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.
Port Washington, WI
The pilot reported that the engine lost power during a local flight and he made a forced landing onto a farm field. During the landing roll, the nose wheel dug into the soil and the airplane came to rest in an inverted position. Postaccident investigation revealed that the #2 cylinder had fractured as a result of fatigue cracking.
the failure of the #2 cylinder due to fatigue cracking. A factor was the soft terrain.
On August 20, 1995, at 1415 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172P, N55404, operated by Waukesha Flying Service, Inc., of Waukesha, Wisconsin, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The commercially certificated pilot and three passengers reported minor injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight departed Waukesha County Airport, Waukesha, Wisconsin, at 1330 cdt. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. In a detailed written statement, the pilot reported the engine began to run rough approximately 45 minutes after departure. The pilot stated that he immediately applied carburetor heat and performed a magneto check, but the engine roughness became progressively worse. The pilot stated that the oil temperature gauge showed a rapid increase, the oil pressure gauge showed a rapid decrease, and white smoke began to emit from the front of the engine cowling. The pilot selected a field to make a forced landing on and briefed the passengers. After clearing tension wires which lined the approach end of the field, the airplane touched down on the field. The nose wheel dug into the soil and the airplane came to rest in an inverted position. Postaccident investigation revealed the number two cylinder, P/N 78475, had fractured. The cylinder was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C., for examination. The laboratory reported the cylinder barrel was cracked through an arc of approximately 300 degrees. The largest opening of the crack was between the fourth and fifth cooling fins. Examination of the cleaned fracture revealed crack arrest positions of fatigue cracking. See attached NTSB Metallurgist's Factual Report and Textron Lycoming Technical Report. The airplane logbook shows the last inspection was an annual inspection performed on August 8, 1995. The airplane has logged 19 hours of flight time since the inspection.