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

July 26, 1998 · Curtiss-Wright 12W · N11715

Woodland, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Woodland, WA
Aircraft
Curtiss-Wright 12W
Tail Number
N11715
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA98LA151

The pilot of the antique biplane stated that he preferred to land on grass when possible, so he elected to land on the 800 foot grass overrun area of the 1965 foot runway. From the air, the freshly mowed overrun looked acceptable, with the eight to nine foot high stand of scotch bloom showing as a dark green from the air and appearing to be grass. He slipped to a landing, touched down straight and was tracking near the middle of the mowed area when his right wing tip caught in the scotch bloom. The vegetation pulled the aircraft off the right side of the runway, and the lower left wing impacted the ground, causing substantial damage. According to FAA inspectors, the first signatures of impact were 62 feet from the near end of the runway. The airplane came to a stop 247 feet from the near end of the runway. The width of the mowed area of the runway was 49.5 feet, at the time the FAA inspector checked it. The pilot stated that the mowed overrun of 800 feet was mowed 25 feet wide up to the edge of the eight to nine feet high scrub brush at the time of the accident, and that his airplane had a 28 foot wing span.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot in command misjudged clearance from high vegetation when he landed. Factors include inadequate mowing of high vegetation by airport personnel, providing insufficient clearance for the wingspan of landing airplanes

Full Narrative

On July 26, 1998, approximately 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Curtis-Wright 12W biplane, N11715, was substantially damaged when its right lower wing impacted tall vegetation at the edge of the runway while landing at Woodland, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, which originated at Vancouver, Washington, about twenty minutes before the accident. There was no report of an ELT actuation. In his written statement, the pilot stated that "from the air, the freshly mowed overrun looked inviting. With the antique I prefer to land on grass over paving if I have the option. The local pilots were having a B-B-Q in the picnic area at the south end of the runway. I decided to land on the grass and pull off into the picnic area instead of having to back taxi on the pavement. The stand of scotch bloom showed as a dark green from the air and appeared to be grass. I slipped in, touched down straight and was tracking near the middle of the mowed area when my right wing tip caught in the scotch bloom, pulling me to the right and tipping me onto the left wing tips. The only damage was to both left wings and prop." The pilot told FAA inspectors that he was landing to the north when the lower right wing encountered tall grass and vegetation (later measured as 8-9 foot tall scotch broom). The vegetation pulled the aircraft off the right side of the runway, and the lower left wing impacted the ground, causing substantial damage. According to FAA inspectors, the first signatures of impact were 62 feet from the near end of the runway. The airplane came to a stop 247 feet from the near end of the runway. The width of the mowed area of the runway was 49.5 feet, at the time the FAA inspector checked it. The pilot stated that the mowed overrun of 800 feet was mowed 25 feet wide up to the edge of the eight to nine feet high scrub brush at the time of the accident, and that his airplane had a 28 foot wing span.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 PDT
Nearest AirportWoodland State (0nm)
Runway31
Runway Length1965 ft
Runway Width25 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCurtiss-Wright 12W
Tail NumberN11715
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsKinner · R-55 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data