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
Sep 19, 2012	Quitman, MS	N172HA	Serious (1)	substantial	The pilot’s improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
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 25, 2012	San Juan, PR	N73115	Fatal (1)	substantial	Maintenance personnel’s improper lubrication of the right direct aileron control cable and failure to detect the severe corrosion of the cable during … Maintenance personnel’s improper lubrication of the right direct aileron control cable and failure to detect the severe corrosion of the cable during a maintenance inspection, which resulted in the in-flight failure of the cable, the pilot’s subsequent inability to maintain aircraft control, and the airplane’s impact with terrain.
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.
Jul 10, 2012	South Wayne, WI	N12504	Serious (1)	substantial	Internal engine component failures, which resulted from oil starvation due to debris in the oil system.
Jul 01, 2012	Griswold, IA	N73182	Serious (1)	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.
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 28, 2012	Rotterdam, The Netherlands, NL	PH-SKJ	Fatal (4)	destroyed	Investigation pending
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.
Nov 11, 2011	Sturgis, SD	N13584	Fatal (1)	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with extended flaps.
Sep 17, 2011	Greenville, ME	N9932V	Fatal (1)	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while manuevering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact… The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while manuevering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and subsequent impact with terrain.
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	Santa Monica, CA	N5155Q	Serious (1)	substantial	The student pilot’s misjudged approach and landing attempt. Contributing to the accident was a lack of airspeed due to a blocked pitot tube.
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 20, 2011	Titusville, PA	N13126	Fatal (2)	substantial	The flight instructor's improper decision to attempt a visual descent into instrument meteorological conditions while approaching the destination airp… The flight instructor's improper decision to attempt a visual descent into instrument meteorological conditions while approaching the destination airport, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain.
Aug 13, 2011	Elkins, WV	N5399Q	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor's unfamiliarity with the geographic area, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Jul 28, 2011	Pahokee, FL	N1443U	Minor	substantial	The flight instructor's misjudgment of the airplane's position and airspeed relative to the runway while returning to the airport after a partial loss… The flight instructor's misjudgment of the airplane's position and airspeed relative to the runway while returning to the airport after a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the separation of the engine's No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve head from the stem, and the operator’s exceedence of the engine manufacturer's recommended time between overhauls.
Jun 28, 2011	Poughkeepsie, NY	N61579	Fatal (2)	substantial	The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to impairment or incapacitation as a result of coronary artery disease in combination with atrial fibrillatio… The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to impairment or incapacitation as a result of coronary artery disease in combination with atrial fibrillation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to report his paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to the Federal Aviation Administration, which would have required follow-up testing that would likely have detected his undiagnosed coronary artery disease.
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.

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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