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.
Lancaster, SC
After a normal flight, the pilot maneuvered the glider for landing at a gliderport. According to him, the pattern entry was normal, but his turn onto final approach was late, which made the glider low and slow to the 4,000 foot long runway. The pilot stated he 'landed' in 50 foot tall trees, 200 feet short of the runway. Witnesses indicated the glider's spoilers were extended, while on final approach. Damage to the glider also indicated that the spoilers were not retracted at the time of collision with the trees. The pilot did not recall the spoiler's position. He had flown three launches on the previous day with an instructor, but he had not flown during the winter, prior to that. Also, he had only about 3 hours of flight time in this make and model of glider.
the pilot's improper use of the spoilers, while approaching to land, which allowed the glider to get low on final approach and strike trees. The pilot's lack of recent flying experience and lack of experience in the make and model of glider were related factors.
On March 22, 1997, about 1420 eastern standard time, a Burkhart Grob G-103-Twin II, N54553, collided with trees during the landing approach to runway 3 at the Bermuda High Gliderport, Lancaster, SC. The glider was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the local, personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot nor his passenger, and the glider was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Lancaster, about 55 minutes prior to the accident. According to the pilot, the takeoff, tow, and flight were normal. The pattern entry was normal, including the altitude and speed. According to the pilot, he turned onto final late which made him low and slow to the 4,000 foot long runway. He stated he "landed" in 50 foot tall trees, 200 feet short of the runway. Witnesses indicated that the spoilers were deployed while the glider was on the final approach. Damage to the glider also indicated that the spoilers were not retracted at the time of collision with trees. The pilot indicated he did not recall the spoilers being deployed. The pilot had flown three launches the previous day with an instructor. He had not flown during the winter, prior to that.