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

January 9, 1995 · Piper PA-31-350 · N50WT

Brownsville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 9, 1995
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Brownsville, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-350
Tail Number
N50WT
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW95LA085

DURING AN INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PRIVATE PILOT, CERTIFICATED SINGLE ENGINE LAND, EXPERIENCED A DUAL ENGINE POWER LOSS AS HE WAS BEING VECTORED TO THE BROWNSVILLE AIRPORT. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR WHO FOUND THAT THERE WAS FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED, PRIOR TO LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THAT HE HAD LOW FUEL INDICATIONS IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THAT HE NEEDED A VECTOR TO BROWNSVILLE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED IN ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE AND WINGS, APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FUEL STARVATION LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S QUALIFICATION AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.

Full Narrative

On January 9, 1995, at 1622 central standard time, a Piper PA-31- 350, N50WT, was destroyed during a forced landing near Brownsville, Texas. The airplane was being flown by a private pilot, who was on an international personal cross country flight. A VFR flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, while the remaining passenger was not injured. According to the flight plan information, the airplane was en route from Cancun, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas. The pilot contacted Corpus Christi, Texas, approach control, while 50 miles east of Brownsville, and stated that he had "low fuel status in the right tank, but thought he had 3 hours of fuel remaining." He then requested and was given a vector to runway 13R at the Brownsville airport. The pilot subsequently reported that he had lost power in both engines. The airplane landed about 1/2 mile short of the airport in unsuitable terrain reulting damage to the fuselage and wings. Initial examination of the wreckage, by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, revealed that there was fuel on board the airplane, in the left tank, and the fuel selector was in the right tank position. A review of the pilot records by the FAA revealed that the pilot was certificated for single engine operations, did not hold an instrument certificate, and had accumulated a total of 87 hours of flight time. Repeated attempts to have the pilot or operator submit a completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report) were not successful.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:22 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31-350
Tail NumberN50WT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-J2BD · Reciprocating · 350
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data