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
Jan 27, 1991	SEDONA, AZ	N54863	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Jan 15, 1991	CHARLESTON, WV	N62960	Incident	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR DOWEL PIN RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN… TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY DRIVE GEAR DOWEL PIN RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER ON LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER PROCEDURE USED DURING ENGINE OVERHAUL.
Jan 01, 1991	NEW HOLSTEIN, WI	N55409	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE LANDING APPROACH, LANDING ON AN ICE COVERED RUNWAY AND THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSWIND.
Sep 08, 1990	SANTA BARBARA, CA	N51362	Incident	substantial	A DISCONNECT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL.
Sep 02, 1990	GRANITE FALLS, WA	N65857	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S USE OF EXCESSIVE FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF CLIMB PERFORMANCE.
Aug 31, 1990	PLAINVILLE, CT	N98409	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A CROSS WIND LANDING, SUBSEQUENTLY RUNNING OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
Aug 19, 1990	LAWRENCEVILE, GA	N5354Q	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Aug 11, 1990	COALINGA, CA	N9551L	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ACCURATELY INTERPRET THE WIND SOCK, AND HIS INADVERTENT ATTEMPT TO PERFORM A DOWNWIND LANDING.
Aug 01, 1990	MAMMOTH LAKES, CA	N51872	Incident	substantial	INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH HIGH VELOCITY WINDS.
Jun 09, 1990	REDDING, CA	N216PB	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S PREMATURE ROTATION DURING THE T… THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S PREMATURE ROTATION DURING THE TAKEOFF AND THE FAILURE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL ACTION.
May 31, 1990	CHESTERFIELD, VA	N51706	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.
May 23, 1990	PLYMOUTH, FL	N66026	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPE… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPEREINCE.
May 02, 1990	PLAINFIELD, IL	N54093	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTO… THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE, IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Apr 08, 1990	SAVANNA, IL	N89594	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE STRONG/GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Feb 11, 1990	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	N98673	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A TIE DOWN HOLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE HA… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED A TIE DOWN HOLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE HANGAR.
Feb 09, 1990	SUNAPEE LAKE, NH	N65057	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE LAKE, WHICH RESULTED IN UNPLANNED CONTACT WITH ITS FROZEN SURFACE.
Dec 27, 1989	BILLINGS, MT	N53432	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Dec 26, 1989	MIDDLETOWN, OH	N65673	Incident	substantial	THE INABILITY TO ESTABLISH A SUFFICIENT CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF.CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERINECE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRC… THE INABILITY TO ESTABLISH A SUFFICIENT CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF.CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERINECE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Sep 04, 1989	ALDERWOOD MANOR, WA	N98354	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE TAILWIND AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Aug 14, 1989	RAVENNA, OH	N4770J	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE EXECUTING A TOUCH-AND-GO.
Aug 13, 1989	REDLANDS, CA	N51920	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LEVEL-OFF, RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. THE PILOT'S LIMITED REC… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LEVEL-OFF, RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. THE PILOT'S LIMITED RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Aug 02, 1989	NEWBURGH, NY	N1983F	Incident	substantial	THE DUAL STUDENT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE AND SPEED DURING THE FLARE FOR LANDING, AND THE IMPROPER USE OF POWER DURING THE FLARE. IN … THE DUAL STUDENT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE AND SPEED DURING THE FLARE FOR LANDING, AND THE IMPROPER USE OF POWER DURING THE FLARE. IN ADDITION, THE CFI FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE DUAL STUDENT'S ACTION.
Jul 22, 1989	CINCINNATI, OH	N52896	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER GO-AROUND PROCEDURE OF FULLY RETRACTING THE FLAPS WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE MUSHING INTO TREES. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: … THE PILOT'S IMPROPER GO-AROUND PROCEDURE OF FULLY RETRACTING THE FLAPS WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE MUSHING INTO TREES. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: A MISJUDGEMENT OF FLARE HEIGHT ABOVE THE RUNWAY AND FAILURE TO REMOVE THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE AVAILABILITY OF FULL POWER.
Nov 15, 1988	SAMARIA, MI	N86ER	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 17, 1988	ENGLEWOOD, CO	N53949	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

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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