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

October 3, 1998 · Foreit Super CAT · N132TF

Middlebury, CT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 3, 1998
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Middlebury, CT
Aircraft
Foreit Super CAT
Tail Number
N132TF
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC99LA002

The airplane had an open cockpit, and the pilot was known to fly without his seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened. The accident airplane took off moments after a Hawker 1000 business jet. The pilot's remains were found about 1 mile north of the airport, and the airplane was later found about 845 feet north of the pilot's position, on the same bearing from the airport. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction, and there was a strong odor of fuel at the site. The shoulder harness, seat belts and buckles were inspected, and found intact and unfastened. There was no sign of belt stretching, fatigue or overload, nor any scratch marks on the metal buckles or attaching hardware. When buckled, there was only a little slack between the seat belt straps and the seat, not enough to be able to secure a person in the seat.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to utilize his seat belt and shoulder harness.

Full Narrative

On October 3, 1998, about 1230 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Super Cat, N132TF, was destroyed when it collided with trees in Middlebury, Connecticut, after takeoff from Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC), Oxford, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, two witnesses saw the accident airplane take off moments after a Hawker 1000 business jet. The active runway at the time was Runway 36. The pilot's remains were found in a field, about 1 mile north of the airport, on a bearing of 334 degrees magnetic. The airplane's wreckage was located the next day in some woods, approximately 845 feet north of the pilot's position, and on the same bearing from the airport. The airplane's wreckage path was 75 feet in length, along a 335 degrees magnetic heading. Trees were found cut at a descending 45 degree angle. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the wooden propeller was shattered, with maximum piece lengths of about 2 feet. The leading edges of some pieces exhibited cuts and gouges, and green discoloration. Many tree cuts were clean, with some cut diagonally. There was a strong odor of fuel, and all control surfaces were found at the site. The airplane's Hobbs meter showed 0.3 hours since the last entries in the pilot and aircraft logbooks. The shoulder harness, seat belts and buckles were inspected, and found intact and unfastened. There was no sign of belt stretching, fatigue or overload, nor any scratch marks on the metal buckles or attaching hardware. The FAA Inspector stated that when she buckled the seat belts, there was a little slack between the seat belt straps and the seat, but not enough to be able to secure a person in the seat. The airplane had an open cockpit. A witness very familiar with the pilot stated that the pilot had been known to fly without his seat belt and shoulder harness fastened.. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the State of Connecticut, Department of Health Services, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Farmington, Connecticut. Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and yielded negative results for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and legal and illegal drugs. On October 3, 1998, the wreckage was released to a representative from Avemco Insurance Company, Frederick, Maryland.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportWaterbury-Oxford Airport (1nm NNW)
Runway36
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftForeit Super CAT
Tail NumberN132TF
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503CDIFC SC · Reciprocating · 52

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 65 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data