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.
Smoketown, PA
THE PILOT REMOVED THE AIRPLANE FROM A HANGER AND HAD HIS WIFE SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. HE PROCEEDED TO SET THE CONTROLS FOR AN ENGINE START. HOWEVER, HE SAID HE OVERLOOKED THE THROTTLE, WHICH WAS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION FROM THE PREVIOUS SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT HAD NOT BRIEFED HIS WIFE ON THE USE OF THE THROTTLE OR BRAKES. HE THEN HAND PROPPED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED AND WENT TO FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE THEN TRAVELED ACROSS THE RAMP AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED AIRPLANE.
failure of the pilot to follow the recommended starting procedures.
On July 3, 1995, at 1730 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N82773, was substantially damaged during an uncontrolled taxi at the Smoketown Airport, Smoketown, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed, for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that after he removed the airplane from the hanger, he had his wife sit in the front seat. He further stated: I proceeded to get the controls (fuel, throttle, brakes, etc.) into the starting position. The only thing I over looked was the throttle position, which was in the open position. I also failed to inform my wife of her opportunity to manage the throttle during propping...I propped the engine. It fired and immediately went to full power. This cause the plane to travel to point of impact with the second plane..." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the airplane wheels were not chocked during the start.