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

September 8, 1994 · Piper PA-28-140 · N4188Q

Princeton, WI

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 8, 1994
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Princeton, WI
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N4188Q
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI94LA317

THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD THE AIRPLANE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A 2,500' SOFT TURF RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 800' FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB MORE THAN 40' ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO FLY OFF THE AIRPORT AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE, STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING AND CRASHED INTO A SWAMP. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY: 'MORE POWER-LESS WEIGHT.'

Full Narrative

On September 8, 1994, about 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N4188Q, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from the Bed-Ah-Wick Airport, Princeton, Wisconsin. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injury, the remaining passenger reported no injury. The local pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB that he lifted off about 800' feet from the end of runway 36 (2,500', turf, soft), but was unable to climb higher than 40' above the ground before the stall warning came on. He said that he was unable to maintain altitude, and descended over a brushy swamp where the airplane's left wing struck a small tree and subsequently crashed. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB report (How could this accident have been prevented), the pilot wrote: "More power-less weight." No preimpact mechanical anomaly with the airplane was discovered during a postaccident inspection, and none was claimed by the pilot.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:00 CDT
Nearest AirportBed-Ah-Wick (1nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN4188Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data