NTSB investigations: Cessna 172L

10 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Cessna 172L, 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.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19822026

NTSB investigations: Cessna 172L per year, 1982–2026: 10 cases
1982	1
1985	1
1990	1
1995	1
1996	1
2000	1
2001	1
2002	1
2004	1
2006	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

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 ('2072432') 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

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 ('2072432')
      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.

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 ('2072432')
    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

Run 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 NYC06FA104Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Montgomery Twp, PAAn impact with mountainous terrain for an undetermined reason.Apr 25, 2006 · N7604G · Destroyed NTSB CHI04FA223Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Webster, WIThe high velocity impact with terrain for undetermined reasons.Aug 12, 2004 · N3599F · Destroyed NTSB CHI03LA005Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Fish Lake, MNThe altitude/clearance not maintained while maneuvering on short final for landing on the lake. The glassy water was a contributing factor.Oct 5, 2002 · N713SX · Substantial damage NTSB NYC01LA210Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Brockport, NYThe pilot's delayed go-around during the landing attempt. Factors included the dark night conditions and the pilot's inadequate preflight decision to fly to an airport with inoperative surface lighting.Aug 13, 2001 · N7878G · Substantial damage NTSB NYC00FA257Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Mill Creek, PAThe pilot's improper pre-flight planning, and in-flight planning decision to continue visual fight into deteriorating adverse weather conditions. Factors were the night conditions, low clouds and fog.Aug 28, 2000 · N4344Q · Destroyed NTSB CHI96LA234Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Vicksburg, MIthe pilot's premature raising of the flaps during a go-around. The presence of birds was a factor.Jul 11, 1996 · N7545G · Substantial damage NTSB SEA95LA135Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Stanley, IDThe pilot's failure to use all available runway, his improper use of flaps, and his failure to maintain airspeed. A factor contributing to the accident is high density altitude.Jul 2, 1995 · N4319Q · Substantial damage NTSB LAX91LA057Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Mcdermitt, NVIntentional buzzing conducted by the pilot. His poor judgement was a factor in the accident.Dec 17, 1990 · N4319Q · Substantial damage NTSB CHI85LA132Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Champaign, ILDuring a practice asr apch using a vision restricting device the plt in command exceeded the mda and crashed in a field aprx 1 mile from the airport. Recommended altitudes were being issued by ATC. The safety plt issued a warning concerning the low alt as the…Mar 8, 1985 · N4332Q · Substantial damage NTSB LAX82FA213Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Meiners Oaks, CAWitnesses in a remote canyon reported an aircraft making low passes in that area. They last saw the plane going up the canyon. Later, the aircraft was located on a wall of the same canyon. Tests of the pilot's blood showed an alcohol level of .279 percent.…Jun 5, 1982 · N19659 · Destroyed