Cessna 172P Safety Record

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

696

All Events

439

Incidents

104

Minor

55

Serious

96

Fatal (200 fatalities)

Date Location Reg# Severity Damage Probable Cause
Nov 23, 1991 MARQUETTE, MI N96147 Serious (1) destroyed
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME (WING) ICING AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE ADVERS…

FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME (WING) ICING AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DARKNESS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Nov 04, 1991 WILLIAMS, AZ N5337K Minor destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Oct 31, 1991 ZION, IL N5411K Serious (1) destroyed
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND OBSTRUCTION…

WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES & TRANSMISSION LINES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Oct 17, 1991 MAPLE LAKE, MN N97984 Minor substantial THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Sep 21, 1991 WEST CHICAGO, IL N65729 Fatal (2) substantial
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRS…

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR VENTURI, THE OPERATOR'S DISREGARD OF THE PRECISION AIRMOTIVE SERVICE BULLETIN.

Sep 11, 1991 HESPERIA, CA N97564 Serious (3) substantial
A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO THE OPERATOR'S NON COMPLIANCE WITH A MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ENGINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCID…

A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO THE OPERATOR'S NON COMPLIANCE WITH A MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ENGINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A SAFE LANDING.

Jul 28, 1991 GREENVILLE, ME N5482K Minor substantial INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR GUSTING WINDS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Jul 27, 1991 LANSING, IL N66365 Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN DURING LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS. RELATED FACTORS ARE GROUND PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE TRAFFIC ADVISORY, AND THE PILOT'S…

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN DURING LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS. RELATED FACTORS ARE GROUND PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE TRAFFIC ADVISORY, AND THE PILOT'S ABRUPT PULL UP.

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.
Jun 01, 1991 BISMARCK, ND N5478K Fatal (1) destroyed
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEF, VRF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND LACK OF T…

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ARE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEF, VRF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

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 14, 1991 PLEASANT VALLEY, NY N5232K Minor destroyed THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N5232K TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AND SEPARATION WITH N9763U.
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 COLLEGE PARK, MD N9671A Incident substantial THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY.
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 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 MIAMISBURG, OH N64937 Minor substantial THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING IN A STRONG 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.
Feb 02, 1991 AUGUSTA, ME N62746 Fatal (3) destroyed
THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE AT AN IMPROPER SPEED, THEN ALLOWED THE CLIMB ANGLE TO BECOME TOO STEEP, CAUSING AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTI…

THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE AT AN IMPROPER SPEED, THEN ALLOWED THE CLIMB ANGLE TO BECOME TOO STEEP, CAUSING AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE PILOT FAILED TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY; AND THE PILOT'S LOW TIME AND TOTAL LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

Jan 27, 1991 SEDONA, AZ N54863 Incident substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Jan 22, 1991 SACRAMENTO, CA N96306 Serious (1) destroyed THE FLIGHT'S INADVERTANT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.
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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