NTSB investigations: Cessna 172K
33 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Cessna 172K, where the sequence of events included Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT). Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072430')
AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s.\"tier2Number\" = '470' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")))
ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072430')
AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '470' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB CEN26LA167Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Topeka, KSThe student pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness while taxiing which resulted in a collision with fence poles on either side of a gate which was not intended for airplanes.NTSB ERA25LA361Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 172K · Salisbury, CTOn September 20, 2025, about 1733 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N78938, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Salisbury, Connecticut. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. The…NTSB WPR25FA182Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportCessna 172 · Billings, MTOn June 19, 2025, at 1412 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K airplane, N79306, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations…NTSB ERA25LA112Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Rock Hill, SCThe student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborded crosswind landing.NTSB ERA24LA390Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172K · Fredericksburg, VAThe pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.NTSB ERA24LA241Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Terryville, CTA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB CEN23LA111Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172K · Moline, ILThe student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.NTSB ERA19LA280Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Manville, NJA total loss of engine power due to the ingestion of sealant material that had loosened inside the carburetor airbox.NTSB ERA19LA246Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Jay, FLThe pilot's improper decision to fly over a river at a very low altitude, which resulted in a collision with power lines.NTSB GAA19CA439Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Manteo, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.NTSB ERA19LA194Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Mount Holly, NJFailure of the pilot's seat back due to a sheared bolt during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.NTSB GAA19CA014Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Stockton, CAThe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.NTSB CEN17LA006Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Wilmot, WIA failure of the No. 1 piston pin plug due to corrosion in the cylinder barrel, which resulted in oil contamination, oil starvation to the crankshaft connecting rod bearings, and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.NTSB GAA16CA413Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Cross Keys, NJThe pilot's failure to maintain lateral bank control during final approach, which resulted with an impact with a tree and substantial damage to the left and right wings.NTSB CEN16LA309Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Neenah, WIA loss of engine power due to oil starvation, which resulted from the pilot, who was not a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, removing the vacuum pump from the engine, and his misconception that he could operate the airplane without the pump.NTSB WPR16LA093Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Avalon, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path on landing because he failed to familiarize himself with the airport's unique approach hazards and recommended procedures before the flight. Also causal was the pilot's failure to recognize the airplane's…NTSB ERA14FA428Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Selkirk, NYA loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.NTSB WPR14FA302Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Littlefield, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control when the airplane encountered high gusting wind while conducting low altitude flight in a narrow canyon, which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain.NTSB CEN14LA134Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Milan, ILThe pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during a short final approach.NTSB CEN14CA096Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · Concordia, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during approach which resulted in the airplane landing long, and his decision to turn off of the runway during the landing roll which resulted in a collision with an earth berm.NTSB WPR14FA078Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Fresno, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while on approach, which subsequently led to a loss of airplane control. Also causal was the pilot’s continued operation of the airplane at night with a diagnosed medical condition that degraded…NTSB ERA13LA281Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Newton, MSThe student pilot's failure to increase engine power during the descent for landing when instructed to do so by the flight instructor and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in collision with a static wire. Contributing to the…NTSB ERA13FA062Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Savannah, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while operating in night, instrument meteorological conditions, due to spatial disorientation.NTSB ANC12CA108Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · Atqasuk, AKThe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while performing a high-speed taxi in windy conditions.NTSB CEN12CA422Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · Greers Ferry, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain a positive rate of climb while taking off with a high density altitude.NTSB ERA12LA241Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Belfast, METhe flight instructor’s failure to ensure the radio was set correctly to activate the pilot-controlled lighting, which resulted in poor positioning for a proper landing and a subsequent off-runway forced landing during an attempted go-around. Contributing to…NTSB ERA11CA441Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · Sylacauga, ALA stuck exhaust-valve on the number one cylinder which resulted in a loss of engine power.NTSB CEN11CA322Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · Farmersville, TXA loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management.NTSB CEN11CA257Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · San Antonio, TXThe student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind while landing in gusty wind conditions.NTSB ERA11CA181Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172K · Ocracoke, NCThe pilot’s inadequate flare and failure to regain control of the airplane while attempting to recover from bounced landing.NTSB ERA10FA502Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Chatsworth, GAThe pilot's inadequate flight planning and in-flight fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the operator's failure to ensure aircraft records pertaining to engine modifications and…NTSB LAX08FA256Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Gearhart, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff due to spatial disorientation.NTSB CHI08LA101Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Roseglen, NDThe pilot failed to maintain obstacle clearance from the TV antenna during a low altitude maneuver. Contributing factors were the antenna, the night conditions, and pilot impairment due to alcohol.