Cessna 172H Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 180 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

180

All Events

97

Incidents

30

Minor

28

Serious

25

Fatal (43 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Mar 16, 1995 ATKINSON, NE N8078L Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE WIND WAS A FACTOR.
Jan 31, 1995 MOUNTAIN VIEW, AR N2610L Serious (1) substantial
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A DOWNWIND RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF, HIS FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE T…

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A DOWNWIND RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF, HIS FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE TAILWIND.

Nov 13, 1994 LOUISVILLE, GA N8200L Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING A LOW PASS MANEUVER. A FACTOR WAS THE TREES AT THE VICINITY OF THE LOW PASS.
Oct 22, 1994 TRES PIEDRAS, NM N2721L Minor destroyed
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH LED TO MANEUVERING AT SLOW AIRSPEED TO AVOID TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN FURTHER LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND AN …

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH LED TO MANEUVERING AT SLOW AIRSPEED TO AVOID TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN FURTHER LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND AN AERODYNAMIC STALL.

Oct 09, 1994 MORO, AR N8181L Incident destroyed ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Jan 09, 1994 PERRY, GA N1432F Serious (1) substantial
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, IN THAT HE DID NOT REMOVE THE FLIGHT CONTROL GUST LOCK PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE USE…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, IN THAT HE DID NOT REMOVE THE FLIGHT CONTROL GUST LOCK PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE USE OF AN UNAPPROVED, UNMARKED RIVET AS A FLIGHT CONTROL LOCK.

Dec 31, 1993 CHEYENNE, WY N3734F Minor substantial THE PILOT'S POOR IN FLIGHT DECISION. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH WINDS, GUSTS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OPERATING IN HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.
Nov 06, 1993 HALF MOON BAY, CA N2718L Incident substantial
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT OF THE SECOND STEARMAN, AND HIS SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY ON WHICH TO LAND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDE…

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT OF THE SECOND STEARMAN, AND HIS SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY ON WHICH TO LAND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE STEARMAN PILOTS TO OBTAIN PERTINENT NOTAM INFORMATION.

Nov 01, 1993 MCKENZIE BRIDGE, OR N6629H Minor substantial A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Sep 12, 1993 LIBERTY, MS N3767R Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND AND FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS IN A TIMELY MANNER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MISJUDG…

THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND AND FAILURE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS IN A TIMELY MANNER. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF DISTANCE AND SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSHOOTING THE APPROACH, AND THE EXISTENCE OF POWER LINES CROSSING DIRECTLY OVER THE RUNWAY. THE COMBINATION OF THE GO-AROUND FLIGHT PROFILE WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED AND THE LOCATION OF THE WIRES MOST LIKELY LED TO AN EVASIVE MANEUVER AND INADVERTENT STALL INTO THE WIRES.

Dec 12, 1992 COLUMBUS, GA N8819Z Minor substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PLAN A REFUELING STOP FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE EXHAUSTION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY AND A LOSS OF ENGINE …

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PLAN A REFUELING STOP FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE EXHAUSTION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Sep 02, 1992 NEW BRAINTREE, MA N2458L Incident substantial WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Aug 25, 1992 NEW CUMBERLAND, WV N1109F Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ABORTED TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT R…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ABORTED TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP AND THE SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A FENCE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.

Aug 09, 1992 LAKEVIEW, OR N8100L Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE SOFT TERRAIN.
Aug 02, 1992 GRAYLING, MI N8183L Fatal (3) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Jul 26, 1992 CHENOA, IL N8262L Incident substantial
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION ON THE PART OF THE PILOT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE …

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION ON THE PART OF THE PILOT. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION THE PILOT WAS UNDERTAKING, A PROPER CLIMB RATE NOT OBTAINED BY THE PILOT AND REMEDIAL ACTION NOT PERFORMED BY THE PILOT.

Jun 27, 1992 HUNTSVILLE, AL N8198L Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE PREVAILING…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE PREVAILING TAILWIND AT THE AIRSTRIP.

Apr 01, 1992 BROWNTOWN, WI N3884R Fatal (1) destroyed
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW CONDITIONS, A…

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW CONDITIONS, AN INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR, OVER CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY, INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION, VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT.

Jan 08, 1992 ARCATA, CA N1608F Incident substantial CARBURETOR ICING AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
Nov 15, 1991 VIRGIN GORDA, VG N2824L Incident substantial Investigation pending
Sep 27, 1991 ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO N2983U Minor substantial TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Apr 16, 1991 COEUR D'ALENE, ID CFBET Serious (1) substantial
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB CAPABILITY WHEN FLYING TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOG…

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB CAPABILITY WHEN FLYING TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

Apr 09, 1991 MOREHEAD, KY N3781F Minor substantial THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF HIS AIRCRAFT IN EXCEEDINGLY HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.
Oct 23, 1990 BUENA VISTA, CO N2665L Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FLARE PROPERLY DURING LANDING. THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR.
Oct 04, 1990 EMPORIA, KS N3226L Minor substantial GUSTY CROSSWINDS, EXCESSIVE FLAP SETTING, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION.
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