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
Jun 14, 1989	PITTSBURGH, PA	N3420Y	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES BY THE PILOT.
Jun 13, 1989	RENO, NV	N72WS	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING.
Jun 05, 1989	GLENNALLEN, AK	N52010	Incident	substantial	PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND PLANNING FOR HIS TAKEOFF.
May 26, 1989	DULUTH, MN	N45JB	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN TURBULENT GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
May 22, 1989	ANCHORAGE, AK	N9949N	Incident	substantial	PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR JUDGEMENT, AND HIS LACK OF INITIAL TRAINING (NONE) IN SEAPLANE OPERATIONS.
May 10, 1989	TOGIAK, AK	N2747X	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, AN UNSAFE/HAZARDOUS CONDITION (DRUM THAT SOMEONE HAD LEF… IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, AN UNSAFE/HAZARDOUS CONDITION (DRUM THAT SOMEONE HAD LEFT NEAR THE LANDING AREA).
May 04, 1989	COTTONWOOD, AZ	N9924N	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PIC WHEN HE DECIDED TO LAND WITH SUCH A CROSSWIND, AND NOT MAINTAINING COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND AFTER H… IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PIC WHEN HE DECIDED TO LAND WITH SUCH A CROSSWIND, AND NOT MAINTAINING COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND AFTER HE DECIDED TO ATTEMPT THE LANDING.
Apr 24, 1989	FAIRBANKS, AK	N7652A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Apr 06, 1989	MARSHALL, MN	N7510K	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF AN UNAPPROVED WELD BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MUFFLER. THE FAILED WELD RESULTED IN THE MUFFLER SEPARATING AND AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE.
Mar 30, 1989	TACOMA, WA	N2936C	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LOW TOTAL FLIGHT TIME AND HIS INEXPER… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LOW TOTAL FLIGHT TIME AND HIS INEXPERIENCE IN THE CESSNA 180 AIRPLANE.
Mar 28, 1989	BOULDER, CO	N4756B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, FAILING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. GUSTY CROSSWINDS CONT… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, FAILING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. GUSTY CROSSWINDS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Mar 25, 1989	SKWENTNA, AK	N9685B	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S SELEC… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING/TAKEOFF SITE.
Mar 04, 1989	W. COLUMBIA, SC	N601RF	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE ATTACHMENT BOLT DURING INSTALLATION BY UNKNOWN PERSON(S), WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE BOLT AND NUT AND SUBSEQUENT… IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE ATTACHMENT BOLT DURING INSTALLATION BY UNKNOWN PERSON(S), WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE BOLT AND NUT AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR FROM THE AIRPLANE.
Feb 05, 1989	WRANGELL, AK	N9024C	Incident	substantial	THE PLT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND DURING TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS A… THE PLT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND DURING TAKEOFF ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS AND GUSTING WINDS.
Jan 31, 1989	NOCONA, TX	N59KM	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE DATA/OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS BY LANDING IN EXCESS OF THE CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND T… THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE DATA/OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS BY LANDING IN EXCESS OF THE CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE RESULTANT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Jan 30, 1989	ELK CITY, ID	N52095	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT ON TOUCHDOWN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SOFT SNOW CONDITIONS ON THE RANCH AIRSTR… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT ON TOUCHDOWN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SOFT SNOW CONDITIONS ON THE RANCH AIRSTRIP.
Jan 19, 1989	ARLINGTON, WA	N9104R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HAND-PROP THE ENGINE WITHOUT PROPERLY SECURING IT.
Dec 06, 1988	KETCHIKAN, AK	N46602	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Nov 11, 1988	MESHIK LAKE, AK	N420SB	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 30, 1988	ANCHORAGE, AK	N9278C	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 22, 1988	SELDOVIA, AK	N820AK	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 02, 1988	WASILLA, AK	N420SB	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 11, 1988	FAIRBANKS, AK	N3539E	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 07, 1988	FIGURE 8 LAKE, AK	N2483F	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Sep 05, 1988	CHICKALOONFLATS, AK	N2989K	Incident	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.

← Cessna 180 For Sale All Cessna Models

Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Looking to buy a Cessna 180? View 50 Cessna 180 for sale ↓

Cessna 180 Safety Record

Report an Issue