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
Aug 28, 1993 SANTA FE, NM N65655 Serious (1) substantial
IMPROPER PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND IN DESCENDING INTO A VALLEY AT AN ALTITUDE PROVIDING NO ESCAPE ROUTE IN MOUNTAINOUS TER…

IMPROPER PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND IN DESCENDING INTO A VALLEY AT AN ALTITUDE PROVIDING NO ESCAPE ROUTE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Jul 19, 1992 KERNVILLE, CA N5247K Serious (1) destroyed
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY; POORLY PLANNED APPROACH; FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT; AND DELAY IN EXECUTING THE GO-AROUN…

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY; POORLY PLANNED APPROACH; FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT; AND DELAY IN EXECUTING THE GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTING TAILWIND AND CROSSWIND.

Jun 13, 1992 LADYSMITH, WI N52142 Serious (1) destroyed FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE ATTEMPTED ABORT OF THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ATTEMPT.
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.

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.

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.

Jan 22, 1991 SACRAMENTO, CA N96306 Serious (1) destroyed THE FLIGHT'S INADVERTANT ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.
Nov 09, 1990 HAYWARD, WI N64406 Serious (1) destroyed THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.
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.
Nov 13, 1989 BRYCE CANYON, UT CGPGA Serious (1) substantial
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLIMB SPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CONS…

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLIMB SPEED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CONSIDER THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE EFFECT ON THE AIRPLANE'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE.

Oct 01, 1989 BINGHAM, ME N89219 Serious (2) destroyed
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CAPABLE OF OUTCLIMBING THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN UNDER THE EXISTING WIND AND A…

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CAPABLE OF OUTCLIMBING THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN UNDER THE EXISTING WIND AND AIRPLANE WEIGHT CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN AN INTENTIONAL STALL INTO THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE TERRAIN AND WIND CONDITIONS.

Aug 17, 1989 SUPERIOR, WI N98584 Serious (1) substantial THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Sep 11, 1988 SHELTON, WA N54867 Serious (3) destroyed Investigation pending
Nov 29, 1987 NEW PORT RICHEY, FL N62083 Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Sep 20, 1987 FITCHBURG, MA N99151 Serious (2) destroyed Investigation pending
Aug 15, 1987 COVELO, CA N98782 Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
May 16, 1987 LANSING, IL N97193 Serious (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Apr 25, 1987 TERRE HAUTE, IN N51881 Serious (1) substantial Investigation pending
Oct 30, 1986 GALLUP, NM N65184 Serious (4) destroyed Investigation pending
Feb 03, 1986 LAKE JACKSON, TX N52768 Serious (3) destroyed Investigation pending
Aug 01, 1985 STORMVILLE, NY N52503 Serious (2) substantial Investigation pending
Jul 07, 1985 RIO RANCHO, NM N53410 Serious (2) substantial Investigation pending
Feb 19, 1985 COMANCHE, TX N54149 Serious (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Nov 10, 1984 WEST MIFFLIN, PA N97594 Serious (1) destroyed Investigation pending
Mar 14, 1984 HOUSTON, TX N54647 Serious (1) 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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