Cessna 172G
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 172G
About the Cessna 172G
The Cessna 172G ranks as the 26th-largest active fleet in Cessna's lineup, with more than 700 aircraft on the U.S. civil registry. That standing accounts for about 1% of Cessna's active registered fleet. About half of all registry records ever held for the model have since been deregistered.
On its safety record, the 172G registers about 3 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over its own FAA-registration exposure. By peer percentile it lands at about a third of its cohort, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, so the model carries a lower accident rate than most aircraft sharing its type, engine class, and seat range. Of its 44 recorded accidents, 5 were fatal.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2072420 |
| Model | 172G |
| 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 172G, 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).
44 exact, 0 recovered, 0 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
5 fatal accidents.
11.4% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
14,837
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 (44)· NUSN (3)· UNK (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 44 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleburne, TX | N3984L | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Houston, TX | N3973L | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Rushville, IN | N4379L | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Nooksack, WA | N4144L | Destroyed | Minor | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Vernon, TX | N1103F | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Gatesvile, TX | N1118F | Substantial | Minor | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Pittsford, VT | N4676L | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Belle Fourche, SD | N2982U | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Tucson, AZ | N4482L | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Covington, TN | N5786R | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Newfane, NY | N3679L | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues | |
| Hartington, NE | N5800R | Substantial | Serious | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Penn Yan, NY | N3969L | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Reading, MI | N3682L | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Temecula, CA | N5931R | Substantial | Minor | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Silver City, ID | N4640L | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Clarksville, FL | N3740L | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Winter Haven, FL | N3700L | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Anacortes, WA | N5880R | unknown | Serious | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues |
Page 2 of 2 (showing accidents 26–44 of 44).