How many accidents has the Cessna 172K had?

The NTSB has recorded 226 events involving the Cessna 172K: 34 fatal, 22 serious, 37 minor injuries, and 133 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172K a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172K has 226 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172K Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 226 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

226

All Events

133

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (62 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
May 08, 1996	LEADVILLE, CO	N79212	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were: the gusting cross wind and th… the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were: the gusting cross wind and the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model of aircraft.
Apr 10, 1996	LEBANON, TN	N7479G	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Apr 03, 1996	DANVILLE, AR	N84262	Incident	substantial	the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. Factors were the crosswind and the soft terrain.
Mar 09, 1996	ASHEVILLE, NC	N79058	Incident	substantial	failure of the brake on the right main landing gear as a result of water (ice) in the brake fluid, which resulted in a loss of braking control.
Feb 11, 1996	HEDLEY, TX	N7358G	Incident	substantial	the failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque the connecting rod bolts. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Jan 06, 1996	PARK CITY, MT	N172NS	Incident	substantial	Inadequate visual lookout by the pilot, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from the transmission line.
Dec 17, 1995	OWYHEE, OR	N143JP	Incident	substantial	the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. The soft terrain and high vegetation were related factors.
Dec 01, 1995	LOVINGSTON, VA	N84460	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper planning/decision during the approach/landing phase of flight. Related factors were: the pilot's selection of the wrong runway, … the pilot's improper planning/decision during the approach/landing phase of flight. Related factors were: the pilot's selection of the wrong runway, and the gusty tailwind conditions.
Apr 20, 1994	HOWES, SD	N46474	Incident	substantial	THE DIVERTED ATTENTION OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE.
Apr 17, 1994	SPARTANBURG, SC	N711GT	Incident	substantial	The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of Cessna 172K, N711GT.
Mar 10, 1994	DAYTON, OH	N79136	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a runway overrun. Factors are the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced land… the pilot's failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a runway overrun. Factors are the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his lack of experience.
Oct 16, 1993	JACKSONVILLE, TX	N7825T	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IRREGULARITY OF AN … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IRREGULARITY OF AN UNDETERMINED NATURE.
May 17, 1993	ROHN ROADHOUSE, AK	N736BY	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW STALLING SPEED IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATI… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND ALLOWING THE AIRSPEED TO GO BELOW STALLING SPEED IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION.
Apr 14, 1993	PONY, MT	N79505	Incident	destroyed	THE IMPROPER PREFLT PLANNING BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN TAKEOFF AIRSPEED DURING GROUND ROLL ON A SOFT SNOW COVERED AIRSTRIP. A FACTOR RELAT… THE IMPROPER PREFLT PLANNING BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN TAKEOFF AIRSPEED DURING GROUND ROLL ON A SOFT SNOW COVERED AIRSTRIP. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT SNOW ON THE AIRSTRIP.
Mar 08, 1993	OGDEN, UT	N1628C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE SOFT TERRAIN, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND CROSSW… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE SOFT TERRAIN, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND CROSSWINDS.
Feb 25, 1993	JACKSON, MI	N46460	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Feb 09, 1993	PLYMOUTH, FL	N79563	Incident	substantial	UNDETECTED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BRAKE LINE WHICH DEVELOPED A LEAK AND RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRE… UNDETECTED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BRAKE LINE WHICH DEVELOPED A LEAK AND RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, OR STOP THE AIRCRAFT, PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH AIRCRAFT PARKED TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
Jul 19, 1992	PIQUA, OH	N78483	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Dec 26, 1991	KAMUELA, HI	N79948	Incident	substantial	THE PILOTS ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND GUST BEYOND THE GROUND HANDLING CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN PREFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION.
Aug 26, 1991	FISHER, AR	N7043G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE DATA TO COMPUTE THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Jul 14, 1991	OLD BRIDGE, NJ	N79957	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN PROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY THE PILOTS.
Jun 12, 1991	JACKSONVILLE, FL	N79542	Incident	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF SUITABLE TE… TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Mar 16, 1991	BRIDGMAN, MI	N78195	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT A DESCENT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S MANEUVERING AT AN IMPROPER ALTITUDE.
Mar 04, 1991	EVERGLADES CITY, FL	N84461	Incident	substantial	INFORMATION GIVEN DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS DISREGARDED, IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUST, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. CONT… INFORMATION GIVEN DURING A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS DISREGARDED, IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUST, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE PLACEMENT OF A WINDSOCK WHICH WAS BLOCKED BY TREES RESULTING IN AN INCORRECT INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION AND VELOCITY OF THE WIND.
Mar 22, 1990	COLUMBUS, OH	N7275G	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION.

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 172K Safety Record

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