Cessna 172M Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2016 | Lenoir, NC | N12184 | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot’s failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the acciden…The student pilot’s failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate review of the weather conditions with the student and his inadequate supervision of the student’s solo cross-country flight. |
| Nov 09, 2015 | Miami, FL | N97277 | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. |
| Oct 02, 2015 | McMinnville, OR | N20488 | Incident | substantial |
The flight instructor's failure to correct the student pilot's approach path during the final approach, which resulted in a collision with runway thre…The flight instructor's failure to correct the student pilot's approach path during the final approach, which resulted in a collision with runway threshold lights. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to attain and maintain the recommended approach path. |
| Sep 20, 2015 | Shiocton, WI | N20079 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's decision to continue to land at an unlighted airstrip, at night, after the landing light failed on approach, which resulted in a bounced l…The pilot's decision to continue to land at an unlighted airstrip, at night, after the landing light failed on approach, which resulted in a bounced landing, runway excursion, and collision with terrain. |
| Aug 16, 2015 | San Diego, CA | N1285U | Fatal (5) | substantial |
The local controller's (LC) failure to properly identify the aircraft in the pattern and to ensure control instructions provided to the intended Cessn…The local controller's (LC) failure to properly identify the aircraft in the pattern and to ensure control instructions provided to the intended Cessna on downwind were being performed before turning Eagle1 into its path for landing. Contributing to the LC's actions was his incomplete situational awareness when he took over communications from the LC trainee due to the high workload at the time of the accident. Contributing to the accident were the inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, resulting in the inability of the pilots involved to take evasive action in time to avert the collision. |
| May 23, 2015 | Sussex, NJ | N9959V | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to remove the gust lock during the preflight inspection, resulting in a loss of control and collision with trees during takeoff. |
| Apr 24, 2015 | Clearwater, FL | N1576V | Incident | substantial | The pilot's excessive airspeed during landing, which resulted in abnormal runway contact, a runway excursion, and substantial damage to the airplane. |
| Apr 14, 2015 | Hilo, HI | N12842 | Serious (3) | substantial |
Water contamination in the fuel system due to the flight instructor’s and pilot receiving instruction’s failure to drain all the water from the system…Water contamination in the fuel system due to the flight instructor’s and pilot receiving instruction’s failure to drain all the water from the system during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power. |
| Jan 05, 2015 | Marquette, MI | N6591H | Incident | substantial | The pilot did not maintain directional control during takeoff on the snow and ice covered runway in gusting crosswind conditions. |
| Dec 22, 2014 | South Bimini, BF | N12182 | Minor | substantial |
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have…The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, which resulted in a subsequent ditching in the ocean. |
| Dec 22, 2014 | Odessa, TX | N9922V | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at an excessive bank angle at a low altitude, which resulted in an accelerated sta…The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at an excessive bank angle at a low altitude, which resulted in an accelerated stall and spin with insufficient altitude for a recovery. |
| Nov 24, 2014 | Obyan, USA | N12915 | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's loss of airplane control during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions. |
| Nov 03, 2014 | Everglades City, FL | N696PT | Incident | substantial |
The student pilot's failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during the flare, and the flight instructor's failure to intervene in a timely m…The student pilot's failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during the flare, and the flight instructor's failure to intervene in a timely manner, resulting in a loss of airplane control and hard landing off of the runway. |
| Oct 24, 2014 | Apopka, FL | N1533V | Incident | substantial |
The student pilots improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the flight i…The student pilots improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial actions. |
| Sep 19, 2014 | Leesburg, FL | N13394 | Incident | substantial |
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and his subsequent loss of directional control during landing on a wet runway for reasons that could n…The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and his subsequent loss of directional control during landing on a wet runway for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. |
| Sep 11, 2014 | Oxford, WI | N3510Q | Incident | substantial | The pilot did not compensate for the decrease in the crosswind when he descended below the tree line during the landing. |
| Sep 09, 2014 | Watertown, CT | N20469 | Minor | substantial |
The pilot's decision to takeoff from a field which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fai…The pilot's decision to takeoff from a field which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to correctly identify the destination airport and runway, which resulted in an off-airport landing in the field. |
| Jul 22, 2014 | Chatham, MA | N1066R | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees. |
| Jun 28, 2014 | Holland, MI | N19992 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing resulting in a loss of directional control. |
| Jun 24, 2014 | Miami, FL | N621AA | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to ensure the security of the seat prior to flight, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing. |
| Jun 06, 2014 | Laytonville, CA | N1186U | Fatal (1) | substantial | The pilot’s impairment due to alcohol ingestion, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from trees during a low-altitude flyby. |
| Apr 01, 2014 | Anacortes, WA | N19982 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's improper application of brakes during the landing roll resulted in a runway excursion and nose over. |
| Mar 23, 2014 | Knoxville, TN | N8893V | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with an obstacle. |
| Mar 14, 2014 | Brooksville, FL | N80457 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to compensate for the reported crosswind conditions resulting in the wings contacting the ground. |
| Mar 07, 2014 | Pittstown, NJ | N1319U | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. |