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
Sep 27, 1992	FORT COLLINS, CO	N5222D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS: CROSSWIND.
Sep 17, 1992	HAVRE DE GRACE, MD	N7396E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDE THE EXIST… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDE THE EXISTENCE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN ON WHICH THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED.
Sep 13, 1992	GENESEO, IL	N738KX	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DEFFICIENCY IN THE EQUIPMENT.
Sep 12, 1992	FILLMORE, CA	N2212W	Incident	substantial	THE FIRST PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO FLY INTO A BOX CANYON. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE BOX CANYON AND THE DOWNDRAFT.
Sep 10, 1992	STANFIELD, AZ	N734UT	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY LANDING AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE AND MISJUDGING THE ALTITUDE DURING … THE CFI'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIMULATED ENGINE OUT EMERGENCY LANDING AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE AND MISJUDGING THE ALTITUDE DURING THE CIRCLING MANEUVER.
Aug 29, 1992	FORT WAYNE, IN	N100SU	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Aug 18, 1992	NEW BERN, NC	N5415J	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND C… THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT.
Jul 15, 1992	BATES CITY, MO	N1324E	Incident	substantial	TOTAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE WINDSHIELD.
Jul 04, 1992	CHESTERFIELD, MO	N734VF	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRCRAFT BRAKE SYSTEM BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Jun 26, 1992	HAYWARD, CA	N9447E	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE, THE CFI'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION AND HIS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
Jun 09, 1992	DEXTER, ME	N19801	Incident	substantial	A FAILURE OF THE TOP TORQUE LINK BOLT ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING WITH A FLAT STRUT AND MISALIGNED WHEEL.
May 04, 1992	PARKDALE, OR	N5096E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT DIRT RUNWAY SURFACE.
Apr 23, 1992	NEW MADISON, OH	N733XP	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADEQUATELY PLANNED HIS APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADEQUATELY PLANNED HIS APPROACH AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND.
Apr 14, 1992	SIDNEY, OH	N5085G	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTER WITH ROUG… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A DEPARTURE FROM THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTER WITH ROUGH TERRAIN.
Mar 31, 1992	PRESCOTT, AZ	N267ER	Incident	substantial	THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S POOR SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT; THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AND DUAL STUDENT'S MISIDENTIFICATION… THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S POOR SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT; THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AND DUAL STUDENT'S MISIDENTIFICATION OF THE AIRPLANE THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FOLLOWING AND THE OTHER AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S AND DUAL STUDENT'S POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Mar 26, 1992	ANCHORAGE, AK	N733PU	Incident	substantial	DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Feb 10, 1992	PARSHALL, CO	N737BY	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE DUEL STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI. FACTORS WERE: CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED, DEEP SNOW COVER… IMPROPER USE OF POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE DUEL STUDENT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI. FACTORS WERE: CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED, DEEP SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, AND CARBURETOR ICE CONDITIONS.
Jan 14, 1992	ALBUQUERQUE, NM	N4885G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Jan 12, 1992	SHOW LOW, AZ	N1571E	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX ATTACH STRAPS WHICH ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX TO SEPARATE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT MUFF AND RENDERED … THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX ATTACH STRAPS WHICH ALLOWED THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX TO SEPARATE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT MUFF AND RENDERED THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
Dec 24, 1991	CHANDLER, AZ	N734GY	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT.
Dec 18, 1991	GULFPORT, MS	N733XV	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND AND INADVERTENT STALL.
Nov 20, 1991	BOULDER, CO	N80893	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE SIGN.
Sep 26, 1991	CHILOQUIN, OR	N9403E	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SI… THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
Sep 14, 1991	PRESCOTT, AZ	N251ER	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE DARK, NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND TO THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF NIGHTTIME TAKEOFF OPERATION.
Sep 14, 1991	ST GEORGE, UT	N2185E	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT. THE CROSSWIND AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE WERE RELATED 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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Cessna 172N Safety Record

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