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
Nov 20, 1990	HOMESTEAD, FL	N80509	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE ADEQUATE FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE FLIGHT RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Oct 30, 1990	TORRANCE, CA	N9592V	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE, MADE AN IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT … THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE, MADE AN IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER.
Oct 22, 1990	GOLETA, CA	N13670	Fatal (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDEPATH WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS SUNGLARE.
Sep 30, 1990	ANCHORAGE, AK	N6523H	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE S… THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Sep 22, 1990	OROVADA, NV	N13686	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND. HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION, (LANDINGS), AND THE INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP WERE FACT… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND. HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION, (LANDINGS), AND THE INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Sep 15, 1990	ABERDEEN, SD	N73059	Fatal (2)	destroyed	FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
Sep 11, 1990	PARKER, CO	N1241U	Incident	substantial	THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRCRAFT POWER PLANT CONTROLS, RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Sep 09, 1990	LEWISTON, ID	N9895V	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF A NOSE LANDING GEAR FORK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND A NOSE-OVER AFTER AN EXCURSION FROM THE RUNWAY… THE FAILURE OF A NOSE LANDING GEAR FORK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND A NOSE-OVER AFTER AN EXCURSION FROM THE RUNWAY.
Sep 08, 1990	MCKINLEY PARK, AK	N5271H	Fatal (2)	destroyed	FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Sep 07, 1990	PLYMOUTH, FL	N6600H	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ARREST THE HIGH RATE OF DESCENT PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.
Aug 20, 1990	BROKEN ARROW, OK	N73571	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF.
Aug 16, 1990	GOLETA, CA	N80981	Minor	destroyed	THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Aug 14, 1990	KEWAUNEE, WI	N9529H	Fatal (2)	destroyed	UNDETERMINED.
Aug 07, 1990	ELMENDORF, TX	N1466V	Minor	destroyed	INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS IN THE T-38 AND BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) IN THE CESSNA 172.
Jun 30, 1990	EL CAJON, CA	N9313H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE LANDING AFTER TOUCHDOWN PAST THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE.
Jun 10, 1990	WINFIELD, IA	N73566	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO GO-AROUND WAS DELAYED AND CLEARANCE OF THE POWER LINES WAS NOT ATTAINED.
May 14, 1990	GRANVILLE, NY	N80104	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A DITCH.
May 06, 1990	SAN JOSE, CA	N1495V	Serious (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED I… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Apr 29, 1990	JONESBORO, GA	N20302	Fatal (1)	substantial	PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS DELAYED CLIMB AFTER EXECUTION OF A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE HIS MIS… PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS DELAYED CLIMB AFTER EXECUTION OF A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE HIS MISREADING OF AIRFIELD WIND INFORMATION, HIS IMPROPER UTILIZATION OF THE FLAPS DURING CLIMBOUT, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RECOMMENDED AIRSPEED, AND THE SUBSEQUENT STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE.
Apr 13, 1990	INCLINE VILLAGE, NV	N9021H	Serious (3)	destroyed	IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. FA… IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE TREES (OBSTRUCTIONS).
Mar 30, 1990	GROVELAND, CA	N13685	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT.
Mar 25, 1990	COLORADO SPRING, CO	N19948	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADV… THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND HIS IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE.
Mar 21, 1990	THREE FORKS, MT	N80830	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE.
Mar 15, 1990	REDDING, CA	N13317	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION NOT TO USE FULL FLAPS WHICH RESULTED IN A LONG LANDING ON A WET RUNWAY.
Feb 04, 1990	TOMBALL, TX	N128S	Fatal (1)	minor	FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL L… FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT IN THE CESSNA 172, N128S, DUE TO USE OF DRUGS (CANNABINOIDS), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A SAFETY ADVISORY.

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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