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
Jul 09, 1991 MEDFORD, OR N734MD Minor substantial AN INTENTIONAL PORPOISE. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION.
Jul 05, 1991 RONTONDA WEST, FL N7354E Minor substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO FLY THE AIRPLANE INTO WIRES.
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.
Jun 08, 1991 THERMAL, CA N6230D Minor substantial
THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE/POWERPLANT FROM A WORN INTAKE VALVE AND THE FAILURE OF COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO PERFORM AN OVERHAUL ON THE ENG…

THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE/POWERPLANT FROM A WORN INTAKE VALVE AND THE FAILURE OF COMPANY/OPERATOR MANAGEMENT TO PERFORM AN OVERHAUL ON THE ENGINE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME RECOMMENDED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER.

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.
May 17, 1991 Lebanon, NH N4650G Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING WAS MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, LOW CLOUDS, AND VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.
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 20, 1991 DUNLAP, TN N5738J Fatal (2) destroyed
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, HIS ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAI…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, HIS ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IFR CONDITIONS, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE FOGGY, LOW CEILING CONDITIONS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

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 30, 1991 BAR HARBOR, ME N2899E Serious (1) substantial THE ENGINE LOST POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
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.

Mar 14, 1991 PANAMA CITY, FL N88FP Minor substantial CARBURETOR ICING DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND DITCHING.
Mar 06, 1991 BELLINGHAM, WA CGIXI Fatal (3) destroyed
VFR FLIGHT BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEAR…

VFR FLIGHT BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

Feb 25, 1991 WESTERN, NE N738LL Fatal (1) destroyed SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.
Feb 18, 1991 THORNTON, TX N5112K Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE WET MICROBURST. A FACTOR WAS HIS DISREGARD FOR THE FORECAST.
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.

Dec 26, 1990 YUCCA VALLEY, CA N5258D Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAILWIND LANDING, AND HIS TAILWIND AND THE PILOT'S…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLAPS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAILWIND LANDING, AND HIS TAILWIND AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING.

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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