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

March 31, 1998 · Aeronca 7DC · N4484E

Wright, WY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 31, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Wright, WY
Aircraft
Aeronca 7DC
Tail Number
N4484E
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW98LA169

After about 2 hours of flight, the aircraft was in cruise at 100 feet agl when the engine lost all power. The pilot landed in a field and drained water from the fuel. When he got the engine restarted, he attempted to take off, and during his takeoff roll the main landing gear entered a snow-covered area and the aircraft swerved into rocks. The pilot said that between flights he stored the aircraft with partially filled tanks in an area with high temperature variations over a 24-hour period. This practice enhances distillation of water in the tanks due to condensation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's use of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. Factors were snow and rock covered terrain, inadequate aircraft preflight, improper aircraft servicing, and the fuel contaminated by water.

Full Narrative

On March 31, 1998, at 1100 mountain standard time, a Aeronca 7DC, N4484E, received substantial damage when it struck rocks during takeoff roll from a field 60 miles south of Gillette, Wyoming. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. The flight was a local area flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to information provided by the pilot via his written report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) and a telephone interview, after about two hours of flight the aircraft was in cruise at about 100 feet above ground level (agl) when the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field and drained water from the fuel. After he got the engine restarted, he attempted a takeoff from the field and his main landing gear entered a snow covered area which caused the aircraft to swerve into rocks. In his telephone interview, the pilot said he normally did not refuel the aircraft until he was preparing for the next flight, which often was at an interval of several days or longer. Thus, his aircraft was sitting with partially filled fuel tanks in an environment where the differential temperature over a 24 hour period varies greatly. According to information provided by several aircraft manufacturers while this investigator was investigating similar accidents where water was found in the fuel, partially filled fuel tanks create a condition in which the fuel tank performs like a "still" and the tank will manufacture water by condensation. The greater the temperature variation, the more water is manufactured.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAeronca 7DC
Tail NumberN4484E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 23 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data