Cessna 172E

Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna

Model: 172E

About the Cessna 172E

The Cessna 172E keeps more than 600 aircraft on the U.S. civil registry, ranking 35th by active fleet size among Cessna's registered models. That standing translates to about 1% of Cessna's active registered fleet. About half of all registry records ever held for the 172E have been deregistered.

Records show 25 accidents for the Cessna 172E, of which 2 were fatal. Across the type's FAA-registration exposure, the 172E carries an accident rate of about 2 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Measured against its peer cohort of same-type, engine-class, and seat-range aircraft, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, the 172E falls in the lowest band. Within that cohort, the 172E has a lower accident rate than nearly all comparable types.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Cessna
Manufacturer Serial Number 2072412
Model 172E
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 172E, receive attribution and a link. 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.

100%
Identity Confirmed

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


24 exact, 1 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
25
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


2 fatal accidents.

8.0% of recorded accidents were fatal.

616
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


12,485

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
0.3%
Exposure
0.6%
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.

2009 – 2026 Total 25
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 25 observed): 2009 3, 2010 3, 2012 2, 2013 2, 2015 1, 2016 2, 2018 1, 2019 5, 2021 3, 2024 1, 2025 1, 2026 1. 2 4 6 8 0 3 '09 3 '10 2 '12 2 '13 1 '15 2 '16 1 '18 5 '19 3 '21 1 '24 1 '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 25
Landing 8
Takeoff 5
Enroute 5
Initial climb 3
Maneuvering 3
Approach 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 78
Personnel issues 34
Aircraft 29
Environmental issues 12
Not determined 3
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 25
None 11
Minor 8
Serious 4
Fatal 2

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (25)· NUSN (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 25 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Kingman, AZ N7783U Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
Florida City, FL N5405T Substantial Minor Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Ridgeway, VA N5645T Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Hardy, AR N5798T Destroyed Fatal Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Enterprise, OR N3965S Substantial None Landing Aircraft
Waxhaw, NC N3090U Substantial Minor Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Toms River, NJ N3958S Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
FallBrook, CA N3803S Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Grassy Butte, ND N5347T Substantial Serious Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Wasilla, AK N3031U Substantial None Enroute Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Lignum, VA N7414N Substantial Minor Maneuvering Not determined, Aircraft
Karluk, AK N3835S Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Rexburg, ID N3677S Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Salmon, ID N7748U Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Gettysburg, PA N3647S Substantial Serious Maneuvering Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues
Apex, NC N3513S Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Meeteetse, WY N516MA Substantial Minor Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
East Bend, NC N377SP Substantial Minor Initial climb Not determined
Dinsmore, CA N3879S Substantial Serious Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Suisun City, CA N5582T Substantial Minor Approach Not determined
Mammoth Lakes, CA N7807U Substantial Serious Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
West Milford, NJ N5528T Substantial Fatal Initial climb Aircraft, Personnel issues
Como, MS N5683T Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Tucson, AZ N3880S Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Plano, TX N5420T Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues
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.