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
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.
Mar 23, 2011	Statesville, NC	N32SF	Minor	substantial	The certified flight instructor's inadequate remedial action during the go-around, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Nov 24, 2010	Velma, OK	N4428Q	Fatal (1)	destroyed	The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. … The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's relative inexperience in pipeline patrols.
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.
Sep 25, 2010	Point Lookout, MO	N1131U	Minor	substantial	The pilot receiving instruction's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and execute a go-around and the CFI’s delayed remedial action, which re… The pilot receiving instruction's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and execute a go-around and the CFI’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Aug 01, 2010	Newton, KS	N13013	Minor	substantial	The pilot’s inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard 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.
Mar 21, 2010	Connelsville, PA	N8921V	Incident	substantial	A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel.
Mar 15, 2010	Waupaca, WI	N1472U	Incident	substantial	The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off in gusting winds.
Jan 19, 2010	Bethel, AK	N20109	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Jan 18, 2010	Joshua Tree, CA	N13073	Serious (2)	substantial	The certified flight instructor's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in his inadvertent encounter with inst… The certified flight instructor's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in his inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent failure to maintain clearance with terrain.
Dec 24, 2009	Albion, ID	N1883V	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while maneuvering in gusting winds.
Dec 06, 2009	Diamond Point, WA	N20186	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for the variable and unfavorable wind conditions.
Jul 18, 2009	New Braunfels, TX	N5556S	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Jul 16, 2009	Thermopolis, WY	N5461Q	Serious (1)	substantial	The instructor pilot's failure to ensure that his dual student maintained clearance from the terrain during a dark night visual flight rules descent.
Jul 04, 2009	Princeton, NJ	N64178	Incident	substantial	The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Jun 28, 2009	Rimrock, WA	N4396R	Fatal (2)	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience, and h… The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience, and his delayed initiation of a go-around.
Jun 22, 2009	McCall, ID	N12463	Minor	substantial	A total loss of engine power during descent due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to determine the fuel quantity prior to departur… A total loss of engine power during descent due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to determine the fuel quantity prior to departure.
May 30, 2009	Sarasota, FL	N12151	Incident	substantial	A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Apr 21, 2009	Corona, CA	N9504H	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare.
Feb 07, 2009	Le Roy, NY	N3554Q	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gustin… The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land in gusting crosswinds in excess of the manufacturer's recommended crosswind limit.
Jan 22, 2009	Little Rock, AR	N20275	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power due to the missing nut on the bolt connecting the throttle cable and carburetor's lever arm.
Nov 08, 2008	Girdwood, AK	N9099H	Incident	substantial	The pilot's decision to attempt to take off on a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the snow-covered runway.

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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