Cessna 172

2 ADs match the Cessna 172 airframe. Engine ADs depend on the engine installed and are listed on each aircraft page.

• 2011-10-09Cessna Aircraft Company Models 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190…Jun 17, 2011
• 2008-10-02Cessna Aircraft Company 172, 175, 180, 182, 185, 206, 207, 208, 210, and 303 Series…May 12, 2008

AI-extracted — verify against original. Applicability must be confirmed by a mechanic against the aircraft's records.

NTSB events

338

Destroyed

70

Substantial damage

266

Minor damage

1

No damage

0

Per 1,000 aircraft per year, 2016–2025

2.9

Events are NTSB accidents and incidents matched to Cessna 172 airframes by serial number or N-number; counts are approximate, because older events can't always be matched. The yearly rate divides NTSB events from 2016 to 2025 by the number of registered Cessna 172 aircraft in each of those years. Not adjusted for hours flown: training aircraft fly far more than most.

• May 27, 2026Substantial damage · minor injuries · Naubinway, MIN3984F
• May 10, 2026Destroyed · serious injuries · Marysvale, UTN6643A
• Mar 11, 2026Substantial damage · none injuries · Denton, TXN7080T
• Sep 29, 2025Substantial damage · none injuries · Punxsutawney, PAN6703A
• Sep 26, 2025Substantial damage · none injuries · Hayden, IDN7373A

42 reports on Cessna 172 airframes. Each aircraft page lists its own reports.

2 ADs published since 1998 may apply to the Cessna 172; recurring ADs need to be checked at each inspection. 338 NTSB events since 1982 involve Cessna 172 airframes; from 2016 to 2025, about 2.9 a year per 1,000 registered aircraft. Operators and repair stations filed 42 service difficulty reports on Cessna 172 airframes since 1995. Check each aircraft's own record before you buy.

• Read the logbooks for the airframe, engine and propeller, start to finish.
• Check AD compliance records against the ADs that may apply.
• Look for damage history and Form 337 major repairs and alterations.
• Have an independent A&P or IA do a pre-buy inspection.
• Run a title search and use escrow for the payment.