Cessna 172M Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 810 events recorded from 1974 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 06, 1991 | OTTUMWA, IA | N61568 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT BY NOT MAINTAINING THE PROPER MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE ILS LOCALIZER AND GLIDEPATH. |
| May 23, 1991 | MISSING, AO | N73186 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | THE LOSE OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING AND DITCHING IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. |
| May 17, 1991 | WRAY, CO | N80077 | Fatal (1) | substantial | THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY BUZZING AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. |
| Apr 04, 1991 | FLIPPIN, AR | N4416R | Fatal (2) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. |
| Mar 06, 1991 | BELLINGHAM, WA | CGJNM | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEAREANCE FROM THE MOUNTA…VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEAREANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS. |
| Nov 23, 1990 | PERHAM, ME | N9086H | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
THE PILOT INITIATING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE CONT…THE PILOT INITIATING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE EXISTING ICING CONDITIONS. |
| 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 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 15, 1990 | ABERDEEN, SD | N73059 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. |
| 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. |
| Aug 14, 1990 | KEWAUNEE, WI | N9529H | Fatal (2) | destroyed | UNDETERMINED. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Dec 09, 1989 | LINDEN, MI | N1326U | Fatal (4) | destroyed |
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED FOR FLIGHT. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE ABOV…THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED FOR FLIGHT. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT. |
| Nov 08, 1989 | SNOQUALMIE, WA | N73422 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POOR WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT. |
| Aug 06, 1989 | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | N64263 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | THE PILOT DELIBERATELY FLEW HIS AIRCRAFT INTO THE FACE OF A MOUNTAIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION OF THE PILOT. |
| May 21, 1989 | BRADFORD, VT | N1272U | Fatal (2) | destroyed | FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISON. |
| Mar 17, 1989 | PASCAGOULA, MS | N80542 | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, WEATHER CONDI…CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, WEATHER CONDITIONS, PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME, LACK OF VISUAL CUES AT NIGHT, AND TREES AT THE CRASH SITE. |
| Jan 06, 1989 | OXNARD, CA | N61587 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLSION WITH TERRAIN. RELATED FACTORS WERE…CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLSION WITH TERRAIN. RELATED FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING SERVICE, HIS DECISION TO INITIATE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION AT DUSK, AND THE RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. |
| Jul 10, 1988 | HOLLAND, MI | N80943 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT HANDLING DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING AND LANDING FLARE PHASE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE AND AVOID A SI…PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT HANDLING DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING AND LANDING FLARE PHASE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE AND AVOID A SITUATION FROM WHICH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE-DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE AMOUNT OF POWER AVAILABLE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE PRESENCE OF OBSTACLES IN THE FLIGHT PATH- TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND RATE OF CLIMB, RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT'S STALL/MUSH AND DESCENT INTO A WOODED RESIDENTIAL AREA. |
| Mar 31, 1988 | HOPE, AR | N6534H | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Feb 07, 1988 | RED LODGE, MT | N20484 | Fatal (3) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Oct 23, 1987 | MIDWAY, TX | N4357R | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Dec 21, 1986 | KINGSTON, NY | N64342 | Fatal (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Nov 04, 1986 | BOZEMAN, MT | N3263B | Fatal (3) | destroyed | Investigation pending |