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

August 13, 1998 · Piper PA-34-200T · N6935C

Blanding, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 13, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Blanding, UT
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200T
Tail Number
N6935C
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW98LA369

The pilot told his employer that the nose landing gear would not extend, and he diverted to another airport where he landed with the nose gear retracted. Inspection disclosed damage consistent with a hard landing. Two witnesses later reported having observed the hard landing. A passenger aboard the airplane later corrborated the report. The pilot was later terminated and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate landing flare, causing components of the nose wheel landing gear to fracture.

Full Narrative

On August 13, 1998, at 1415 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N6935C, was substantially damaged during a wheels up landing at Blanding Municipal Airport, Blanding, Utah. The airline transport rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight was being operated by Scenic Aviation, Inc., as an air medical transport flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, Arizona, at 1230. According to the president of Scenic Aviation, Inc., the pilot advised the company's dispatch office that while attempting to land at Chinle Airport, Chinle, Arizona, the nose landing gear would not extend, and he was diverting to Blanding, Utah, the company's base of operations. All attempts to manually extend the nose landing gear failed. As fire and medical personnel stood by, the pilot landed. The main wheels touched down and as the nose lowered, both propellers struck the ground. Scenic Airlines maintenance personnel inspected the nose landing gear and determined that the damaged was consistent with a hard landing. The tubular structure at the base of the windscreen was broken through the skin. Two Scenic Aviation employees later reported having witnessed the hard landing at Chinle Airport. They said the pilot aborted the landing and made a go-around. During the second attempt to land, the nose landing gear failed to extend. The flight nurse aboard the airplane later corrborated this report. In a written statement, she said "the approach [into Chinle] seemed normal, but as [the aircraft] touched down, there was a tremendous hard hit on the ground. This occurred about three times." She further stated it felt as though the aircraft "was going to flip end over end, but [the pilot] gave it power and was able to get it back into the air." Once airborne, the pilot "circled about Chinle for about 20-30 minutes - making attempts to get the gear down." The pilot then notified her he was going to divert to Blanding. Based on this discovery, the pilot was terminated. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:15 MDT
Nearest AirportBlanding Municipal (0nm)
Runway17
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width72 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-200T
Tail NumberN6935C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-EB · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 39 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point41 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data