Cessna 172K Safety Record

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

226

All Events

133

Incidents

37

Minor

22

Serious

34

Fatal (62 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
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.
Oct 03, 1991 EVERGLADES CITY, FL N758JN Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER MANAGEMENT OF FUEL. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCING FUEL EXHAUSTION, FORCED LANDING, AND IN FLIGHT COLLISIO…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER MANAGEMENT OF FUEL. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCING FUEL EXHAUSTION, FORCED LANDING, AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

Sep 08, 1991 BULLHEAD CITY, AZ N7031G Serious (2) destroyed
1) A SHORT CIRCUIT, 2) ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WHICH IGNITED THE CABIN INTERIOR, 3) INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION, AND 4) INSUFFICIENT ELECTRIC…

1) A SHORT CIRCUIT, 2) ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WHICH IGNITED THE CABIN INTERIOR, 3) INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION, AND 4) INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS.

Aug 28, 1991 CORBETT, OR N6LG Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES ON RISING TERR…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES ON RISING TERRAIN. THE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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 29, 1991 GROVELAND, FL N46305 Serious (1) substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
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.

May 07, 1991 BUNNELL, FL N7270G Minor substantial LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO A FOREIGN OBJECT WHICH RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF THE ELEVATOR FLIGHT CONTROL.
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.

Jun 03, 1990 TACOMA, WA N79931 Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH FOR LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
May 10, 1990 MAYAGUEZ, PR N7268G Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILUE TO CONDUCT PROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS, RESULTING IN A TAKEOFF AT 175 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, WITH FULL FLAPS…

THE PILOT'S FAILUE TO CONDUCT PROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS, RESULTING IN A TAKEOFF AT 175 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, AND ON THE IMPROPER RUNWAY FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE BEING UNABLE TO CLIMB AFTER LIFTOFF AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL LINES 1,625 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

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.
Nov 11, 1989 FABENS, TX N7337G Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE DURING LANDING AND INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM THE ENSUING BOUNCED LANDING. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Sep 26, 1989 EAST SOUND, WA N84152 Incident substantial THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Sep 05, 1989 MIDLOTHIAN, TX N736YG Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Jul 27, 1989 WILMINGTON, NC N7444G Incident substantial
THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION/PLANNING BY THE PILOT REGARDING THE UNIQUE LIGHT FEATURES ON RUNWAY 18 (LIGHTS MOUNTED ALONG THE EAST SIDE ONLY).…

THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION/PLANNING BY THE PILOT REGARDING THE UNIQUE LIGHT FEATURES ON RUNWAY 18 (LIGHTS MOUNTED ALONG THE EAST SIDE ONLY). IN ADDITION THE PILOT FAILED TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED BETWEEN THE LIGHTS.

Jul 09, 1989 BLANCO, TX N758AN Minor substantial
INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS BY NOT IDENTIFYING THE WIND DIRECTION ALONG WITH THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDEN…

INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS BY NOT IDENTIFYING THE WIND DIRECTION ALONG WITH THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TAILWIND, WIRES AND TREES.

Sep 08, 1988 FRESNO, CA N79226 Incident substantial Investigation pending
Aug 15, 1988 ISLAND FALLS, ME N1183M Fatal (1) destroyed
PILOT'S POOR IN-INFLIGHT DECISIONS AND PLANNING AND FAILED TO FOLLOW ATC DIRECTIVES TO MAINTAIN VFR. THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND C…

PILOT'S POOR IN-INFLIGHT DECISIONS AND PLANNING AND FAILED TO FOLLOW ATC DIRECTIVES TO MAINTAIN VFR. THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN.

Aug 05, 1988 MOSES LAKE, WA N84445 Incident substantial Investigation pending
Jul 15, 1988 PALMDALE, CA N46373 Incident substantial Investigation pending
Jun 17, 1988 MORA, MN N7499G Incident substantial Investigation pending
May 29, 1988 BISMARK, MO N8122V Serious (1) 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