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

December 29, 1995 · Cessna 150J · N50836

Kutztown, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 29, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Kutztown, PA
Aircraft
Cessna 150J
Tail Number
N50836
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC96LA045

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CARRYING A PASSENGER. HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT TO CHECK RUNWAY CONDITIONS AND WIND. TWO RUNWAYS WERE AVAILABLE. ONE WAS HARD SURFACED, AND HAD BEEN PLOWED, BUT HAD A CROSSWIND. THE OTHER RUNWAY WAS A SNOW COVERED TURF RUNWAY THAT WAS INTO THE WIND. HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS ON UNICOM TO LAND ON THE TURF RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE ADVISED AGAINST LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY RUNWAY CONDITION INFORMATION. THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE APPROACH, TOUCHED DOWN, AND AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE SNOW, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. HE REPORTED THAT THE SNOW WAS ABOUT 8 INCHES DEEP, HE PICKED THE RUNWAY BECAUSE IT WAS INTO THE WIND, AND HE THOUGHT THE SNOW WAS HARD PACKED.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's selection of an unsuitable runway for landing. The snow covered runway was a related factor.

Full Narrative

On December 29, 1995, at 1210 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N50836, was substantially damaged during a landing at the Kutztown Airport, Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The student pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal transportation flight which originated at Smoketown, Pennsylvania, at 1130, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: Decided to land on runway 28 due to wind direction - Called UNICOM on downwind of intention to land on 28. Called on base and another plane taxing said they would hold. Did not say whether 28 was safe. After initial contact plane rolled on snow until it lost most forward momentum. Right gear dropped in deeper snow and caused nose wheel to come down and plane nosed over and slid to a stop.... In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he chose runway 28 because he thought the snow was hard packed, and the runway was into the wind; however, after landing, he determined that the snow was soft, and its depth was about 8 inches. Additionally, he reported that, although the passenger held a pilot certificate, he did not make any decisions about the flight or operate the flight controls. In a telephone interview, an FAA Inspector reported that runway 17/35, a hard surfaced runway which was free of snow was also available. Additionally, he reported that the pilot of another airplane had advised against landing on runway 28, but offered no information on actual runway conditions.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:10 EST
Nearest AirportKUTZTOWN (0nm)
Runway28
Runway Length2260 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150J
Tail NumberN50836
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data