How many accidents has the Cessna 180 had?

The NTSB has recorded 1114 events involving the Cessna 180: 87 fatal, 51 serious, 107 minor injuries, and 865 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 180 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 180 has 1114 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 180 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 1114 events recorded from 1981 to 2025.

1114

All Events

865

Incidents

107

Minor

Serious

Fatal (166 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Oct 15, 1995	SEATTLE, WA	N3698C	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Oct 07, 1995	COLD BAY, AK	N64337	Incident	substantial	the pilot's selection of an unsuitable area/terrain for landing. The submerged sandbar was a related factor.
Sep 23, 1995	CRAIG, AK	N9208C	Incident	substantial	The pilot's selection of an unsuitable taxi/takeoff area.
Sep 15, 1995	PORT ALSWORTH, AK	N2940K	Incident	substantial	Failure of the main landing gear wheel that had been modified for a tundra tire.
Sep 15, 1995	PRAY, MT	N11JW	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO THE LOSS OF RIGHT TAILWHEEL STEERING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: A LEFT QUARTERING CROSSWIND AND THE SLOPED … THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO THE LOSS OF RIGHT TAILWHEEL STEERING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: A LEFT QUARTERING CROSSWIND AND THE SLOPED SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Sep 10, 1995	GLENNALLEN, AK	N94259	Incident	destroyed	The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for takeoff. The water condition with large waves/swells was a related factor.
Sep 03, 1995	IGIUGIG, AK	N5293D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION TO ASSURE THE AIRPLANE WOULD MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM THE RIVER BANK DURING TAK… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION TO ASSURE THE AIRPLANE WOULD MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM THE RIVER BANK DURING TAKEOFF.
Sep 02, 1995	COOLEDGE, AZ	N5059E	Incident	substantial	the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind gust.
Aug 21, 1995	FORT YUKON, AK	N9407C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE TAKEOFF AREA.
Aug 17, 1995	NIKISKI, AK	N9797G	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. SOFT TERRAIN AND CONTAMINATION IN THE LEFT BRAKE CYLINDER WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Jul 13, 1995	KING SALMON, AK	N63336	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE DOWNDRAFT AND CROS… FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE DOWNDRAFT AND CROSSWIND WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Jul 06, 1995	NAKNEK, AK	N2975C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAXI.
Jul 05, 1995	SPRINGDALE, AR	N8676X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION.
Jun 23, 1995	MINTO, AK	N5177E	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE A… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE AREA (WATERWAY) FOR THE TAKEOFF.
Jun 20, 1995	CHATSWORTH, NJ	N2728X	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Related factors were the gusty crosswind conditions.
May 28, 1995	PHILLIPSBURG, MT	N9115C	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO TAKE… THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO TAKE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION AND RECOVER FROM THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO ADEQUATELY ALIGN THE LANDING GEAR.
May 25, 1995	EVELETH, MN	N8611X	Incident	substantial	the pilot's improper setting of the flaps to the 30 degree position and an excessive descent rate during the landing.
May 12, 1995	ORR, MN	N9336C	Incident	substantial	the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind weather condition. A factor was the crosswind.
May 05, 1995	LITTLE ROCK, AR	N180JV	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED.
Apr 23, 1995	LOS BANOS, CA	N4928A	Incident	substantial	fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation.
Apr 15, 1995	BETHEL, AK	N9736B	Incident	substantial	THE CESSNA PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE TRANSPORT AIRPLANE WHILE TAXIING, AND THE GROUND PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE LOOKOUT W… THE CESSNA PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE TRANSPORT AIRPLANE WHILE TAXIING, AND THE GROUND PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE LOOKOUT WHILE MARSHALLING THE TRANSPORT AIRPLANE FROM THE RAMP.
Apr 15, 1995	NYSSA, OR	N180WH	Incident	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL EN ROUTE.
Mar 03, 1995	WEST DOVER, VT	N180BF	Incident	substantial	A LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE FROZEN SNOW COVERED TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR.
Feb 25, 1995	EL PASO, TX	N9900N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Feb 18, 1995	COTTON, MN	N52172	Incident	substantial	the pilot's failure to gain sufficient clearance over the trees during the aborted landing.

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 180 Safety Record

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