Cessna 172K Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 226 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2026 | Amery, WI | N79118 | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 20, 2025 | Salisbury, CT | N78938 | Minor | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Columbia, CA | N79910 | Serious (2) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Dec 19, 2024 | Southport, NC | N7085G | Incident | substantial |
The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subseque…The pilot’s loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision, which resulted in the subsequent overstress of the airplane during recovery. |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Spartanburg, SC | N7037G | Minor | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 19, 2024 | Fredericksburg, VA | N7058G | Minor | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. |
| Jun 23, 2023 | Marana, AZ | N84385 | Incident | substantial | A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. |
| Feb 24, 2023 | Ephraim, UT | N84717 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s improper landing flare and loss of directional control. |
| Feb 19, 2023 | Moline, IL | N84688 | Incident | substantial | The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions. |
| Jan 01, 2023 | Conway, AR | N7003G | Incident | substantial | The solo student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing. |
| Aug 09, 2022 | Kahului, HI | N84352 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s inadequate compensation for gusting winds while maneuvering on the ground. |
| Jul 27, 2022 | Barnstable, MA | N7437G | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun in gusting wind conditions. |
| Mar 22, 2022 | Plains, TX | N7199G | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during taxi with a strong crosswind. |
| Oct 06, 2021 | Williston, FL | N78604 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain on approach which resulted in controlled flight into trees. Contributing to the accident was th…The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain on approach which resulted in controlled flight into trees. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the approach path, the dark night conditions and the landing light being off. |
| Oct 04, 2016 | Wilmot, WI | N46377 | Incident | substantial |
A failure of the No. 1 piston pin plug due to corrosion in the cylinder barrel, which resulted in oil contamination, oil starvation to the crankshaft …A failure of the No. 1 piston pin plug due to corrosion in the cylinder barrel, which resulted in oil contamination, oil starvation to the crankshaft connecting rod bearings, and a subsequent partial loss of engine power. |
| Aug 02, 2016 | Neenah, WI | N46459 | Incident | substantial |
A loss of engine power due to oil starvation, which resulted from the pilot, who was not a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, removing the va…A loss of engine power due to oil starvation, which resulted from the pilot, who was not a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, removing the vacuum pump from the engine, and his misconception that he could operate the airplane without the pump. |
| Aug 17, 2015 | Chiefland, FL | N84308 | Incident | substantial |
The partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident airframe and engine examination …The partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident airframe and engine examination and engine test run revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures. |
| Jan 17, 2015 | Holland, MI | N7061G | Incident | substantial | The pilot's loss of control while landing in gusty wind conditions. |
| Nov 13, 2014 | Lake Pontchartrain, LA | N46707 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | The airplane's collision with water for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not located. |
| Oct 19, 2014 | Xenia, OH | N79534 | Serious (1) | substantial |
The failure of the seat track mechanism, which led the pilot to inadvertently apply aft yoke and lift his feet off the rudder pedals and resulted in a…The failure of the seat track mechanism, which led the pilot to inadvertently apply aft yoke and lift his feet off the rudder pedals and resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff. |
| Jul 21, 2014 | Littlefield, AZ | N84754 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control when the airplane encountered high gusting wind while conducting low altitude flight in a narrow cany…The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control when the airplane encountered high gusting wind while conducting low altitude flight in a narrow canyon, which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain. |
| Mar 18, 2014 | Elizabethton, TN | N46603 | Minor | substantial |
The pilot’s delayed decision to maneuver around rising terrain, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was…The pilot’s delayed decision to maneuver around rising terrain, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to calculate the performance requirements needed to climb over mountainous terrain before the flight. |
| Feb 04, 2014 | Eastsound, WA | N78330 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing in gusty wind conditions. |
| Jan 26, 2014 | Milan, IL | N4VN | Incident | substantial |
The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a t…The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during a short final approach. |
| Dec 30, 2013 | Concordia, KS | N1176M | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during approach which resulted in the airplane landing long, and his decision to turn off of the ru…The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during approach which resulted in the airplane landing long, and his decision to turn off of the runway during the landing roll which resulted in a collision with an earth berm. |