Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

April 22, 1994 · Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A Tomcat MK5 · N9061T

Brawley, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 22, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Brawley, CA
Aircraft
Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A Tomcat MK5
Tail Number
N9061T
Operator
Stephen R Streeter
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX94LA199

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED FOR NIGHT AERIAL APPLICATION. ACCORDING TO 2 COMPANY LOADERS, THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED THE APPLICATION AND WAS MANEUVERING TO MAKE AN APPROACH INTO THE SOUTHWESTERLY WIND FOR A LANDING AT THE TRUCK. WHILE MANEUVERING ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE TRUCK, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE AND CRASHED. THE AVERAGE HEIGHT OF THE POWER LINE WAS ABOUT 25 FEET. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE, WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND AFTER COMPLETING AERIAL APPLICATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES FOR THE PILOT TO DETECT THE OBSTRUCTION (POWER LINE).

Full Narrative

On April 21, 1994, at 2001 Pacific daylight time, a Continental Copters MK5A, N9061T, collided with power lines while engaged in night aerial application operations near Brawley, California. The helicopter was operated by Streeter Flying Service of Turlock, California, under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed in the collision sequence. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated from a truck at the field to be sprayed on the day of the accident about 1930 hours. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the San Diego, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site, examined the wreckage, and interviewed the witnesses. His detailed report is attached to this document as an exhibit. According to the inspector, there were no eyewitnesses to the power line collision. Two company loaders were waiting with the support truck next to the field being sprayed. They reported that the helicopter completed the application to the field and passed by their location in an easterly direction to make an approach and landing at the truck into the southwesterly prevailing wind. The loaders reported that as the helicopter passed their location, all of the exterior work lights were turned on. When the helicopter did not arrive at the truck after about 10 minutes time, they began a search and found the crashed helicopter in an alfalfa field about 1/2 mile east-northeast of the truck. The witnesses reported that the weather conditions were clear and the wind was from the southwest at about 8 knots. A National Transportation Safety Board computer program was used to determine the positions of the sun and moon at the time of the accident. The sun was 8 degrees below the horizon. The moon was located 54 degrees above the horizon on a magnetic azimuth of 130 degrees. Eighty-one percent of the moon's disk was illuminated. The FAA inspector reported that the field where the helicopter crashed is bordered on the southern end by a power line strung between wooden telephone-type poles. The power line is oriented in an east/west direction. Three 3/8-inch #4 ACSR conductor wires are strung on the pole tops and have an average above ground height of 25 feet. One of the wires was found severed at a point 129 feet west of the second pole in an easterly direction from the field's western border. Color transfer matching the rotor blade paint was noted on the wire. One main rotor blade was observed to have impressions in the paint which corresponded to the size and pattern of the severed wire. The FAA inspector found no evidence of a mechanical discrepancy during his examination of the wreckage. The military style cotton seatbelt and one shoulder harness strap were found to have failed. The Imperial County Coroner's deputy who removed the pilot's remains stated that the remaining shoulder harness strap was wrapped around the pilot's neck. The Coroner's Office performed an autopsy on the pilot and reported the cause of death as asphyxiation. No evidence of alcohol or drugs were found during the toxicological tests on samples taken from the pilot. All of the helicopter historical records were reviewed by the FAA inspector and his report of the review is attached to this document. The Continental Copters MK5A helicopter is a rebuilt and converted U.S. Army OH-13H, manufactured under FAA Type Certificate H5SW. The accident helicopter was converted from a U.S. Army OH-13H to the Continental Copters MK5A configuration in 1975. The inspector stated that he found no record of the pilot restraint system installation or any repairs to the system.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:01 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A Tomcat MK5
Tail NumberN9061T
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorStephen R Streeter
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-435-23C-R · Reciprocating · 260
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind220° @ 6 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data