Cessna 172D — registry & accident history
Compiled from FAA & NTSB records · as of Jul 22, 2026
There are 860 Cessna 172D airframes on record (built 1936–1963), 471 currently registered. 21 have one or more NTSB accident records (21 records total, 2 with a fatal highest-injury classification). Data as of Jul 22, 2026.
Recent Cessna 172D accidents
The pilot’s failure to see the blockage in the fuel tank vent tube during the preflight inspection which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the deterioration of the right fuel cap vent to the point where it was inoperative.
The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane’s fuel quantity, which resulted in total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
The pilot’s continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night and his failure to maintain adequate altitude, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
The pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination with water and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that detected, but did not fully resolve, the water contamination of the fuel system.
The failure of the airplane’s right steering rod end, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control.
The pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind, and exceed the critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground.