Cessna 172S
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 172S
About the Cessna 172S
The Cessna 172S records about 9.7 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over the type's FAA-registration exposure. Within the same aircraft-type, engine-class, and seat-range cohort, the 172S records a higher accident rate than nearly all comparable types, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate. About 10% of the 172S's recorded accidents were fatal.
The 172S accounts for about 2.6% of Cessna's active registered fleet.
Across all U.S. registry records ever held for the 172S, about half have since been deregistered.
The 172S carries 7 active airworthiness directives out of 8 ever issued against the type, and the most recent of those was issued March 6, 2008.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2072439 |
| Model | 172S |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| 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 172S, 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).
384 exact, 22 recovered, 12 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
40 fatal accidents.
9.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
43,076 (± 1,360)
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 (418)· NUSN (22)· UNK (4)· 129 (1)· 135 (1)· PUBU (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 418 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, UT | N235GW | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Cambridge, MD | N789EP | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Price, UT | N674SP | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Palo Alto, CA | N222MF | Substantial | None | Approach | Not determined, Environmental issues | |
| Covington, GA | N6026P | Destroyed | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Cortez, CO | N6017J | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Grand Forks, ND | N539ND | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Payson, AZ | N1835U | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Saint Petersburg, FL | N2468Z | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| New Smyrna Beach, FL | N6345L | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Daytona Beach, FL | N378FA | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| St. Petersburg, FL | N6013J | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| McKinney, TX | N348ME | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | N2100V | Substantial | Fatal | Approach | Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Fort Myers, FL | N385ME | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| LAWRENCE, KS | N99HV | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues | |
| Port Townsend, WA | N14511 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Branscomb, CA | N3542V | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Boynton Beach, FL | N423FT | Substantial | None | Enroute | Not determined, Environmental issues | |
| Franconia, NH | N5295Y | Substantial | None | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Longmont, CO | N2459K | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Frederick, MD | N387AF | Substantial | unknown | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Santa Maria, CA | N172CY | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| White Plains, NY | N1166W | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Goddard, KS | N919YA | Substantial | Serious | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Personnel issues |
Page 14 of 17 (showing accidents 326–350 of 418).
Airworthiness Directives
Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 15, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →
7 active · 8 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:
Directives by year
Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.
Recent directives
The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.
| AD number | Effective date | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
2008-03-02 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R and 172S Airplanes | Superseded | |
2007-08-03 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R, 172S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H Airplanes | Active | |
2007-05-10 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R, 172S, 182S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H Airplanes | Active | |
2006-17-04 |
Airworthiness Directives; The Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R, 172S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H Airplanes | Active | |
2005-13-10 |
Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R, 172S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H Airplanes | Active |