Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.
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.
Tomahawk, WI
THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT AND FIVE MINUTES AFTER HE HAD SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES BEFORE IMPACTING A SWAMP. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED UNDER WATER IN THE SWAMP FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE WRECKAGE REMOVED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING FUEL COULD NOT ACCURATELY BE DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF EXAMINATION DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME WHICH THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN THE SWAMP.
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN IN PREVENTING THE PILOT FROM MAKING A SAFE FORCED LANDING.
On June 17, 1994, about 1445 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30, N8218R, was destroyed following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a swamp near Tomahawk, Wisconsin. No injuries were reported by the commercial pilot, minor injuries were reported by two passengers, and serious injuries were reported by one passenger. The local pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The flight originated from Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the day before the accident and flew a total of one hour. The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, approximately fifteen minutes after departing Tomahawk, Wisconsin, the engine sputtered and quit about five minutes after he had switched fuel tanks. All attempts to restart the engine failed. The airplane struck trees before impacting a swamp. The airplane remained in the swamp for approximately three months before the pilot was able to make arrangements to have the wreckage removed. Postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The amount of remaining fuel could not accurately be determined at the time of examination due to the length of time which the airplane remained in the swamp.