Cessna 172A
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 172A
About the Cessna 172A
The Cessna 172A keeps more than 400 aircraft on the U.S. civil registry, a presence that ranks 54th by active fleet size within Cessna's lineup. The model accounts for about 0.6% of Cessna's total active registered fleet.
The registry's longer memory of the 172A reaches back further than its active count suggests: across all U.S. records ever held for the type, just over half have been deregistered.
On safety, the Cessna 172A records an accident rate of about 1.8 per 1,000 aircraft-years over the type's FAA-registration exposure. Measured within its cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, the 172A sits near the bottom of the safety percentile range, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, which places the type at a lower accident rate than most comparable types. Of 16 recorded accidents for the 172A, none were fatal.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2072404 |
| Model | 172A |
| 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 |
Share your captured photos of the Cessna 172A, receive attribution and a link. 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).
13 exact, 3 recovered, 0 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
0 fatal accidents.
0.0% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
9,137
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 →
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 (16)· NUSN (2)
Recorded Accidents
All 16 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete, WA | N6964A | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Fairbanks, AK | N7274T | Substantial | Minor | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Orangeburg, SC | N7607T | Substantial | None | Taxi | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Stockbridge, GA | N7572T | Substantial | Minor | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Decatur, GA | N172XX | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Enumclaw, WA | N7243T | Substantial | Serious | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Eatonville, WA | N7701T | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Vineland, MN | N76NG | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues | |
| Clarendon, TX | N7262T | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Fairhope, AL | N295SP | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Payson, AZ | N7810T | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Glenburn, ME | N6843X | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Corsicana, TX | N7326T | Destroyed | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Coolidge, AZ | N7822T | Substantial | Minor | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Albuquerque, NM | N6539B | Substantial | Serious | Approach | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Jamestown, PA | N9822T | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Environmental issues, Personnel issues |