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

June 23, 1996 · Cessna 182 · N3675U

Mendota, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 23, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Mendota, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Tail Number
N3675U
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX96LA241

The pilot carried four parachute jumpers aloft; one left the aircraft at 4,500 feet and the last three left at 12,000 feet. After all the jumpers had exited, the pilot decided to do a power off stall. He stated that he was 'curious about the gliding abilities of the 182' and pulled the mixture control to idle cutoff when the aircraft was over the airport at 11,500 feet. During the stall maneuver the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot glided down in an orbit over the airport to 5,000 feet before trying to start the engine. All subsequent engine restart efforts during the descent were unsuccessful and he decided to land on runway 32 because the winds were from 330 degrees when he departed. The pilot said that once on final approach he saw that he was high and fast, then noticed that the windsock indicated a tailwind. The pilot attempted to use flaps and a prolonged slip; however, the aircraft floated down the entire length of the 3,550-foot-long runway. The aircraft finally touched down on the nose gear 280 feet beyond the runway's departure end. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the aircraft and reported finding evidence of fuel leakage past the filler caps as the aircraft lay upside down in the field. No discrepancies were found in the engine, the induction system, or engine compartment fuel lines/filters. With the exception of the bladder fuel tanks, no discrepancies or contaminants were found in the airframe fuel system. Detailed examination of the fuel bladder tanks revealed that portions of the cells were loose and not secured to the internal wing structure. Folds were noted on the bottom of the cells with evidence of trapped fuel in the folds and wrinkles.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's decision to intentionally shut down the engine; his failure to verify the surface winds during the prolonged orbiting descent over the airport, which resulted in a final approach with a tailwind component; and his misjudging of the aircraft's altitude and speed during the power off forced landing attempt, which led to a runway overrun.

Full Narrative

On June 22, 1996, at 1911 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N3675U, collided with the ground and nosed over in soft soil during a runway overshoot while attempting a forced landing at the Mendota, California, airport. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power at 10,000 feet over the airport. The aircraft was operated by the owner for parachute jumping operations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Mendota airport on the day of the accident at 1850 and had transported four jumpers aloft. The pilot was interviewed by FAA inspectors from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office, and in addition, submitted a written statement. In his statements, he reported that prior to departure he used a dipstick to quantify the fuel in each tank at 12 gallons. During the entire flight, the BOTH fuel tank selector position was used and the pilot orbited the airport in a shallow right turn. The pilot said he took four jumpers aloft and the aircraft was very heavy. It would only climb in 300- to 400-foot increments as the airspeed bled off before the pilot had to lower the nose to gain more speed. After a prolonged effort, the aircraft reached 4,500 feet and one jumper left the aircraft. The pilot continued to 12,000 feet where three jumpers exited. After all the jumpers left the aircraft, the pilot decided to do a power off stall. He stated that he was "curious about the gliding abilities of the 182" and pulled the mixture control to idle cutoff when the aircraft was over the airport at 11,500 feet. He then accomplished the stall maneuver, during which the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot's subsequent engine restart efforts during the descent to the airport were unsuccessful. In a separate interview with responding Fresno County Sheriff's deputies, he stated that he waited until the aircraft passed 5,000 feet before initiating the engine restart attempt. The pilot glided down as he orbited the airport and decided to land on runway 32 because the winds were from 330 degrees when he departed. The pilot reported that once he committed to final approach he noted that he was high and fast, then noticed that the windsock indicated a tailwind. The pilot attempted to use flaps and a prolonged slip; however, the aircraft floated down the entire length of the 3,550-foot-long runway. The aircraft finally touched down on the nose gear 280 feet beyond the runway's departure end. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. An FAA airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and examined the aircraft. The inspector reported finding evidence of fuel leakage past the filler caps as the aircraft lay upside down in the field. No discrepancies were found in the engine, the induction system, or engine compartment fuel lines/filters. With the exception of the bladder fuel tanks, no discrepancies or contaminants were found in the airframe fuel system. Detailed examination of the fuel bladder tanks revealed that portions of the cells were loose and not secured to the internal wing structure. Folds were noted on the bottom of the cells with evidence of trapped fuel in the folds and wrinkles.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:11 PDT
Nearest AirportMENDOTA (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length3550 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182
Tail NumberN3675U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-R · Reciprocating · 230
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 24 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data