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
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 06, 1991 FREEPORT, IL N65567 Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISUSE OF FLAPS AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENC…

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISUSE OF FLAPS AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

Jan 02, 1991 RATTLESNAKE ISL, OH N9837L Fatal (1) substantial THE CFI'S DELAYED DECISION TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND FROM A LONG LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED.
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.
Dec 02, 1990 AXTON, VA N55276 Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN UNMARKED POWERLINE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH T…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN UNMARKED POWERLINE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

Nov 17, 1990 ATLANTIC OCEAN, AO N51101 Fatal (2) destroyed DELAY OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE AND, AS A RESULT, HE DITCHED THE AIRPLANE NEAR A BOAT DUE TO A LOW FUEL SUPPLY.
Nov 09, 1990 HAYWARD, WI N64406 Serious (1) destroyed THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.
Oct 16, 1990 FORT WAYNE, IN N5499K Fatal (3) destroyed
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING SPEED. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE PREMATURE ROTATION AND THE PILOT'S LAC…

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING SPEED. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE PREMATURE ROTATION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Oct 14, 1990 WILLIAMSBURG, IA N99862 Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ABRUPT PULL-UP TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO ACTIVITIES ON THE GROUND.
Oct 02, 1990 GORHAM, NH N98438 Fatal (3) destroyed
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE AC…

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND PILOT FATIGUE.

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.

Jun 03, 1990 JERSEYVILLE, IL N64085 Minor substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO GO AROUND WHEN CROSSWINDS UPSET AIRCRAFT ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY IN THE FLARE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S A…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO GO AROUND WHEN CROSSWINDS UPSET AIRCRAFT ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY IN THE FLARE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO LAND IN CROSSWINDS WHICH EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM FOR WHICH THE MODEL HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED CAPABLE.

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 29, 1990 LAMBERTVILLE, MI N62032 Minor substantial THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE ABORTED LANDING.
Apr 08, 1990 SAVANNA, IL N89594 Incident substantial IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE STRONG/GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Mar 12, 1990 TAMPA, FL N9899L Serious (2) destroyed PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS), WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL/SPIN), AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
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.

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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