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 27, 2010 Stonington, ME N6410F Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.
Jul 24, 2010 Waynesboro, VA N3480E Incident substantial The pilot's failure to follow the short-field takeoff procedures published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Jul 12, 2010 Palmer, AK N6594D Incident substantial The pilot's decision to fly towards rising terrain that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane.
Jun 21, 2010 Maryland Heights, MO N1061X Incident substantial The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
May 31, 2010 Sterling, MA N6371D Incident substantial
The pilot’s decision to not continue with the go-around, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distra…

The pilot’s decision to not continue with the go-around, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction due to the passenger’s panicked condition.

May 16, 2010 Blue Hill, ME N733XD Incident substantial The flight instructor’s inability to maintain directional control while landing with gusting winds.
Apr 24, 2010 Poughkeepsie, NY N5371D Incident substantial The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on the landing rollout.
Apr 03, 2010 New Hudson, MI N222UN Incident substantial The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout with gusting winds.
Mar 31, 2010 Ankeny, IA N883AV Incident substantial A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel monitoring.
Oct 26, 2009 Marysville, OH N4753D Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Oct 07, 2009 San Diego, CA N2219E Incident substantial The pilot’s improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Jul 30, 2009 Manassas, VA N733BS Incident substantial The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Jul 12, 2009 Rochester, MA N4773G Incident substantial An engine vibration as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
Jul 02, 2009 Benton, AR N5238E Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
May 21, 2009 Tunkhannock, PA N9492E Incident substantial The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point while landing with a tailwind.
May 16, 2009 Desert Center, CA N738LF Incident substantial
A partial loss of engine power due to low compression from an obstructed intake valve. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to shut d…

A partial loss of engine power due to low compression from an obstructed intake valve. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to shut down the engine while in flight.

May 12, 2009 Springdale, AR N73842 Incident substantial The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll and subsequent go-around.
May 08, 2009 Roanoke, TX N172SV Incident substantial
The partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the throttle control rod-end to carburetor arm hardware. A contributing factor was the pilot's de…

The partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the throttle control rod-end to carburetor arm hardware. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to fly the airplane without a current annual inspection.

Apr 24, 2009 Pinehurst, NC N500TC Incident substantial The student pilot's improper landing flare.
Mar 01, 2009 Carlisle, AR N739NP Incident substantial The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Feb 26, 2009 Broomfield, CO N737KR Incident substantial The pilot and airplane's inability to compensate for the unforecasted gusting wind conditions.
Feb 25, 2009 Johnson County Exec Airport, KS N734WD Incident minor
Failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172S to ensure the taxiway was clear prior to initiating the turn. Contributing to the accident was the failure of…

Failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172S to ensure the taxiway was clear prior to initiating the turn. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172N to obtain taxi clearance prior to entering the movement area.

Jul 12, 2008 Edgewater, MD N734AT Incident substantial The pilot's misjudged distance/speed during landing.
Jun 26, 2008 El Cajon, CA N6360D Incident substantial
The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice resulting from the flight instructor's failure to use the carburetor heat when simulating an engine fai…

The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice resulting from the flight instructor's failure to use the carburetor heat when simulating an engine failure. Contributing to the accident were the carburetor icing weather condition and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

May 26, 2008 Sells, AZ N2857E Incident substantial The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain proper runway alignment.
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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