Cessna 172 accidents

The NTSB database holds 12,209 accidents and incidents involving the Cessna 172, recorded between 1964 to 2026. 1,728 of them were fatal (14%), and 3,521 people died.

The deadliest year was 1978, with 204 deaths.

The phase of flight recorded most often is landing (2,531 records).

Most of these records are from United States, Canada and Mexico.

517 of these records cannot be placed at all, so they appear in the list below but not on the map.

For 5,757 of them the NTSB recorded no coordinates, so their position on the map is approximate.

12,209

Records

1,728

Fatal

3,521

Deaths

14%

Share fatal

1964 to 2026

Period

Show these on the map 11,692 of 12,209 can be placed (5,757 approximate)

By decade

1960s 1,903

1970s 2,892

1980s 2,353

1990s 1,745

2000s 1,500

2010s 1,126

2020s 690

Where these happened

United States 11,825 Canada 28 Mexico 26 Unknown/Not Reported 18 Australia 16 Spain 13

Operators involved

American Flyers 20 Civil Air Patrol, Inc. 18 Embry-Riddle A 16 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 13 Civil Air Patr 12 General Aviati 10

All 12,209 records by number of deaths, then by date

Date	Aircraft	Location	Operator	Outcome	Died
31 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N5407T	Reed City Mich, Michigan, United States approximate position	Eaton Flying S	No injuries	-
30 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3794L	Tiptonville Tenn, Tennessee, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
30 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3946S	Santa Ynez Calif, California, United States approximate position	Van Nuys Skywa	Minor injuries	-
29 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N368SR	Lewistown Mo, Missouri, United States approximate position	Sky Roamers AI	No injuries	-
29 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3971L	Nashville Ga, Georgia, United States approximate position	Arnold Aviatio	No injuries	-
28 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3823L	Birmingham Ala, Alabama, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
28 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N6332E	Madison Minn, Minnesota, United States approximate position	Canby Pilots C	Minor injuries	-
28 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N6424B	Madison Minn, Minnesota, United States approximate position	Dawson Flying	Minor injuries	-
24 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3624L	Alturas Calif, California, United States approximate position	Alta Air Park	No injuries	-
24 Jul 1966	Cessna 172D N2330U	Bemidji Minn, Minnesota, United States approximate position	Tel-Air Flying	Serious injuries	-
24 Jul 1966	Cessna 172F N8691U	Reading Pa, Pennsylvania, United States approximate position	Reading Aero C	No injuries	-
24 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N8368U	Amarillo Tex, Texas, United States approximate position	Skysales Inc.	No injuries	-
23 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N8182B	Quemado N Mex, New Mexico, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
21 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N8261U	Grand Prairie Tex, Texas, United States approximate position	Greater S.w. I	No injuries	-
17 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3597S	Madison Conn, Connecticut, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
16 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3813L	Walden Ny, New York, United States approximate position	Lamm Aircraft	No injuries	-
16 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N6917A	Dekalb Ill, Illinois, United States approximate position	Rufus M Sobott	Serious injuries	-
15 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N2931U	Van Nuys Calif, California, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
14 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N6744A	Lamar Miss, Mississippi, United States approximate position	Wilco MacHine	Minor injuries	-
14 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N1460Y	Millers Ferry Ala, Alabama, United States approximate position	Downer Flying	No injuries	-
11 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N4125	Plainview Tex, Texas, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
10 Jul 1966	Cessna 172B N8099X	El Monte Calif, California, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
10 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N6013R	Waterbury Conn, Connecticut, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
9 Jul 1966	Cessna 172F N5721R	Sharon Pa, Pennsylvania, United States approximate position	Chadderton Air	No injuries	-
7 Jul 1966	Cessna 172D N2971D	Northbrook Ill, Illinois, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
4 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N4429L	East Hampton Ny, New York, United States approximate position	Lamm Aircraft	No injuries	-
4 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N2382U	St.laurent, Canada approximate position	St.cloud Flyin	No injuries	-
4 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N6462B	Circleville Ohio, Ohio, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
3 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N5784R	Madras Oreg, Oregon, United States approximate position	Flyways Inc.	No injuries	-
2 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N8903B	Monache Medow Cal, California, United States not on the map	-	Serious injuries	-
2 Jul 1966	Cessna 172F N643MA	Glens Falls Ny, New York, United States approximate position	-	Serious injuries	-
1 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N3733L	Kalispell Mont, Montana, United States approximate position	Aerial Surveys	No injuries	-
1 Jul 1966	Cessna 172 N18984	Delta Junctn Alas, Alaska, United States not on the map	FT Wainwright	No injuries	-
30 Jun 1966	Cessna 172F N7871U	Kennett Mo, Missouri, United States approximate position	Twin County AE	No injuries	-
30 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N3712L	Jay Fla, Florida, United States approximate position	Twin Countu AE	No injuries	-
30 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N6063A	Corsicana Tex, Texas, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
29 Jun 1966	Cessna 172G N11B	Mandeville la, Louisiana, United States approximate position	-	Minor injuries	-
29 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N7234T	Bakersville Nc, North Carolina, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
29 Jun 1966	Cessna 172G N4237L	Thompson Ohio, Ohio, United States approximate position	General Aviati	Serious injuries	-
28 Jun 1966	Cessna 172G N5932R	Albuquerque N Mex, New Mexico, United States approximate position	Mercury Aviati	Minor injuries	-
26 Jun 1966	Cessna 172E N3911S	Vacaville Calif, California, United States approximate position	Peninsula Avia	Serious injuries	-
25 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N2474Y	Parrsboro Can, Canada not on the map	South END Auto	No injuries	-
24 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N6202E	Richland Cntr Wis, Wisconsin, United States approximate position	Marquette Coun	No injuries	-
22 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N4408L	Piedmont Mo, Missouri, United States approximate position	Stuttgart Flyi	No injuries	-
22 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N8116U	Perrault Flls Can, Canada not on the map	-	No injuries	-
21 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N7315T	High Point Nc, North Carolina, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
20 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N4021F	Brewton, Alabama, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
18 Jun 1966	Cessna 172C N7966U	Petaluma Calif, California, United States approximate position	Petaluma Skyra	No injuries	-
17 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N3826L	Atomic City Id, Idaho, United States approximate position	-	No injuries	-
17 Jun 1966	Cessna 172 N7287A	Berger Mo, Missouri, United States approximate position	Old Eagle Flyi	No injuries	-