Cessna 170

Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna

Model: 170

About the Cessna 170

More than 200 Cessna 170s remain on the U.S. civil registry. The Cessna 170 makes up under 1% of Cessna's active registered fleet. By active fleet size, the Cessna 170 ranks 81st among Cessna's models.

One airworthiness directive has been issued against the Cessna 170 in total. One non-superseded FAA airworthiness directive applies to the Cessna 170. The most recent airworthiness directive applicable to the Cessna 170 is dated June 17, 2011. About two-thirds of all Cessna 170 registry records have been deregistered.

The Cessna 170 records a higher accident rate than about three-quarters of comparable aircraft sharing its aircraft type, engine class, and seat range. 1 of 28 recorded Cessna 170 accidents was fatal.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Cessna
Manufacturer Serial Number 2072302
Model 170
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Cruise Speed 105 MPH / 91 knots
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Reciprocating
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 4 seats
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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.

96%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


18 exact, 9 recovered, 1 provisional

Methodology
28
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


1 fatal accidents.

3.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.

272
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


5,886

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

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 →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
0.4%
Exposure
0.3%
Time series

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.

2008 – 2026 Total 28
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 28 observed): 2008 1, 2010 3, 2011 1, 2012 2, 2013 4, 2014 1, 2015 2, 2017 2, 2018 1, 2019 1, 2020 3, 2022 2, 2023 1, 2024 1, 2025 2, 2026 1. 2 4 6 8 0 1 '08 3 '10 1 '11 2 '12 4 '13 1 '14 2 '15 2 '17 1 '18 1 '19 3 '20 2 '22 1 '23 1 '24 2 '25 3 '26
Composition

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.

6 categories Total 28
Approach 10
Landing 8
Takeoff 4
Initial climb 4
Standing 1
Maneuvering 1
Causes

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.

NTSB top-level codes Total 88
Personnel issues 36
Aircraft 33
Environmental issues 17
Not determined 2
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 28
None 18
Minor 5
Serious 4
Fatal 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (28)· NUSN (3)

Recorded Accidents

All 28 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Summerdale, AL N4178V Substantial Minor Takeoff unknown
Fitchburg, MA N2589V Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Oxford, ME N2607V Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
McKinley Village, AK N3474C Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Wasilla, AK N4464B Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Wheatland, WY N4067V Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Stoney Point, NC N2656V Substantial Serious Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues
San Antonio, TX N4019V Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Ardmore, TN N3962V Substantial Minor Emergency descent Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Valley Center, KS N170RH Substantial Minor Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Selah, WA N4087V Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Big Lake, AK N4133V Destroyed None Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Axtell, KS N4189V Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Williston, FL N4244V Destroyed Fatal Initial climb Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Buffalo, NY C-FHER Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Raymond, MS N4027V Substantial None Prior to flight Aircraft, Personnel issues
Wikieup, AZ N2594V Destroyed None Takeoff Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Ridgely, MD N4216V Substantial None Approach Not determined, Personnel issues
Cleveland, GA N2552V Substantial None Taxi Aircraft, Personnel issues
Plainville, CT N2585V Substantial None Prior to flight Personnel issues, Aircraft
Livermore, CA N3826V Substantial Serious Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Panama City, FL N2561V Substantial Serious Emergency descent Aircraft, Personnel issues
Biddeford, ME N3812V Substantial Minor Emergency descent Aircraft, Personnel issues
Pahrump, NV N1677D Substantial None Approach Not determined
Truckee, CA N3967V Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft

Page 1 of 2 (showing accidents 1–25 of 28).

Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.