Cessna 172N Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1178 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2024 | Arboles, CO | N739JU | Serious (1) | substantial | A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. |
| Aug 30, 2022 | Gates Mills, OH | N204BE | Serious (1) | substantial |
The instructor pilot’s decision to perform an inflight magneto check with no suitable area to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failu…The instructor pilot’s decision to perform an inflight magneto check with no suitable area to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to correctly perform a magneto check that resulted in a total loss of engine power. |
| Dec 22, 2021 | Auburn, CA | N6280F | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during an instrument approach, which resulted in an impact with power lines. |
| May 11, 2018 | ORRVILLE, OH | N738XT | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during the soft field takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of att…The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during the soft field takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. |
| Nov 14, 2015 | Gorliz, SP | EC-HKH | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jan 17, 2015 | Ualapue, HI | N5660E | Serious (1) | substantial | A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered. |
| May 18, 2013 | Geneva, FL | N4702F | Serious (1) | — | The passenger’s failure to adhere to the pilot’s instructions to stay away from the front of the airplane when the engine was operating. |
| Feb 05, 2013 | Kalskag, AK | N5290J | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot’s decision to take off into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and the subsequent controlled fli…The pilot’s decision to take off into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and the subsequent controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the severity of the rear seat passenger’s injuries was the incorrect installation of the rear seat belts. |
| Mar 21, 2011 | Spanish Fork, UT | N739DG | Serious (1) | substantial |
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during landing. Contributing to the acc…The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart with a high gusting wind. |
| Feb 27, 2011 | Welch, WV | N739NY | Serious (2) | substantial |
The unlicensed pilot’s decision to land on a closed runway with a tailwind, his failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his delayed decision…The unlicensed pilot’s decision to land on a closed runway with a tailwind, his failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his delayed decision to attempt a go-around, resulting in a collision with trees. |
| Feb 25, 2011 | Andrews, TX | N739BL | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an emergency descent, following a loss of engine power, which resulted in an inadvertent stal…The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an emergency descent, following a loss of engine power, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. |
| Jun 20, 2010 | West Milford, NJ | N738QZ | Serious (1) | substantial |
The student pilot’s control interference which resulted in a landing with a higher than normal airspeed, and the commercial pilot’s failure to initiat…The student pilot’s control interference which resulted in a landing with a higher than normal airspeed, and the commercial pilot’s failure to initiate a go-around to avoid the runway overrun. |
| May 21, 2010 | Plattekill, NY | N739RK | Serious (2) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to place the fuel selector valve in the appropriate position for takeoff resulting in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing…The pilot's failure to place the fuel selector valve in the appropriate position for takeoff resulting in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's attempted takeoff at a higher than allowed gross weight. |
| Apr 30, 2010 | Tamuning, USA | N733SN | Serious (1) | — | The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the airplane’s propeller while hand-propping. |
| Jun 22, 2009 | Marysville, OH | N734EN | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll for undetermined reasons. |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Burbank, CA | N172ST | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's improper preflight and in-flight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's loss of situa…The pilot's improper preflight and in-flight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's loss of situational awareness while conducting the normal and emergency checklists during his turn from base to final approach, and the dark night condition. |
| Jul 17, 2005 | Bonners Ferry, ID | N120ER | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Mountainous terrain was a factor. |
| Jun 23, 2005 | Edgartown, MA | N5118D | Serious (3) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. [THIS REPOR…The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain. [THIS REPORT WAS MODIFIED ON JUNE 10, 2008] |
| Nov 03, 2004 | Columbia, SC | N4874G | Serious (1) | substantial | The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of fuel required for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. |
| Jul 17, 2004 | Erwinna, PA | N262MC | Serious (1) | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and his failure to follow the go-around procedure which resulted in a stall. |
| Jan 28, 2004 | Rigby, ID | N734CB | Serious (2) | substantial |
The flight instructor's failure to follow procedures, i.e., operating the non-icing certified aircraft in known icing conditions contrary to the pilot…The flight instructor's failure to follow procedures, i.e., operating the non-icing certified aircraft in known icing conditions contrary to the pilot operators handbook which resulted in ice accretion and ultimately a stall and loss of control in flight. Contributing factors were the icing conditions and degraded aircraft performance. |
| Oct 25, 2002 | Sebring, FL | N267EP | Serious (1) | substantial |
The student pilot's premature rotation and failure to maintain airspeed during the takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, an uncontrolled de…The student pilot's premature rotation and failure to maintain airspeed during the takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with the ground. |
| Aug 12, 2002 | Tinaquillo, VE | YV1856P | Serious (1) | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Jan 09, 2002 | Durango, CO | N3535E | Serious (2) | substantial |
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees and mountainous terrain while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the pilot's delay in ta…the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees and mountainous terrain while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the pilot's delay in taking remedial action. |
| Oct 18, 2001 | Ashland, VA | N4834G | Serious | — | The line technician's inadvertent contact with the propeller during a hand-propped engine start. |