 04, 1985	VALLEY CENTER, KS	N51611	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 22, 1985	IMBLER, OR	N6987X	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Apr 24, 1983	SPEARMAN, TX	N6992X	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
May 17, 1982	CROWS LANDING, CA	N7444X	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

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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