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
Aug 31, 1991 ENGLEWOOD, CO N2417E Incident substantial THE STUDENT PILOT MISJUDGED HIS LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Aug 31, 1991 BUTTE, MT N2396E Incident substantial UNFAVORABLE WINDS. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Aug 23, 1991 NASSAU, BF N733SR Incident substantial Investigation pending
Aug 20, 1991 EVERETT, WA N738ET Incident substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TAXIWAY MARKER'S LACK OF FRANGIBILITY DUE TO I…

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TAXIWAY MARKER'S LACK OF FRANGIBILITY DUE TO ITS CONSTRUCTION.

Aug 04, 1991 LAKE ELSINORE, CA N2457L Incident substantial THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT FOR UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING AND POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Jul 31, 1991 SEDONA, AZ N2946E Incident substantial THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GO-AROUND COURSE OVER THE RUNWAY.
Jul 24, 1991 NAPA, CA N5352D Incident substantial
THE CFI'S FAILURE TO INITIATE THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND HIS FAILURE TO TERMINATE THE SIMULATED EMERGENCY MANEUVER AT A PROPER ALT…

THE CFI'S FAILURE TO INITIATE THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND HIS FAILURE TO TERMINATE THE SIMULATED EMERGENCY MANEUVER AT A PROPER ALTITUDE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY SURFACE WIND.

Jul 22, 1991 WATKINS, CO N733BX Incident substantial THE PILOT SELECTED THE WRONG RUNWAY AND LANDED WITH A TAILWIND.
Jul 18, 1991 LINCOLN PARK, NJ N737WG Incident substantial
THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO DISCONTINUE A GO-AROUND, FROM AN ATTEMPTED LANDING, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STRIKING TREES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE AC…

THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO DISCONTINUE A GO-AROUND, FROM AN ATTEMPTED LANDING, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STRIKING TREES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.

Jul 17, 1991 COLUMBUS, OH N738VP Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND COLLISION WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE A…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND COLLISION WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO TAXI ON THE TAXIWAY CENTERLINE AND NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Jul 14, 1991 MARIPOSA, CA N6521J Incident substantial THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS PLANNED APPROACH. A DOWN-SLOPING RUNWAY SURFACE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Jul 03, 1991 WALDRON, WA N737BZ Incident substantial VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS NOT MAINTAINED, AND DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Jun 28, 1991 PUNTA GORDA, FL N6522D Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBSERVE THE WINDSOCK BEFORE LANDING RESULTING IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING WITH A QUARTERING TAILW…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBSERVE THE WINDSOCK BEFORE LANDING RESULTING IN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF THE PILOT.

Jun 19, 1991 VANCOUVER, WA N4324R Incident substantial A HARD LANDING BY THE PILOT DUE TO IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.
May 27, 1991 CHICAGO, IL N5710E Incident substantial
THE PILOT IN COMMAND (STUDENT)'S IMPROPER JUDGEMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DELAYING AN ABORT…

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (STUDENT)'S IMPROPER JUDGEMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S DELAYING AN ABORTED LANDING.

May 23, 1991 CANADENSIS, PA N739GV Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNHILL SLOPE OF THE RUNWAY.
Apr 27, 1991 GRASS VALLEY, CA N737GY Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN ON GROUND LOSS OF CONTRO…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AN ON GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A DRAINAGE DITCH.

Apr 15, 1991 WEATHERFORD, OK N75759 Incident substantial THE INADVERTENT STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND.
Apr 05, 1991 STOCKTON, CA N733MQ Incident substantial THE INSTALLATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF AN INCORRECT GASKET THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE MAGNETO.
Mar 23, 1991 CLEWISTON, FL N739BW Incident substantial
MISJUDGED WIND DIRECTION RESULTING IN INCORRECT RUNWAY SELECTION AND FAILURE BY THE PIC TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. CONTRIB…

MISJUDGED WIND DIRECTION RESULTING IN INCORRECT RUNWAY SELECTION AND FAILURE BY THE PIC TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING WITH A TAILWIND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF THE PILOT'S TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Feb 17, 1991 SAN CARLOS, CA N5300F Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE LANDING.
Jan 26, 1991 ROCHESTER, MN N9419E Incident substantial
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOT…

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION OR WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

Jan 22, 1991 LANSING, IL N5345D Incident substantial INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.
Jan 16, 1991 NEW SMYRNA BCH, FL N215ER Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE CFI TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHT WING TIP AND A TELEPHONE POLE.
Jan 06, 1991 UKIAH, CA N737FJ Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN …

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR ALL OBSTRUCTIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF 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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