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.
Mineral Wells, TX
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,000 FEET AGL, THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A PLAYGROUND. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A BASEBALL BACKSTOP. EXAMINATION REVEALED A LOOSE ENGINE COOLANT LINE, THE LOSS OF ALL ANTIFREEZE, AND A SEIZED ENGINE CYLINDER. THE ENGINE COOLANT FITTING HAD A SMOOTH SURFACE WITH NO MECHANICAL MEANS (BEAD) TO RETAIN THE RUBBER COOLANT HOSE. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THE FITTING 'APPEARED AS A STANDARD PLUMBING FITTING.' ACCORDING TO THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE, ALL ENGINE AND RADIATOR CONNECTIONS DISTRIBUTED BY ROTAX CONTAIN A MECHANICAL MEANS TO RETAIN THE HOSE CONNECTIONS.
A SEIZED ENGINE FOLLOWING THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT FROM A LOOSE LINE DUE TO AN INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSTALLATION BY THE BUILDER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
On August 14, 1995, at 1520 central daylight time, a homebuilt Park Wizard, N5297E, collided with a ground structure during a forced landing near Mineral Wells, Texas. The commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane, operated by the S-TEC Corporation under Title 14 CFR Part 91, departed the Mineral Wells Airport approximately 1515. The purpose of the flight was to flight check several autopilot components manufactured by S-TEC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. During cruise flight at 2,000 feet MSL, the engine RPM decreased from 7,000 to 5,500 and, subsequently degrading to a complete loss of engine power. A forced landing was made to a playground. During the landing roll, the left wing sustained structural damage when it struck a "baseball backstop." The airplane was examined by the operator and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The water cooled engine was "stiff and felt notchy when rotated by hand." An engine coolant line was found loose from the cylinder head fitting and no engine coolant (antifreeze) remained in the radiator. Disassembly of the engine by the operator revealed that the "front cylinder had overheated and the piston had bound up in the cylinder, leaving aluminum scuff marks on the cylinder wall." An examination of the engine coolant fitting revealed a smooth mating surface with "no mechanical means to retain the rubber coolant hose." Technicians for the operator reported the "fitting appeared as a standard plumbing fitting." According to the engine manufacturer's representative, "all engine and radiator connections distributed by Rotax contain a mechanical means to retain the connections." The FAA experimental airworthiness certificate issued on March 30, 1994, states the airplane was built by Adrian Bloomfield.