Cessna 172N Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1178 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09, 1997 | ANNAPOLIS, MD | N739AH | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to raise the flaps during the go-around. Factors involved were the high wind conditions and the pilot's failure to remove the car…The pilot's failure to raise the flaps during the go-around. Factors involved were the high wind conditions and the pilot's failure to remove the carburetor heat. |
| Apr 09, 1997 | PRESCOTT, AZ | N8123E | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain proper runway alignment. |
| Apr 04, 1997 | AVALON, CA | N733CN | Serious (2) | destroyed |
The pilot's misjudging the airplane's altitude and distance to the runway and an excessive descent rate, which led to an undershoot, and the pilot's f…The pilot's misjudging the airplane's altitude and distance to the runway and an excessive descent rate, which led to an undershoot, and the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the approach. Contributing factors were the pilot's delay in initiating corrective action. |
| Mar 31, 1997 | ST MATTHEWS, SC | N738NC | Incident | substantial | the pilot's improper decision to take off downwind with gusty wind conditions. |
| Mar 10, 1997 | OAKLAND, CA | N6375D | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's failure to completely reduce the throttle after landing, and his failure to maintain proper runway alignment. |
| Feb 21, 1997 | DELTA, UT | N5552E | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the prevailing wind conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the…The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the prevailing wind conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident are a sudden shift in the prevailing wind at the time of the landing, and the presence of a mound of dirt near the runway. |
| Feb 07, 1997 | MADRAS, OR | N5618J | Serious (2) | substantial |
The pilot's inadvertent visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Factors include the pilot's improper decisio…The pilot's inadvertent visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Factors include the pilot's improper decision to fly under a low ceiling while in mountainous/hilly terrain, and his encounter with fog and low clouds while maneuvering in a narrow canyon. |
| Feb 01, 1997 | FORT WAYNE, IN | N4696G | Incident | substantial | the pilot's inadequate fuel management and fuel system exhaustion. A factor involved was the inadequate in-flight planning/decision. |
| Jan 17, 1997 | STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO | N739QE | Incident | destroyed |
Failure of the flight instructor and the dual student to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors were the flight instructor's inadequate supervi…Failure of the flight instructor and the dual student to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors were the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, inadequate altitude in which to clear obstacles, and the dual student's lack of familiarity with the geographical area. |
| Jan 02, 1997 | ANDERSON, SC | N1445E | Incident | substantial | The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's improper level off. |
| Dec 27, 1996 | MANVILLE, NJ | N738UW | Minor | substantial | The pilot's failure to perform a go-around, and his failure to retract the flaps in increments. |
| Nov 24, 1996 | OLIVE BRANCH, MS | N739ZA | Incident | substantial | the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a ballooned/bounced landing. The gusty wind was a related factor. |
| Nov 21, 1996 | ANDOVER, MA | N4926G | Incident | substantial |
failure of the dual magneto, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing at night. Da…failure of the dual magneto, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing at night. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors. |
| Oct 26, 1996 | HILTON, NY | N5535R | Incident | substantial | the pilot's improper soft field landing technique, which allowed a nose over during the landing rollout. Soft terrain was a related factor. |
| Oct 19, 1996 | FRUITLAND PARK, FL | N5155E | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during takeoff. The unfavorable wind conditio…The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain proper runway alignment during takeoff. The unfavorable wind condition was a related factor. |
| Sep 16, 1996 | SHIRLEY, NY | N737GJ | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's prematurely retraction of flaps during the go-around, which resulted in settling (mushing) of the airplane and a collision with the ground…the pilot's prematurely retraction of flaps during the go-around, which resulted in settling (mushing) of the airplane and a collision with the ground. |
| Aug 29, 1996 | AUBURN, CA | N9315E | Incident | substantial | the pilot's misjudged landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery. A contributing factor was his lack of recent flying experience. |
| Aug 10, 1996 | FULLERTON, CA | N42ES | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's misjudged glide path and delayed remedial action by not promptly initiating a go-around. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of ex…the pilot's misjudged glide path and delayed remedial action by not promptly initiating a go-around. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of experience flying the airplane. |
| Aug 09, 1996 | NASHVILLE, TN | N5291E | Incident | substantial | inadequate annual inspection by other maintenance personnel and inadequate pre-flight inspection by the pilot. |
| Aug 09, 1996 | ENUMCLAW, WA | N738PM | Minor | substantial |
failure of the engine magneto drive, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor…failure of the engine magneto drive, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. |
| Aug 01, 1996 | VICTORIA, MS | N737DK | Minor | substantial | The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. |
| Jul 16, 1996 | DAGGETT, CA | N738NZ | Incident | substantial | The fracture and separation of an exhaust valve head for undetermined reasons. |
| Jul 05, 1996 | HILLSBOROUGH, NC | N75814 | Minor | substantial | The failure of the magneto impulse coupling spring. A factor was the power line at the approach end of the forced landing site. |
| Jun 28, 1996 | NEWRY, PA | N4776E | Incident | substantial |
failure of the pilot to identify the inoperative airspeed indication and abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient runway remaining; excessive spe…failure of the pilot to identify the inoperative airspeed indication and abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient runway remaining; excessive speed during the approach/landing; and the pilot's failure to perform a go-around after not attaining a proper touchdown point during the landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the blocked pitot tube, which resulted in an inoperative airspeed indicator. |
| Jun 16, 1996 | AVALON, CA | N6261D | Incident | substantial |
the pilot's failure to initiate a landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and porpoise, and his loss of directional control during an attem…the pilot's failure to initiate a landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and porpoise, and his loss of directional control during an attempt to initiate a go-around with insufficient airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and collision with parked aircraft. A visual illusion created by the runway gradient was a factor in this accident. |