Cessna 152
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 152
About the Cessna 152
The Cessna 152 holds the sixth-largest active fleet in Cessna's lineup, with more than 1,500 airframes currently on the U.S. civil registry. That registered fleet accounts for about 2% of Cessna's total active registered aircraft. Across every registry record the model has ever held, about three-quarters of its airframes have since been deregistered.
Over its FAA-registration exposure, the Cessna 152 records about 5.8 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Its safety percentile sits at about two-thirds of its peer cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, meaning a higher accident rate than about two-thirds of comparable types and a record worse than most of that cohort. About 11% of the model's recorded accidents were fatal.
On the regulatory record, one airworthiness directive applies to the Cessna 152, and one AD has been issued against the model in total. The most recent of those is dated June 17, 2011.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2071835 |
| Model | 152 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | 4 Cycle |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats |
Photo: MilborneOne —
cc-by-sa-3.0
via Wikimedia Commons
Have a personal photo of the Cessna 152? Contact us.
Safety Analysis
Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
240 exact, 6 recovered, 2 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
26 fatal accidents.
10.5% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
42,796 (± 2,527)
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
Within its peer cohort
Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).
This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →
Accidents by year
Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →
Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.
Phase of flight
Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.
Finding category
Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (248)· NUSN (34)· NUSC (3)· UNK (2)
Recorded Accidents
All 248 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | N24932 | Substantial | None | Taxi | unknown | |
| Thonotosassa, FL | N588BR | Substantial | None | Enroute | unknown | |
| East Farmingdale, NY | N65199 | Substantial | None | Taxi | unknown | |
| Richfield, UT | N49792 | Substantial | Minor | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| St. Augustine, FL | N95005 | Substantial | Minor | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Baldwin City, KS | N89585 | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Pottstown, PA | N69200 | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Hornell, NY | N6125B | Destroyed | Fatal | Maneuvering | unknown | |
| Denton, TX | N68332 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Bridgeport, TX | N49785 | Destroyed | None | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Amboy, CA | N66948 | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | N6300Q | Substantial | None | Enroute | Environmental issues | |
| The Dalles, OR | N6308Q | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Manatí, PR | N5313M | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Long Beach, CA | N46393 | Minor | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| MAIDEN, NC | N6194Q | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Personnel issues | |
| Danbury, CT | N757YM | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Hillsboro, OR | N25233 | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Hillsboro, OR | N6460M | Minor | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Denton, TX | N5442B | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Manchester, MI | N222UM | Substantial | None | Enroute | Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| San Jose, CA | N5171B | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Salt Lake City, UT | N48918 | Substantial | None | Emergency descent | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Ione, CA | N49430 | Substantial | Minor | Takeoff | Personnel issues | |
| Watsonville, CA | N49931 | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Not determined, Personnel issues |
Page 1 of 10 (showing accidents 1–25 of 248).