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
Sep 09, 1995 KERRVILLE, TX N4918G Minor substantial the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and his failure to use all the available runway. A factor was the dark night.
Sep 08, 1995 GLENNALLEN, AK N737SP Serious (1) substantial
Improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident wa…

Improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.

Sep 01, 1995 BONHAM, TX N5798J Minor substantial THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Sep 01, 1995 COLORADO SPGS, CO N4814F Serious (2) destroyed
BLOCKAGE OF THE CARBURETOR BY A PIECE OF FOREIGN MATERIAL, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WH…

BLOCKAGE OF THE CARBURETOR BY A PIECE OF FOREIGN MATERIAL, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY LEAN THE FUEL MIXTURE WERE POSSIBLE FACTORS.

Aug 26, 1995 CLARKSTON, MI N738CL Minor substantial the pilot's failure to refuel.
Jul 25, 1995 KILL DEVIL HILL, NC N5415J Serious The attempt by the pilots to perform the unfamiliar procedure of starting the airplane's engine by hand.
Jul 23, 1995 CARLSBAD, CA N7141J Minor substantial
The pilot's poorly planned approach, misjudged distance/altitude, and failure to make a go-around. The pilot inadvertently becoming lost and disorien…

The pilot's poorly planned approach, misjudged distance/altitude, and failure to make a go-around. The pilot inadvertently becoming lost and disoriented was a factor in this accident.

Jul 18, 1995 NAPA, CA N4915D Incident substantial
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft after one foot slipped off the rudder pedals, and his inadvertent application of a…

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft after one foot slipped off the rudder pedals, and his inadvertent application of asymmetrical brake forces.

Jul 09, 1995 STORMVILLE, NY N734CG Incident substantial THE REPORTED POTHOLE IN THE RUNWAY.
Jun 20, 1995 FACTORYVILLE, PA N4876F Incident substantial the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the subsequent hard landing by the student pilot.
Jun 19, 1995 VIDAL JUNCTION, CA N739KJ Fatal (1) destroyed
The pilot's failure to maintain an altitude adequate to avoid the mountainous/hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident was the glare from the setti…

The pilot's failure to maintain an altitude adequate to avoid the mountainous/hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident was the glare from the setting sun.

Jun 18, 1995 HOUSTON, TX N6542F Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE A…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.

Jun 12, 1995 NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV N73927 Incident substantial The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. His misjudgment of the height above the runway during flare was a factor.
Jun 10, 1995 BIG BEAR, CA N739NN Incident substantial
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff attempt, which was necessitated by his failure to properly lean the fuel…

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff attempt, which was necessitated by his failure to properly lean the fuel mixture. The pilot's limited experience in small piston engine airplanes was a factor in the accident.

Jun 01, 1995 HEAD WATERS, VA N3065E Incident substantial
the pilot's poor planning/decision making in the attempted departure. Contributing factors are the wet, recently mowed grass airstrip, and the embank…

the pilot's poor planning/decision making in the attempted departure. Contributing factors are the wet, recently mowed grass airstrip, and the embankment/downhill grade encountered during the aborted takeoff.

May 31, 1995 MADISON, MS N734YD Incident substantial THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND/OR IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
May 28, 1995 LOVELOCK, NV N4773E Fatal (4) destroyed the pilot's intentional flight at low altitude and subsequent collision with transmission wires during dusk light conditions.
May 27, 1995 WESTON, WV N5085G Fatal (2) destroyed the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision with the ground.
May 09, 1995 STOCKTON, CA N39ES Incident substantial
the failure of the pilot to properly judge the landing flare, and his improper bounced landing recovery technique, which resulted in a landing gear co…

the failure of the pilot to properly judge the landing flare, and his improper bounced landing recovery technique, which resulted in a landing gear collapse during a hard landing.

Apr 22, 1995 ATLANTA, GA N3220E Fatal (1) substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO A DRUG, VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF…

THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO A DRUG, VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE OBSTACLE (TOWERING SMOKE STACK). FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Apr 20, 1995 DETROIT, MI N5208D Incident substantial
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground run. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain…

the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground run. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain.

Apr 06, 1995 PHOENIX, AZ N737AV Incident substantial
THE USE OF EXCESSIVE BREAK-AWAY THRUST BY THE BOEING 737 CREW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CESSNA 172 PIL…

THE USE OF EXCESSIVE BREAK-AWAY THRUST BY THE BOEING 737 CREW. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CESSNA 172 PILOT BY ACCEPTING A CLEARANCE TO TAXI BEHIND THE BOEING 737 WITHOUT ASSURANCE THAT THE BOEING 737 CREW WOULD NOT POWER UP.

Mar 29, 1995 PARIS, TN N258ER Incident minor The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.
Mar 28, 1995 VENICE, FL N2196E Fatal (2) substantial
INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND ALTITUDE INADE…

INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR RECOVERY FOLLOWING THE IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL.

Mar 20, 1995 ANCHORAGE, AK N733RW Incident substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXP…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT FOR TORQUE/P FACTOR. THE PRESENCE OF SNOWBERMS THAT NARROWED THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

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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