Cessna 172M Safety Record

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

810

All Events

472

Incidents

136

Minor

72

Serious

128

Fatal (233 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Apr 29, 2013 Lakeport, CA N20800 Incident substantial
Loss of engine power during climb due to a failure of the No. 2 piston assembly; the reason for the failure could not be determined because of the ext…

Loss of engine power during climb due to a failure of the No. 2 piston assembly; the reason for the failure could not be determined because of the extent of damage to the piston assembly.

Apr 07, 2013 New Castle, VA N92804 Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing that the airplane was not accelerating properly, which led to an aerodynamic stall. The rea…

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing that the airplane was not accelerating properly, which led to an aerodynamic stall. The reason for the lack of acceleration could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Mar 15, 2013 Hendersonville, NC N61756 Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted go-around in gusty tailwind conditions.
Feb 12, 2013 Jenison, MI N12989 Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing on an ice- and snow-covered runway in crosswind conditions.
Dec 21, 2012 Eveleth, MN N9660H Incident substantial The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard nosewheel landing.
Dec 07, 2012 Arcola, TX N172BJ Incident substantial
The loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal a…

The loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Aug 31, 2012 Canadensis, PA N391R Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath.
Aug 30, 2012 Bardstown, KY N21214 Incident substantial
The flight instructor's decision to turn the fuel selector to the off position and his delayed remedial actions to restart the engine, which resulted …

The flight instructor's decision to turn the fuel selector to the off position and his delayed remedial actions to restart the engine, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing.

Jul 21, 2012 Hammond, NY N6778H Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Jun 27, 2012 Smyrna, TN N80985 Incident substantial The pilot’s inadequate flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Jun 15, 2012 Churchville, MD N73134 Incident substantial The tractor operator's failure to confirm the landing airplane's position before entering an active runway, which resulted in a ground collision.
May 01, 2012 Three Rivers, MI N30380 Incident substantial Collision with a deer during the takeoff roll.
Apr 05, 2012 Pottstown, PA N6871H Incident substantial The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control.
Feb 19, 2012 Mayaquez, PR N5286H Incident substantial The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while landing in crosswind conditions.
Feb 09, 2012 Cusick, WA N5100R Incident substantial
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomali…

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Jan 22, 2012 Richland, WA N64270 Incident substantial The student pilot's improper landing flare and inadequate directional control during landing.
Sep 14, 2011 Wendover, UT N9197H Incident substantial The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over.
Aug 29, 2011 Plymouth, MI N172LD Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to perform a go-around when the airplane was not in a position to make a safe landing and his excessive use of bank control during…

The pilot's failure to perform a go-around when the airplane was not in a position to make a safe landing and his excessive use of bank control during the landing attempt, which resulted in the wing striking the ground.

Aug 13, 2011 Elkins, WV N5399Q Incident substantial The flight instructor's unfamiliarity with the geographic area, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Jun 19, 2011 North Adams, MA N12477 Incident substantial The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from a light pole while taxiing.
Apr 30, 2011 Suchez, GA N12839 Incident substantial The failure of the pilot to initiate a go-around and his excessive airspeed on the final landing approach.
Sep 28, 2010 Belle Plaine, MN N9659Q Incident substantial The pilot's loss of directional control due to an encounter with soft terrain while landing.
Jul 01, 2010 Twin Falls, ID N64427 Incident substantial The student pilot's improper landing flare.
Apr 19, 2010 Burbank, CA N4415R Incident The improper separation procedures by air traffic control.
Apr 17, 2010 Coldwater, KS N81772 Incident substantial The pilot's failure to compensate for gusting crosswinds resultuing in the loss of directional control while landing.
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.
← Cessna 172M For Sale All Cessna Models
Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data