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
May 04, 1991	TRUCKEE, CA	N9147C	Incident	substantial	THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES TO ARREST THE RUNWAY EXCURSION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORA… THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES TO ARREST THE RUNWAY EXCURSION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORABLE WINDS, CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
Apr 26, 1991	VERNAL, UT	N40LT	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND HIS FAILUE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING.
Apr 04, 1991	YUKON RIVER, AK	N2117Z	Incident	substantial	A CARBURETOR FUEL LEAK DUE TO INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Mar 10, 1991	AMOS LAKES, AK	N66036	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF TERRAIN THAT WAS ROUGH, SNOW-COVERED AND ICY FOR TAKEOFF.
Feb 25, 1991	GLASGOW, MT	N7676A	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STRONG WINDS, HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE AREA AND TAILWIND … THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STRONG WINDS, HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE AREA AND TAILWIND CONDITIONS FOR LANDING AT THE ONLY AVAILABLE AREA.
Nov 04, 1990	ANCHORAGE, AK	N4597B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Nov 04, 1990	NORTHWOOD, ND	N2987C	Incident	substantial	POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PIC.
Oct 10, 1990	ANCHORAGE, AK	N3330D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE ON THE BRAKE… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE ON THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT.
Oct 01, 1990	SWIFT RIVER, AK	N9339T	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERFORMANCE DATA OF THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS FAILURE TO IDENTIFY UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Sep 20, 1990	WOOD CREEK, AK	N5276D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER LIFT OFF AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Sep 17, 1990	ENTERPRISE, OR	N3117D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING.
Sep 16, 1990	PAISLEY, OR	N9669B	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING SITE.
Sep 12, 1990	NAKNEK, AK	N180EP	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND ULTIMATE FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Aug 27, 1990	LIME VILLAGE, AK	N3680C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERFORMANCE DATA DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN NOT BEING ID… THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERFORMANCE DATA DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN NOT BEING IDENTIFIED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Aug 26, 1990	CALEXICO, CA	N2985A	Incident	substantial	THE AIRCRAFT'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNFAVORABLE WIND, A DUST DEVIL, THAT RENDERED THE AIRCRAFT UNCONTROLLABLE.
Aug 23, 1990	SAINT JOSEPH, LA	N9491C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND HIS USE OF EXCESSIVE BRAKING.
Aug 21, 1990	SAN CARLOS, CA	N2790X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXP… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT.
Aug 11, 1990	SOLDOTNA, AK	N52098	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION CAUSED BY INFLIGHT SIPHONING OF FUEL.
Aug 02, 1990	TUCSON, AZ	N9463C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE FROM A MD-80'S JET EXHAUST.
Jul 20, 1990	RED BLUFF, CA	N20KB	Incident	substantial	AN IMPROPER LANDING FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING.
Jul 19, 1990	ORR, MN	N2134Z	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTOR WAS ROUGH/U… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTOR WAS ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Jul 03, 1990	BUTTERFLY LAKE, AK	N3125W	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO RETRACT THE AIRPLANE'S WHEEL PRIOR TO A WATER LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES/DIREC… THE PILOT FAILED TO RETRACT THE AIRPLANE'S WHEEL PRIOR TO A WATER LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES, AND HABIT INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY HIS CONCERN OVER AN AIR TRAFFIC CONFLICT DURING THE PRECEDING TAKEOFF.
Jul 01, 1990	HOMER, AK	N820AK	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jun 29, 1990	ANCHORAGE, AK	N3186B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS TYPE AIRPLANE (LARGE TIRES/TAIL WHEEL COMBIN… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS TYPE AIRPLANE (LARGE TIRES/TAIL WHEEL COMBINATION), AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Jun 25, 1990	TECUMSEH, NE	N2873K	Incident	substantial	EXCESSIVE TAXI SPEED AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

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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