How many accidents has the Cessna 172N had?

The NTSB has recorded 1178 events involving the Cessna 172N: 197 fatal, 90 serious, 180 minor injuries, and 709 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172N a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172N has 1178 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172N Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1178 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

1178

All Events

709

Incidents

180

Minor

Serious

197

Fatal (403 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Apr 06, 1995	PHOENIX, AZ	N737AV	Incident	substantial	THE USE OF EXCESSIVE BREAK-AWAY THRUST BY THE BOEING 737 CREW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CESSNA 172 PIL… THE USE OF EXCESSIVE BREAK-AWAY THRUST BY THE BOEING 737 CREW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CESSNA 172 PILOT BY ACCEPTING A CLEARANCE TO TAXI BEHIND THE BOEING 737 WITHOUT ASSURANCE THAT THE BOEING 737 CREW WOULD NOT POWER UP.
Mar 29, 1995	PARIS, TN	N258ER	Incident	minor	The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.
Mar 20, 1995	ANCHORAGE, AK	N733RW	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXP… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Feb 23, 1995	SANTA FE, NM	N737TC	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DELAYED LANDING FLARE AND THE IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.
Jan 17, 1995	NEVIS ISLAND, WN	N738HB	Incident	destroyed	Investigation pending
Jan 15, 1995	KANSAS CITY, MO	N75585	Incident	substantial	An improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were an improper airspeed and not attaining a proper descent rate b… An improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were an improper airspeed and not attaining a proper descent rate by the pilot.
Dec 29, 1994	Albuquerque, NM	N737ZJ	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING.
Nov 28, 1994	NIAGRA FALLS, NY	N104CT	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND THE ON GROUND ENCOUNTER WITH GUSTY WINDS.
Oct 09, 1994	CENTER HARBOR, NH	N733MV	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR A CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Sep 18, 1994	ORCAS, WA	N738ET	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE.
Sep 11, 1994	BOONE, IA	N2105E	Incident	substantial	the failure of both pilots to adequately monitor radio communications during an exceptionally busy period. Factors related to the accident were the h… the failure of both pilots to adequately monitor radio communications during an exceptionally busy period. Factors related to the accident were the high vegetation and the failure of airport personnel to recognize and correct a hazardous situation.
Sep 03, 1994	ORLANDO, FL	N734QA	Incident	substantial	The pilot-in-command's improper landing flare/touchdown, resulting in a hard landing, and subsequent separation of the nose gear.
Jul 30, 1994	CAMERON PARK, CA	N739RF	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper use of the elevator control during the landing flare.
Jul 27, 1994	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N739VN	Incident	destroyed	AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE FLARE.
Jul 21, 1994	CHATHAM, MA	N76090	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE BIRDS. THE PRESENCE OF THE BIRDS AT THE AIRPORT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
May 26, 1994	HARTFORD, AL	N73846	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SU… THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF HIS STUDENT, THE GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE TREES LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RUNWAY.
May 24, 1994	MACKINAC ISLAND, MI	N3558E	Incident	substantial	EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND A FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WET RUNWAY AND THE FENC… EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND A FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WET RUNWAY AND THE FENCE WHICH WAS CONTACTED.
May 24, 1994	FREDERICKSBURG, VA	N737SE	Incident	substantial	The pilot's premature lift-off, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush back onto the runway, and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control d… The pilot's premature lift-off, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush back onto the runway, and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and colliding with a dirt bank. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.
Apr 22, 1994	SEDONA, AZ	N2946E	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S IMPROPER LEVEL OFF DURING LANDING. THE TAILWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Apr 13, 1994	CRESCENT CITY, FL	N8196G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DESCENT RATE, AND THE CHECK PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. THE GLASSY WATER CONDITION WAS A FACTOR.
Apr 07, 1994	CLARKSBURG, WV	N739HC	Incident	substantial	the pilot's selection of a downwind runway, and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was the gusting tailwind.
Mar 26, 1994	STUART, FL	N6HV	Incident	substantial	POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS WIND INFORMATION DISREGARDED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Feb 16, 1994	GEORGETOWN, AR	N737ZY	Incident	substantial	A CARBURETOR ICING INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. A FACTOR WAS THE… A CARBURETOR ICING INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.
Feb 04, 1994	OPA-LOCKA, FL	N9003E	Incident	minor	INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND LUBRICATION OF THE FLAP ROLLERS WHICH RESULTED IN THE LEFT FLAP INBOARD ROLLER BECOMING JAMMED IN THE TRACK DURI… INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND LUBRICATION OF THE FLAP ROLLERS WHICH RESULTED IN THE LEFT FLAP INBOARD ROLLER BECOMING JAMMED IN THE TRACK DURING FLAP RETRACTION.
Jan 25, 1994	LIVERMORE, CA	N6375D	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER. THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS, THE PREVAILING… THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER. THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS, THE PREVAILING 90-DEGREE CROSSWIND, AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE ARE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

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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Cessna 172N Safety Record

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