Cessna 172I

Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna

Model: 172I

About the Cessna 172I

Over its FAA-registration exposure, the Cessna 172i records about 3 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Of 21 recorded accidents for the model, 1 was fatal. Against a cohort of the same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range, the 172i sits at about a third on safety, which places its accident rate below roughly two-thirds of comparable types (a higher percentile means a higher accident rate).

The Cessna 172i holds an active U.S. registered fleet of more than 300 aircraft, the 68th-largest active fleet in Cessna's lineup. That standing comes to about 0.5% of Cessna's total active registered fleet. Of every 172i airframe ever recorded on the U.S. registry, about 60% remain registered today.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Cessna
Manufacturer Serial Number 2072426
Model 172I
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 172I, 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).


21 exact, 0 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
21
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


1 fatal accidents.

4.8% of recorded accidents were fatal.

353
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


7,030

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
0.4%
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 – 2025 Total 21
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 21 observed): 2008 2, 2009 2, 2012 2, 2014 1, 2015 1, 2016 1, 2017 1, 2020 2, 2021 1, 2022 2, 2024 5, 2025 1. 2 4 6 8 0 2 '08 2 '09 2 '12 1 '14 1 '15 1 '16 1 '17 2 '20 1 '21 2 '22 6 '24 1 '25
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 21
Landing 7
Enroute 4
Approach 4
Taxi 3
Takeoff 2
Unknown 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 49
Personnel issues 20
Aircraft 15
Environmental issues 13
Not determined 1
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 21
None 14
Minor 5
Fatal 1
Serious 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (21)· NUSN (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 21 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Knoxville, TN N35411 Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Cordes Lakes, AZ N8390L Substantial Minor Enroute unknown
Los Angeles, CA N46028 Substantial None Takeoff unknown
Lewiston Woodville, NC N46118 Substantial None Emergency descent Aircraft, Environmental issues
Ada, OK N8483L Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Environmental issues
Clarion, IA N35719 Substantial Minor Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Olivet, MI N46202 Substantial None Approach Aircraft
Blanding, UT N46055 Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Renton, WA N46287 Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues
Dillon, MT N46017 Substantial Serious Approach Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Cottage Grove, MN N8488L Destroyed Fatal unknown Personnel issues, Not determined
Chugiak, AK N35700 Substantial Minor Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues
Anthony, NM N46204 Substantial Minor Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Nashua, NH N35560 Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Huntsville, AL N35553 Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
McCarthy, AK N46279 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Springfield, TN N35571 Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Panancea, FL N35638 Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Rockford, IL N35571 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Environmental issues
Frederick, MD N35540 Substantial None Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
Osh Kosh, NE N35667 Substantial None Taxi Personnel issues, Environmental 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.