How many accidents has the Cessna 172E had?

The NTSB has recorded 100 events involving the Cessna 172E: 11 fatal, 9 serious, 29 minor injuries, and 51 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172E a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172E has 100 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172E Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 100 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

100

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (18 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Dec 27, 1992	RAMAH, CO	N3196F	Incident	substantial	A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE NUMBER ONE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR WAS: A FORCED LANDING ONTO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Sep 04, 1992	TUCKAHOE, NJ	N3847S	Fatal (1)	destroyed	VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTA… VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK (OR DARKNESS), AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.
May 01, 1992	CONCORD, NC	N5529T	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Mar 16, 1992	YUCAPIA, CA	N5417T	Serious (2)	substantial	THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER MOST LIKELY RELATED TO THE POOR QUALITY OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN F… THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER MOST LIKELY RELATED TO THE POOR QUALITY OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Sep 27, 1991	BURNS, OR	N5680T	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAY IN COMPUTING AIRCRAFT FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HIS FAILURE TO LAND AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATING T… THE PILOT'S DELAY IN COMPUTING AIRCRAFT FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HIS FAILURE TO LAND AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TREE BY THE LANDING AREA AND THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENT OF THE RIGHT MAGNETO.
Aug 22, 1991	HARBOR SPRINGS, MI	N3891S	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS DELAY IN INITIATING THE GO-AROUND.
May 31, 1991	GRUNDY CENTER, IA	N3663S	Incident	substantial	FAILURE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO INSTALL A SAFETY WIRE AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.
May 28, 1990	GLENDALE, AZ	N3888S	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION. RESULTING FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM REFUELING.
May 25, 1990	BRENTWOOD, CA	N5714T	Serious (2)	substantial	THE PILOT IMPROPERLY CALCULATED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Apr 08, 1990	SANTA PAULA, CA	N39155	Fatal (2)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION AND HIS DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION IN EXECUTING A 180 DEGREE TURN. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT … THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION AND HIS DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION IN EXECUTING A 180 DEGREE TURN. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Jan 04, 1990	HAMMOND, LA	N3531S	Minor	destroyed	PILOT IN COMMAND'S INITIATION AND CONTINUATION OF THE FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS SUBSEQUENT INABILITY TO LAND PRIOR T… PILOT IN COMMAND'S INITIATION AND CONTINUATION OF THE FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS SUBSEQUENT INABILITY TO LAND PRIOR TO RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXERCISE GOOD JUDGEMENT AND HIS DISREGARD FOR THE FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS.
Jul 30, 1989	YERINGTON, NV	N14454	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING A LANDING GO-AROUND IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS.
Jun 26, 1989	MARIPOSA, CA	N7744U	Incident	substantial	STUDENT PILOT'S MISCALCULATION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Jun 18, 1989	GRASS VALLEY, CA	N3618S	Incident	substantial	FAILURE TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE MAGNETO, ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TERRAIN CONDITI… FAILURE TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE MAGNETO, ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Oct 01, 1988	HARRISON, AR	N3943S	Minor	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 05, 1988	PETERSBURG, AK	N3841S	Fatal (4)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Aug 27, 1988	KATY, TX	N7746U	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS, WHICH NECESSITATED THE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO CONTIN… FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS, WHICH NECESSITATED THE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO REFUEL, AND BECOMING LOST DURING THAT EFFORT.
Aug 13, 1988	FLOWEREE, MS	N5555T	Fatal (1)	destroyed	Investigation pending
Apr 03, 1988	LEONA, TX	N8775U	Minor	substantial	Investigation pending
Nov 11, 1987	PLACERVILLE, CA	N5577T	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 06, 1987	LEBANON, OH	N3970S	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jul 12, 1987	QUITMAN, TX	N5594T	Serious (1)	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 29, 1987	DENMARK, GA	N7734U	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
May 31, 1987	HUNTINGBURG, IN	N5514T	Minor	substantial	Investigation pending
Apr 23, 1987	MOORHEAD, IA	N3777S	Incident	substantial	ACCORDING TO FAA STATEMENTS, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A TAXIWAY WHEN A WING DIPPED. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL AS THE WING DRAGGED, CA… ACCORDING TO FAA STATEMENTS, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A TAXIWAY WHEN A WING DIPPED. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL AS THE WING DRAGGED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP/SWERVE ONTO THE TERRAIN. THE NOSE GEAR TIRE BLEW DURING THE SWERVE AND THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AS WELL AS THE WING TIPS. THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.

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 172E Safety Record

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