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.
Fryburg, ND
Witnesses reported low fog in the vicinity of the accident site. One witness reported that he observed the accident airplane circling over Medora, North Dakota about 1000 mdt. Another witness, who was two miles west of the accident site, reported that she observed the airplane flying westbound 'low enough to see into the cockpit.' The accident site was located on the upward slope of a 60-degree incline. Examination of the wreckage revealed the throttle was in the full forward position and the yolk was trapped in the full aft position. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found.
the pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors were the fog, low ceiling, and rising terrain.
On June 25, 1996, about 1000 mountain daylight time (mdt), a Grumman AA5B, N6249L, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain near Fryburg, North Dakota. The solo private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated in West Fargo, North Dakota about 0830 central daylight time with a planned destination of Beach, North Dakota. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident site about the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. Witnesses reported "low fog" in the vicinity of the accident site. One witness reported that he observed the accident airplane "circling" over Medora, North Dakota about 1000 mdt. Another witness, who was two miles west of the accident site, reported that she observed the airplane flying westbound "low enough to see into the cockpit." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the accident site reported that the accident site was located on the upward slope of a 60 degree incline. The wreckage path was on a heading of 050 degrees. Examination of the wreckage revealed the throttle was in the full forward position and the yolk was trapped in the full aft position. No evidence of flight control malfunction was reported and all flight control surfaces were located at the accident site. The attitude indicator was trapped in a position corresponding to 30 degrees of right bank and the turn needle was trapped on the right side of the case. The vertical velocity indicator was trapped at 200 feet per minute. The alternator circuit breaker was in the off position and the left fuel gauge was trapped in the 1/4 position. The engine rotated freely and exhibited no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The left magneto sparked when rotated by hand. Examination of the spark plugs, vaccuum pump, and fuel pumps revealed no anomalies. The autopsy of the pilot was conducted at St. Joseph's Hospital, 30 West Seventh Street, Dickinson, North Dakota 58601. FAA toxicological testing was negative for all tests conducted.