Cessna 172N Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1178 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28, 1997 | SAN JOSE, CA | N739HE | Incident | substantial |
the student pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed and proper rate of descent, and his misjudged landing flare, which led to an uncontrol…the student pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed and proper rate of descent, and his misjudged landing flare, which led to an uncontrolled porpoise and eventual collapse of the landing gear. |
| Nov 24, 1997 | LA JOLLA, CA | N6463D | Fatal (1) | destroyed | the pilot's act of suicide by intentionally diving his aircraft into the ocean. |
| Nov 24, 1997 | WATKINS, CO | N738LC | Incident | substantial | loss of engine power for undertermined reason(s). |
| Nov 02, 1997 | PAYSON, AZ | N6585D | Incident | substantial | The pilot's selection of a downwind direction to land and his failure to compensate for the quartering tailwind condition. |
| Oct 12, 1997 | TERRE HAUTE, IN | N734WT | Fatal (2) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around attempt which resulted in an inadvertent stall. |
| Oct 05, 1997 | SANDWICH, IL | N73899 | Incident | substantial | the pilot's inability to maintain flying airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. A factor contributing to this accident was the wind gust. |
| Sep 26, 1997 | FUQUAY-VARINA, NC | N75522 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's misjudged flare, improper level-off, and improper recovery from a bounced landing. |
| Sep 25, 1997 | GREENVILLE, SC | N738SZ | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's improper use of the elevator control and delayed liftoff during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise, collision with the run…the pilot's improper use of the elevator control and delayed liftoff during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise, collision with the runway, and collapse of the nose gear as he aborted the takeoff. |
| Aug 25, 1997 | KENWOOD, CA | N733QD | Minor | substantial | the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. |
| Aug 19, 1997 | PRESCOTT, AZ | N3266E | Incident | substantial | The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. |
| Jul 24, 1997 | FORT WORTH, TX | N733HC | Incident | substantial | failure of the pilot in the Cessna 172 to maintain clearance from the Cessna 152 aircraft. |
| Jul 15, 1997 | LAKELAND, FL | N737EV | Incident | substantial |
the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the landing, which resulted in …the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the landing, which resulted in a collision with a runway marker. The rear-quartering tailwind (crosswind) and gusts were related factors. |
| Jul 07, 1997 | JOSHUA TREE, CA | N738ET | Minor | substantial |
failure of the pilot to adequately judge the wind direction and to select the correct runway, which resulted in a downwind landing; and his failure to…failure of the pilot to adequately judge the wind direction and to select the correct runway, which resulted in a downwind landing; and his failure to go around, while there was sufficient runway remaining. The tailwind, fence, and ditch were related factors. |
| Jun 26, 1997 | CANTON, MI | N7031Q | Serious (1) | substantial |
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from a binding throttle/power lever cable. Also causal was the improper maintenance, installation of th…A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from a binding throttle/power lever cable. Also causal was the improper maintenance, installation of the throttle arm. Contributing to the accident were the dark night and unsuitable terrain for the forced landing. |
| Jun 22, 1997 | CUYAMA, CA | N6141D | Fatal (1) | destroyed | undetermined. |
| Jun 15, 1997 | GREENBRIER, AR | N738YG | Fatal (2) | destroyed |
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a low altitude maneuver. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of oper…The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a low altitude maneuver. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of operation and inadequate training by the company management. |
| Jun 02, 1997 | COMERIO, PR | N4752D | Fatal (3) | destroyed |
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from obstructions on rising …the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from obstructions on rising terrain. |
| May 18, 1997 | ANGOLA, IN | N5685E | Minor | substantial |
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind, the pilot's selection of runway, and th…the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind, the pilot's selection of runway, and the misjudged landing flare. |
| May 16, 1997 | MADISON, WI | N738LM | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in a loss of directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the …the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in a loss of directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty, crosswind conditions and the VASI lights. |
| May 07, 1997 | LAS CRUCES, NM | N733WJ | Incident | substantial |
The improper installation of the throttle arm castellated nut, which resulted in a partial loss of power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain f…The improper installation of the throttle arm castellated nut, which resulted in a partial loss of power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. |
| May 07, 1997 | EL MONTE, CA | N6469D | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's misunderstanding of the controller's clearance during an aborted touch-and-go landing. |
| Apr 27, 1997 | PULLMAN, WA | N73934 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fuel truck parked near his taxi route. Factors include a dark night and a vehicle parked near the pi…The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fuel truck parked near his taxi route. Factors include a dark night and a vehicle parked near the pilot's route of taxi. |
| Apr 24, 1997 | CHANDLER, AZ | N733PM | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's encounter with crosswind gusts beyond the performance capability of the aircraft. A lack of crosswind limit information published in the …the pilot's encounter with crosswind gusts beyond the performance capability of the aircraft. A lack of crosswind limit information published in the Cessna 172N Pilot's Operating Handbook for landing and taxiing operations is a factor in the accident. |
| Apr 16, 1997 | LINCOLN PARK, NJ | N1405E | Incident | substantial |
the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard landing, collapsed nose gear, loss of directional control, and s…the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard landing, collapsed nose gear, loss of directional control, and subsequent nose over. |
| Apr 10, 1997 | LAWRENCEVILLE, GA | N4874D | Incident | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing. The winds were a factor. |