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NTSB investigations: Cessna 172N, MT

18 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Cessna 172N. 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

19782026

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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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'MT' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072434')) 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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'MT' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072434'))
  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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'MT' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072434'))
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 WPR25LA243Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172N · Ronan, MTThe student pilot's inadequate landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.Aug 8, 2025 · N734SW · Substantial damage NTSB GAA16CA419Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Lewiston, MTThe pilot's failure to ensure that his seat was adjusted and locked, which resulted in his seat sliding aft during the takeoff roll, and the subsequent loss of directional control and runway excursion.Aug 2, 2016 · N734GM · Substantial damage NTSB GAA15CA235Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172N · Kalispell, MTThe pilot's loss of directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion, and collision with runway and taxiway lights and terrain.Aug 19, 2015 · N733NH · Substantial damage NTSB SEA06CA098Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172N · Billings, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a sign while taxiing to parking.Apr 30, 2006 · N739AJ · Substantial damage NTSB SEA96LA009Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Laurel, MTthe student pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in inadequate altitude/clearance from hangar buildings and a subsequent emergency landing, while attempting to evade a flock of geese. The flock of geese was a related factor.Oct 19, 1995 · N6477D · Substantial damage NTSB SEA94LA113Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Monarch, MTPoor in flight planning/decision. A factor to the accident was downdrafts.Apr 30, 1994 · N739CW · Substantial damage NTSB SEA92FA013Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Columbus, MTThe pilot in command's operation at too low an altitude over the river and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from the power lines. Factors contributing to the accident were the wires crossing the river and the pilot in command's poor judgement in…Oct 18, 1991 · N733QL · Destroyed NTSB SEA91LA228Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Butte, MTUnfavorable winds. Factors to the accident were: inadequate weather evaluation and lack of total flight experience.Aug 31, 1991 · N2396E · Substantial damage NTSB SEA90LA191Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Dillon, MTPilot misjudged the flare that resulted in a bounced landing.Sep 11, 1990 · N5345D · Substantial damage NTSB DEN85LA135Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Loma, MTThe acft contacted power lines which cross over the Missouri river. The lines are aprx 150-200 ft above the river on one side and aprx 45 ft above the river on the opposite side. The plt stated he was flying along the river at an alt of aprx 75 ft when…May 18, 1985 · N6462D · Substantial damage NTSB DEN84LA034Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Helena, MTThe acft propeller struck a passenger who was attemping to sweep snow off the acft. The plt's and passenger's version of mishap vary. The plt stated he instructed the passenger to stay away from the acft. The passenger stated the plt toldhim to sweep the snow…Dec 2, 1983 · N4818D · Minor damage NTSB DEN83LA100Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Martinsdale, MTReportedly, the instructor plt was on a personal/business flt with a student plt as a passenger. A landing was made on a road that had been used by crop duster plts. The plt had been informed about the presence of power lines. He saw some power lines & had…Apr 19, 1983 · N6322D · Destroyed NTSB DEN83LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · St. Ignatius, MTAccording to the pilot, the passenger door opened before lift off. He attempted to brake the aircraft in wet snow and ice and slid off the end of the runway into a ditch. The investigation revealed the aircraft had a past history of the entry door latch…Nov 12, 1982 · N733UE · Substantial damage NTSB DEN83LA009Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Toston, MTThe pilot elected to practice some landings on a gravel road. He stated that during the first approach, he was high and elected to go around. On the second approach, a landing was made. However, the pilot reported that during touchdown, the airspeed was fast…Oct 15, 1982 · N5325D · Substantial damage NTSB DEN82DA138Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportCessna 172 · Billings, MTThe aircraft crashed during a landing on runway 27R. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported to be from 210 degrees at 11 KTS. The pilot stated that he encountered moderate turbulence during the approach. He believed that he also encountered a…Jul 20, 1982 · N6487D · Substantial damage NTSB DEN81FTI15Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 172N · Libby, MTAug 15, 1981 · N738XH · Substantial damage NTSB DEN80DTI13Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 172 · Turner, MTJul 20, 1980 · N739KL · Substantial damage NTSB SEA78DTA22Accident · Minor injuriesClosedCessna 172 · Red Lodge, MTSep 7, 1978 · N739CW · Substantial damage