How many accidents has the Cessna 172M had?

The NTSB has recorded 810 events involving the Cessna 172M: 128 fatal, 72 serious, 136 minor injuries, and 472 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172M a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172M has 810 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172M Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.

810

All Events

472

Incidents

136

Minor

Serious

128

Fatal (233 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Sep 04, 1994	RESCUE, CA	N9699Q	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND. HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND WAS A FACTOR.
Sep 03, 1994	JACKPOT, NV	N21704	Fatal (1)	destroyed	the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation during a moonless night departure over an area without ground reference… the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation during a moonless night departure over an area without ground reference lights. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of instrument training and experience.
Aug 23, 1994	VESTAL, NY	N61774	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING AN ABORTED LANDING DUE TO THE THROTTLE CABLE SEPARATING FROM THE CARBURETOR.
Aug 08, 1994	CARSON CITY, NV	N4390R	Incident	substantial	the pilot's decision to attempt a landing in crosswind conditions which exceeded the capability of the aircraft.
Jul 22, 1994	SEATTLE, WA	N73175	Minor	substantial	THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS MISJUDGED BY THE PILOT. DURING THE GO-AROUND ATTEMPT, HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES.
Jul 17, 1994	SACRAMENTO, CA	N1259U	Fatal (4)	destroyed	the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering after takeoff and his failure to retract the flaps prior to departure. A fac… the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering after takeoff and his failure to retract the flaps prior to departure. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience.
Jul 12, 1994	RUNNING SPRINGS, CA	N64193	Fatal (1)	destroyed	the flying pilot's operation of the aircraft at an altitude that did not provide sufficient terrain clearance necessary to recover from an inadvertent… the flying pilot's operation of the aircraft at an altitude that did not provide sufficient terrain clearance necessary to recover from an inadvertent, pilot-induced stall.
Jul 09, 1994	TAMPA, FL	N5233R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER APPROACH DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS A FACTOR.
May 29, 1994	LOOKOUT PASS, ID	N30608	Serious (1)	destroyed	POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS INCLUDE CLOUDY WEATHER.
May 24, 1994	GROTON, CT	N6891H	Incident	substantial	the pilot's inadequate visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in the airplane's wing tip striking ground support equipment.
Apr 14, 1994	BARNWELL, SC	N61990	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FLARE PROPERLY WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.
Mar 23, 1994	SANTA MARIA, CA	N13620	Minor	destroyed	AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND SERVICE OF AN INCORRECT MODEL MAGNETO BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN… AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND SERVICE OF AN INCORRECT MODEL MAGNETO BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED AIRPLANE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
Mar 18, 1994	FLIPPIN, AR	N6654H	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S PREMATURE FLARE AND THE RESULTANT INADVERTENT STALL.
Feb 22, 1994	SLATINGTON, PA	N5272R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Feb 18, 1994	RAVENNA, OH	N9101H	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF LEADING TO A COLLISION WITH A SNOW BANK WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF LEADING TO A COLLISION WITH A SNOW BANK WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER.
Dec 20, 1993	LANCASTER, TX	N13051	Fatal (1)	substantial	was THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT (ALCOHOL).
Nov 22, 1993	JULIAN, CA	N5312R	Fatal (2)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE DARK NIGHT AND LACK OF AMBIENT LIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE PI… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE DARK NIGHT AND LACK OF AMBIENT LIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY FLYING FROM VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS; 2) THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND 3) SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
Nov 15, 1993	ORLANDO, FL	N1753V	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT AND CLEARANCE BETWEEN AIRCRAFT.
Oct 16, 1993	CULEBRA, PR	N16582	Incident	substantial	The poor in-flight decision of the pilot-in-command to bank the airplane while flying low level instead of climbing to avoid collision with a bird. Co… The poor in-flight decision of the pilot-in-command to bank the airplane while flying low level instead of climbing to avoid collision with a bird. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water.
Oct 08, 1993	LONGBRANCH, WA	N9932Q	Incident	substantial	THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES. FACTORS INCLUDE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN IN THE LANDING AREA.
Oct 04, 1993	WELLSVILLE, NY	N20286	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and inflight collision with the terrain.
Sep 22, 1993	HOLLYWOOD, FL	N20457	Incident	substantial	INADVERTENT EXCEEDING OF VFE WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED BY THE STUDENT PILOT WHILE PRACTICING MANEUVERS.
Aug 22, 1993	ADRIAN, MI	N13923	Incident	substantial	an excessive taxi speed used by the pilot-in-command. A factor related to the accident was loose gravel on the ramp and inadequate airport maintenan… an excessive taxi speed used by the pilot-in-command. A factor related to the accident was loose gravel on the ramp and inadequate airport maintenance by the airport personnel.
Aug 22, 1993	LINCOLN, NE	N80476	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point.
Aug 03, 1993	CLINES CORNERS, NM	N23459	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, DARK NIGHT CONDI… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, DARK NIGHT CONDITION, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDED OBSCURATION, FOG, AND DRIZZLE.

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 172M Safety Record

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