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.
Poseyville, IN
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS DARK WHEN HE DEPARTED THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT HE COULD TAKEOFF EVEN THOUGH THE RUNWAYS LACKED ANY LIGHTING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE INSTRUCTED SOMEONE IN AN AUTOMOBILE TO POSTION THE AUTOMOBILE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 22, AND TO SHINE ITS LIGHTS AT THE AIRPLANE IN ORDER TO GIVE THE PILOT A CENTERLINE REFERENCE FOR RUNWAY 22. THE PILOT STATED, 'UNFORTUNATELY, I INSTRUCTED THE AUTOMOBILE TO SET AT THE END OF RUNWAY 18.' HE FURTHER STATED THAT, 'A BLATANT ERROR IN JUDGMENT AND AIRCRAFT DIRECTION RESULTED IN DEPARTING THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTING A ROLLED BALE OF HAY IN THE ADJACENT FIELD.'
the pilot's poor judgement in making a night takeoff on an unlit runway and his failure to maintain proper runway alignment. Factors associated with the accident were the hay bale, the night conditions and the unlit runway.
On September 25, 1995, at 1945 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 28, N39999, sustained substantial damage during takeoff roll when its right wingtip hit a hay bale. The private pilot reported no injuries to himself or the three passengers on board. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was departing an unlit grass strip near Poseyville, Indiana, en route to Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, Fisher, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that it was dark when he departed the grass airstrip. The pilot determined that he could takeoff even though the runways lacked any lighting. The pilot reported that he instructed someone in an automobile to postion the automobile at the departure end of runway 22, and to shine its lights at the airplane in order to give the pilot a centerline reference for runway 22. The pilot stated, "Unfortunately, I instructed the automobile to set at the end of runway 18." He further stated that, "a blatant error in judgment and aircraft direction resulted in departing the runway and impacting a rolled bale of hay in the adjacent field." After the impact with the hay bale, the pilot and passengers evacuated the airplane immediately, and suffered no injuries.