Cessna 172A

1 AD matches the Cessna 172A 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

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

NTSB events

71

Destroyed

14

Substantial damage

57

Minor damage

0

No damage

0

Per 1,000 aircraft per year, 2016–2025

1.2

Events are NTSB accidents and incidents matched to Cessna 172A 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 172A aircraft in each of those years. Not adjusted for hours flown: training aircraft fly far more than most.

• Mar 16, 2025Substantial damage · minor injuries · Fairbanks, AKN7274T
• Oct 21, 2023Substantial damage · none injuries · Orangeburg, SCN7607T
• Apr 25, 2022Substantial damage · minor injuries · Stockbridge, GAN7572T
• Nov 4, 2021Substantial damage · minor injuries · Decatur, GAN172XX
• Jul 28, 2017Substantial damage · serious injuries · Enumclaw, WAN7243T

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

1 AD published since 1998 may apply to the Cessna 172A; recurring ADs need to be checked at each inspection. 71 NTSB events since 1982 involve Cessna 172A airframes; from 2016 to 2025, about 1.2 a year per 1,000 registered aircraft. Operators and repair stations filed 17 service difficulty reports on Cessna 172A 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.