How many accidents has the Cessna 172P had?

The NTSB has recorded 696 events involving the Cessna 172P: 96 fatal, 55 serious, 104 minor injuries, and 439 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 172P a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 172P has 696 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 172P Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 696 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

696

All Events

439

Incidents

104

Minor

Serious

Fatal (200 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Sep 21, 1992	FULSHEAR, TX	N97489	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER, THE INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR, AND THE DARKNESS OF … THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER, THE INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR, AND THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT.
Sep 15, 1992	YIPSLANTI, MI	N96593	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S PREMATURE FLARE DURING LANDING AND NOT PERFORMING A RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Sep 12, 1992	ST. CHARLES, MI	N5361K	Incident	substantial	THE JAMMING OF THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP DRIVEN IMPELLER. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Jul 29, 1992	VALKARIA, FL	N89900	Incident	substantial	EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY COLL… EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH A TREE.
Jul 11, 1992	AUBURN, AL	N9768T	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS A RESULT OF HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Jul 09, 1992	WAUKEGAN, IL	N98673	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND IMPROPER … THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Jul 04, 1992	BROOMFIELD, CO	N128FR	Incident	substantial	FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
May 21, 1992	POUGHKEEPSIE, NY	N97154	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Mar 16, 1992	WEST HELENA, AR	N96493	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S IMPROPER FLAREA ND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Mar 09, 1992	SANTA MONICA, CA	N98662	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HER IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE AIRPLANE'S EXCESSIVE APPROACH … THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HER IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE AIRPLANE'S EXCESSIVE APPROACH AIRSPEED AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Feb 17, 1992	NORDMAN, ID	N96617	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFL… THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.
Jan 27, 1992	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N52872	Incident	substantial	A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES BY FLYING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. … A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES BY FLYING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT AN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS.
Jan 16, 1992	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N65513	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BRAKES DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLI… LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BRAKES DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS A FACTOR.
Nov 25, 1991	OKMULGEE, OK	N65748	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR A CROSSWIND CONDITION. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND THE PREVAILING CROSSWIND.
Jul 22, 1991	SYLVA, NC	N52433	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE CANYON. FACTOR(S) IN THIS ACCIDENT WE… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE CANYON. FACTOR(S) IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE MOUNTAINOUS, BOX CANYON CONDITIONS, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Jul 04, 1991	LAKEVIEW, AR	N64344	Incident	substantial	(1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING AND (2) HIS SUBSEQUENT IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Jul 03, 1991	EL PASO, TX	N5488K	Incident	substantial	THE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE THE ICING CONDITIONS, LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR… THE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE THE ICING CONDITIONS, LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND THE GUSTY TAIL WIND.
Jul 01, 1991	WATKINS, CO	N89900	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS FLARE.
May 21, 1991	ALVA, WY	N172GA	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S ABILITY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ENGINE FAILURE.
Apr 11, 1991	LEHI, AR	N51254	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS WERE: THE WET RUNWAY AND RESULTANT HYDROPLANING.
Apr 07, 1991	HATTERAS, NC	N62340	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT PORPOISE, AND HIS FAILURE TO EXECUTE A BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.
Apr 07, 1991	COLLEGE PARK, MD	N9671A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY.
Apr 06, 1991	BURLINGTON, CT	N64182	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT, HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE AND TOTAL TIME, AND THE CROSSWIND.
Mar 09, 1991	SEATTLE, WA	N64599	Incident	substantial	A HARD LANDING DUE TO THE PILOT'S MIDJUDGEMENT OF HIS TOUCHDOWN.
Mar 01, 1991	NASHUA, NH	N97313	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.

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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Cessna 172P Safety Record

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