OpenAirDocs.org

NTSB investigations: Cessna 172

19 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Cessna 172, where the first occurrence was “In flight collision with terrain/water”. 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

19842026

Where

Open the map

Latest 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 ('2072402')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 230))
  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.

NTSB SEA07FA165Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Yellow Pine, IDThe pilot's selection of the wrong routing through mountainous terrain and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance.Jun 14, 2007 · N6233E · Substantial damageNTSB ATL04CA163Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Inman, SCThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground while maneuvering for a visual approach to land.Jul 29, 2004 · N3967F · Substantial damageNTSB SEA02LA001Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Lindsay, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain an altitude clear of terrain. A factor was intentional low altitude flight.Oct 1, 2001 · N3910F · DestroyedNTSB DEN99FA051Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Gill, COThe pilot's intentional maneuvering at an unwarranted low altitude resulting in a collision with the ground. Factors were the pilot's ostentatious behavioral display and reduced lighting (dusk) conditions.Mar 14, 1999 · N6085A · DestroyedNTSB FTW98LA116Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Laramie, WYThe pilot's improper flare and subsequent improper go-around in that he failed to use compensating elevator control, and his loss of directional control.Jan 30, 1998 · N6926A · Substantial damageNTSB MIA98LA022Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Crystal River, FLThe certified flight instructors improper supervision of the rated pilot during a crosswind landing resulting in an in-flight collision with the left wing of the airplane and the runway, subsequent loss of directional control on landing rollout, and collision…Nov 3, 1997 · N4105F · Substantial damageNTSB ANC96FA141Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Eagle River, AKThe first pilot's failure to maintain sufficient distance/altitude from terrain. A box canyon and mountainous terrain are factors in the accident.Sep 3, 1996 · N8739B · DestroyedNTSB LAX94LA250Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Suisun City, CAundetermined.Jun 11, 1994 · N7112T · DestroyedNTSB LAX93LA243Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Montgomery Pass, NVThe pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation and intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors relating to this accident were the downdraft, low ceiling, rain, obscuration, and the mountainous terrainJun 5, 1993 · N6185E · DestroyedNTSB LAX91LA268Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Payson, AZA premature liftoff, stall, and subsequent in flight collision with terrain. A factor related to the accident was the high density altitude.Jun 24, 1991 · N8382B · Substantial damageNTSB SEA91FA046Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna C-172 · Colstrip, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's lack of total night flight experience, his lack of recent night flight experience, the dark night light conditions, and the mountainous/hilly terrain…Feb 3, 1991 · N8531B · DestroyedNTSB SEA91LA016Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172A · Brigham City, UTThe pilot did not maintain a proper climb rate.Nov 15, 1990 · N5030A · Substantial damageNTSB LAX90LA058Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Byron, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient terrain clearance altitude during a low altitude turn. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's poor judgement in conducting touch-and-go landings with a 700-foot ceiling.Dec 23, 1989 · N8218B · DestroyedNTSB MKC89LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Linn, MOWhile attempting to land crosswind on a 900 foot long dirt runway, the pilot decided he was too high and had excessive airspeed. He attempted to make a go around. However, he was unable to clear a dirt embankment and struck the nose wheel. Unaware of the…Nov 3, 1988 · N6287E · Substantial damageNTSB SEA88LA137Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Coeur D'Alene, IDAfter low pass over intended landing area, acft would not outclimb rising terrain in canyon. Plt mushed into brushy clearcut area rather than collide with rough terrain. Plt report stated finding of low compression on 3 cyls. Density altitude estimated at…Jul 23, 1988 · N8109B · Substantial damageNTSB CHI88LA115Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · North Liberty, INWhile departing from a grass strip the pilot was unable to maintain a sufficient rate of climb and airspeed during the climbout. In an effort to regain airspeed, the pilot stated that he pushed the nose forward and the aircraft struck the ground in a nose…May 22, 1988 · N5848A · Substantial damageNTSB DEN86FA223Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Ten Sleep, WYThe plt became lost/disoriented and inadvertently entered the narrow canyon in a mountain pass. He attempted to land on a public highway at 7,500 feet MSL when it became apparent the acft would not climb fast enough to clear rapidly rising terrain and that it…Aug 9, 1986 · N4016F · DestroyedNTSB LAX85FVA02Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportCessna 172 · Santa Nella, CAWitnesses stated the acft was circling over farm land at a low altand while in a left turn, it descended to ground impact.May 19, 1985 · N5982A · DestroyedNTSB MIA85LA005Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Miles City, FLThe acft collided with heavy brush and the ground during a takeoff from a wet sod rwy. The plt reported that the rwy hadbeen furrowed by wild hogs and he and his 13 year old son had tried to repair the damage prior to takeoff. A takeoff wasattempted using…Oct 13, 1984 · N8336B · Substantial damage