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
Mar 01, 1998 LANGLEY AFB, VA N62082 Fatal (2) destroyed
The pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into IMC conditions, and the subsequent loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. A factor in the ac…

The pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into IMC conditions, and the subsequent loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. A factor in the accident was the low ceiling.

Feb 22, 1998 YORK, PA N54172 Fatal (1) substantial The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.
Sep 22, 1997 AIRVILLE, PA N55221 Fatal (1) destroyed The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush and subsequent collision with terrain.
Jul 19, 1997 CHICAGO, IL N5323K Fatal (7) destroyed
the pilots not maintaining visual separation between their airplanes. A factor in this accident was the pilot of the southbound airplane not reportin…

the pilots not maintaining visual separation between their airplanes. A factor in this accident was the pilot of the southbound airplane not reporting her position abeam the airport as directed by the ATC controller.

Mar 26, 1997 BURLINGTON, WY N97527 Fatal (1) destroyed loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.
Oct 26, 1996 ST. CROIX, N9818L Fatal (3) destroyed the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.
Aug 11, 1996 SUMMERSVILLE, WV N65632 Fatal (3) destroyed
The pilot's improper flare, his delay in aborting a landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a bounced landing and a …

The pilot's improper flare, his delay in aborting a landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a bounced landing and a stall during climb out in an attempt to avoid collision with trees.

Dec 02, 1995 HALLETT, OK N98003 Fatal (3) destroyed The flight instructor's intentional low altitude flight maneuver. Factors were the static wire and the bright night condition.
Mar 30, 1995 NAPLES, NY N96746 Fatal (1) destroyed
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were: the night conditions, fog, low …

The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were: the night conditions, fog, low ceiling, and hilly terrain.

Nov 18, 1994 DEMING, NM N54378 Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE IN MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE RISING TERRAIN AND GUSTY, HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.
May 13, 1994 ARLINGTON, TX N98723 Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT.
Oct 14, 1993 KELSO, WA N115FR Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Sep 04, 1993 PEMBROKE, VA N50927 Fatal (1) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANUEVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Aug 15, 1993 LINCOLN PARK, NJ N96135 Fatal (1) destroyed THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION.
May 29, 1993 ENUMCLAW, WA N53408 Fatal (3) destroyed INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FOG AND RAIN.
Apr 01, 1993 LIVERMORE, CA N97462 Fatal (4) destroyed
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LAC…

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, THE RAIN AND HIGH WIND CONDITIONS IN THE AREA.

Jan 20, 1993 SUN CITY, CA N53908 Fatal (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAI…

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE ADVERSE WEATHER, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Oct 24, 1992 WOODY CREEK, CO N63016 Fatal (1) destroyed AIRCRAFT CLIMB PERFORMANCE EXCEEDED. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN FLYING, AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS.
Aug 04, 1992 BRECKENRIDGE, TX N63930 Fatal (1) substantial AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Jul 22, 1992 KINGSTON, WA N52201 Fatal (1) substantial THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS INCLUDE FOG AND LOW CEILINGS.
Jun 09, 1992 BIG SUR, CA N5449K Fatal (3) destroyed PILOT INCAPACITION.
May 19, 1992 PRINCETON, NJ N55110 Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE OVER AN OBSTACLE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE A TAILWIND, DARK NIGHT, AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.
Apr 13, 1992 KELLYVILLE, OK N54736 Fatal (1) destroyed
AN INADVERTENT STALL AND MISJUDGEMENT OF AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT IN TRYING TO STRETCH THE FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRSTR…

AN INADVERTENT STALL AND MISJUDGEMENT OF AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT IN TRYING TO STRETCH THE FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRSTRIP.

Apr 12, 1992 ENGLEWOOD, CO N63078 Fatal (5) destroyed
A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL INITIATED BY INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER PILOT WHILE APPARENTLY ATTEMPTING TO QUELL A DISTURBANCE OF …

A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL INITIATED BY INADVERTENT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER PILOT WHILE APPARENTLY ATTEMPTING TO QUELL A DISTURBANCE OF AN UNKNOWN NATURE. AS A RESULT, THE PILOT DID NOT, OR WAS UNABLE TO, MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE TO PREVENT A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION.

Mar 19, 1992 ACCOKEEK, MD N65737 Fatal (2) destroyed THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
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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