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
Dec 05, 1990 PLANO, TX N6297D Incident destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE APPROVED START PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN AN INDUCTION FIRE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRPLANE.
Nov 29, 1990 CHAMBLEE, GA N6168F Incident substantial PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE WINGTIP CLEARANCE DURING TAXI.
Nov 29, 1990 VERO BEACH, FL N733UC Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFROM A PROPER LANDING FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Oct 22, 1990 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX N734KG Incident substantial THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE TECHNIQUE AND USE OF RUDDER.
Oct 11, 1990 DAYTON, OH N2233E Incident destroyed
A CARBURETOR FIRE DUE TO AN ENGINE BACKFIRE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN BY THE PILOT TO EXTINGUISH THE ENGIN…

A CARBURETOR FIRE DUE TO AN ENGINE BACKFIRE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN BY THE PILOT TO EXTINGUISH THE ENGINE FIRE.

Oct 08, 1990 VALDOSTA, GA N172SC Incident substantial
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STUDENT'S OVERALL LACK OF FLIGH…

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STUDENT'S OVERALL LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND THE REPORTED WIND GUST.

Sep 29, 1990 STOKESDALE, NC N1904V Incident substantial
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. FACTORS WERE: THE FAA'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT STANDA…

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. FACTORS WERE: THE FAA'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT STANDARDS FOR AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE, AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN.

Sep 11, 1990 DILLON, MT N5345D Incident substantial PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE THAT RESULTED IN A BOUNCED LANDING.
Aug 25, 1990 LAKEVIEW, AR N8450E Incident substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING.
Aug 02, 1990 TANGIER ISLAND, VA N1516E Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.
Jun 28, 1990 VAN NUYS, CA N6308D Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PI…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE GO AROUND PROCEDURES SPECIFIED IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL.

Jun 06, 1990 CHANDELEUR ISLD, LA N1071S Incident substantial MINIMUM AIRSPEED REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT (VS) WAS NOT MAINTAINED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FATIGUED CONDITION, AND PREMATURE LIFT OFF.
Jun 01, 1990 NORTHWOOD, OH N737KL Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FAC…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER OVER A POPULATED AREA WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

May 22, 1990 JEFFERSONVILLE, IN N733CR Incident substantial
THE ENGINE STARTED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHEN THE PROP WAS MOVED AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN INOPERATIVE STARTER. (MOST PROBABLY, THERE WAS …

THE ENGINE STARTED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHEN THE PROP WAS MOVED AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN INOPERATIVE STARTER. (MOST PROBABLY, THERE WAS EITHER AN ISOLATED/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OR THE PILOT DID NOT MOVE THE MAGNETO SWITCH ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION BEFORE MOVING THE PROPELLER.)

May 16, 1990 SEDONA, AZ N738UC Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN APPROPRIATE AIRSPEED DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND.
May 07, 1990 COTTONWOOD, AZ N251ER Incident substantial PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS DURING THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER.
Apr 28, 1990 ANGOLA, IN N5685E Incident substantial
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE LANDING IN GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A RELATED FAC…

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE LANDING IN GUSTY/CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Mar 10, 1990 ARLINGTON, TX N5193F Incident substantial
INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT WHICH LED TO THE ENSUING ENGI…

INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT WHICH LED TO THE ENSUING ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE'S ERRONEOUS QUANTITY READINGS AND THE SOFT/UNSUITABLE TERRAIN THAT LED TO A NOSE OVER DURING THE SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY LANDING.

Dec 28, 1989 BROOMFIELD, CO N75702 Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE SNOWBANK WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Dec 10, 1989 MIDDLETON, WI N75912 Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS TO PROVIDE LIFT ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH INSTEAD OF APPLYING POWER AND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Oct 17, 1989 VALDOSTA, GA N172SC Incident substantial
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT (FAILURE TO SEE & AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE AND LACK OF V…

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT (FAILURE TO SEE & AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE AND LACK OF VISUAL CUES (PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION).

Sep 21, 1989 CHANDLER, AZ N6277D Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT'S OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Sep 17, 1989 WAXAHACHIE, TX N738BB Incident substantial FAILURE OF THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO EXPOSURE TO OVERTEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Sep 14, 1989 PROVO, UT N75815 Incident substantial
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) …

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.

Sep 10, 1989 KEY WEST, FL N6552F Incident minor
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT …

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION.

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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