Cessna 172N Safety Record

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

1178

All Events

709

Incidents

180

Minor

90

Serious

197

Fatal (403 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
May 08, 1999 LAS VEGAS, NV CGIUX Serious (2) destroyed
The pilot's premature rotation during the aborted landing and his failure to attain and maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall mush. …

The pilot's premature rotation during the aborted landing and his failure to attain and maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall mush. Factors in the accident were the pilot's decision to attempt a landing in adverse wind conditions beyond the crosswind capability of the airplane and an inoperative stall warning horn system.

May 04, 1999 EAGLEVILLE, TN N739EW Incident substantial
The dual's student failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wire during takeoff/initial climb. Also causal was the certified flight i…

The dual's student failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wire during takeoff/initial climb. Also causal was the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision.

Apr 29, 1999 WINTER HAVEN, FL N739FX Serious (2) substantial The pilot of the other aircraft's failure to maintain visual lookout. A factor was the other pilot's disregard for VFR Traffic pattern procedures.
Apr 13, 1999 PUYALLUP, WA N75778 Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Apr 07, 1999 TURRELL, AR N5171K Incident substantial
The total loss of engine power as the result of improper maintenance which led to the number one cylinder intake valve rocker assembly stud bolt backi…

The total loss of engine power as the result of improper maintenance which led to the number one cylinder intake valve rocker assembly stud bolt backing out rendering the valve inoperative. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Apr 06, 1999 CLEBURNE, TX N734SV Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/ clearance from the wires.
Mar 27, 1999 SCOTTSDALE, AZ N73859 Incident substantial Failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft while retracting the flaps during a touch-and-go.
Mar 06, 1999 ORANGE, TX N5803E Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing touchdown. A factor was the muddy drainage ditch.
Feb 26, 1999 BERLIN, NJ N737MJ Incident substantial
The pilot in command's failure to obtain the proper touch down point on the runway, and failure to perform a go-around. A factor relating to the acci…

The pilot in command's failure to obtain the proper touch down point on the runway, and failure to perform a go-around. A factor relating to the accident was a sudden wind shift.

Feb 20, 1999 EL MONTE, CA N5174D Minor destroyed
An in-flight fuel fire in the left forward doorpost due to an electrical arc from an adjacent map light switch puncturing a main fuel feed line. The …

An in-flight fuel fire in the left forward doorpost due to an electrical arc from an adjacent map light switch puncturing a main fuel feed line. The manufacturer's inadequate design in routing the fuel line in close proximity to electrical arc sources in the doorpost is causal. A factor in the accident is the probable failure of the doorpost internal component configuration to conform to original design specifications due to aircraft aging issues.

Feb 16, 1999 WEST JORDAN, UT N734BE Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. Factors were his lack of recent flight experience, and his lack of experience in…

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. Factors were his lack of recent flight experience, and his lack of experience in the make and model of aircraft.

Feb 14, 1999 FORT ORD, CA N7374D Incident substantial Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's becoming lost and disoriented during multiple attempts at completing an ILS approach.
Nov 26, 1998 EVANSVILLE, IN N739LK Incident substantial The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Nov 24, 1998 BACLIFF, TX N4908D Fatal (2) substantial
The pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his inability to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wire. …

The pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his inability to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wire. Contributing to the accident were the fog, low ceilings and his lack of instrument time.

Nov 17, 1998 CONCORD, NC N92KK Serious (1) substantial
The pilot's improper in-flight decision and his failure to maintain clearance during approach that resulted in collision with utility lines. Related …

The pilot's improper in-flight decision and his failure to maintain clearance during approach that resulted in collision with utility lines. Related factors were dark night, trees and low ceilings.

Nov 14, 1998 LANCASTER, CA N733AM Incident substantial The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Nov 13, 1998 PRESCOTT, AZ N2401E Incident substantial The failure of the flight instructor to provide adequate supervision of the student pilot during a simulated emergency landing.
Nov 08, 1998 LIMA, SC N4696G Minor destroyed The flight instructor's intentional flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Factors were trees and mountainous terrain.
Nov 07, 1998 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL N1901S Incident substantial
The failure of the pilot-in-command to note that the flaps did not retract while the pilot-rated student performed a touch-and-go landing on a 6,001 f…

The failure of the pilot-in-command to note that the flaps did not retract while the pilot-rated student performed a touch-and-go landing on a 6,001 foot-long runway. Factors in the accident were the total failure of the flap system for undetermined reasons and the operation of the airplane in an overgross weight condition by the pilot-in-command (CFI).

Oct 25, 1998 LINDEN, NJ N6214F Fatal (1) destroyed The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines. A factor was sunglare.
Oct 23, 1998 LAWRENCEVILLE, GA N5918E Incident destroyed A fire from an undetermined origin.
Oct 12, 1998 BUHL, ID N6486J Incident substantial
The pilot's failure to follow the aircraft's recommended balked landing procedure, resulting in a stall. Factors include the pilot's failure to maint…

The pilot's failure to follow the aircraft's recommended balked landing procedure, resulting in a stall. Factors include the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare, the pilot's lack of total experience, and insufficient altitude available for stall recovery.

Oct 01, 1998 VENICE, FL N733HK Incident substantial The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Sep 29, 1998 Gallup, NM N739JT Incident substantial The pilot's inadequate landing flare. Factors were his misjudgement of altitude and his excessive airspeed.
Sep 14, 1998 MONTEZUMA CRK, UT N737NH Fatal (1) destroyed The pilot's attempted aerobatic maneuver and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin. A factor was his intentional low altitude flight.
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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