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
Oct 01, 1995	SAVANNAH, GA	N9553H	Minor	substantial	The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, and his failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle (road sign) during the… The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, and his failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle (road sign) during the landing.
Aug 20, 1995	HOPEDALE, MA	N8885V	Minor	destroyed	the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a fence and a … the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a fence and a building.
Apr 17, 1995	YOLO, CA	N80187	Minor	substantial	the pilot's improper preflight preparation which led to fuel exhaustion.
Feb 16, 1995	CORONA, CA	N9512H	Minor	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment after aborting a takeoff and improper use of the brakes during the abort.
Sep 18, 1994	NEW LONDON, PA	N13510	Minor	substantial	The pilot failed to maintain adequate airpseed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and inflight collision with terrain.
Sep 07, 1994	COOLIN, ID	N61838	Minor	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER TO PROPERLY REMANUFACTURE AND ADEQUATELY INSPECT THE NO. 1 ROCKER ARM PRIOR TO ITS INSTALLATION ON THE ENGINE. … THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER TO PROPERLY REMANUFACTURE AND ADEQUATELY INSPECT THE NO. 1 ROCKER ARM PRIOR TO ITS INSTALLATION ON THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE ROCKER ARM AND A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Sep 04, 1994	RESCUE, CA	N9699Q	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAYED GO-AROUND. HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND WAS A FACTOR.
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.
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.
Aug 02, 1993	YELLOW PINE, ID	N9554H	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PROXIMITY OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
May 29, 1993	TURLOCK, CA	N12857	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Nov 17, 1992	VANCOUVER, WA	N4324R	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO SEE BIRDS DUE TO DARKNESS.
Sep 19, 1992	PICAYUNE, MS	N9578H	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE CONDUCTING SLOW FLIGHT AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTRO… THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE CONDUCTING SLOW FLIGHT AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL) AND SUBSEQUENT IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES.
Sep 09, 1992	BOONE, NC	N19797	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF, AND HIS ABRUPT PULL UP WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE AIRSPEED … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF, AND HIS ABRUPT PULL UP WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Apr 12, 1992	STUTTGART, AR	N6934H	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE DOWNDRAFT.
Jul 08, 1991	MINDEN, NV	N9598H	Minor	substantial	THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT PILOT DURING A SIMULATED EMERGENCY.
Jun 25, 1991	BECKLEY, WV	N20430	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED.
Dec 04, 1990	BIG BEAR CITY, CA	N12943	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF AND HIS INCORRECT USE OF FULL FLAPS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CON… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF AND HIS INCORRECT USE OF FULL FLAPS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S ABRUPT AIRPLANE HANDLING TECHNIQUES.
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.
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 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.
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.
Aug 05, 1989	RUIDOSO, NM	N9183H	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL AND CARBURETOR HEAT DURING A TAKEOFF IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL AND CARBURETOR HEAT DURING A TAKEOFF IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Jun 22, 1989	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	N13652	Minor	substantial	FUEL CONTAMINATION FROM A DETERIORATING PART IN THE CARBURETOR. THE TREES AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE PROBABLE CONTRIBUTI… FUEL CONTAMINATION FROM A DETERIORATING PART IN THE CARBURETOR. THE TREES AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE PROBABLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

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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