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

February 8, 1993 · Forney Ercoupe F-1 Ercoupe F · N7555C

Aguadilla, PR

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 8, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Aguadilla, PR
Aircraft
Forney Ercoupe F-1 Ercoupe F
Tail Number
N7555C
Operator
Giles Garred A
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA93FA065

The day before the accident flight, 12 gallons of fuel was added to the fuel tanks and the airplane was flown three times. The accident flight departed with an unknown quantity of fuel and while maneuvering, the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. During the emergency descent, one of the two occupants applied full up elevator control at an airspeed above maneuvering speed (VA) which caused both forward wing spars to fail in the positive direction. The airplane descended near vertical and impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed no evidence of flight control preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the fuel system revealed no evidence of fuel. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surfaces of the wing spars revealed no evidence of preexisting cracks or corrosion. The airplane had been operated for approximately 30 minutes since departure. The student pilot in the left seat was the only occupant who was authorized to fly the airplane. No determination could be made as to why the private pilot rated passenger was in the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

EXCESSIVE ELEVATOR CONTROL INPUT BY AN UNKNOWN OCCUPANT AT AN AIRSPEED ABOVE MANEUVERING SPEED WHICH CAUSED BOTH FORWARD WING SPARS TO FAIL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Full Narrative

THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLT, 12 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANKS & THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN THREE TIMES. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF FUEL & WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT, ONE OF THE TWO OCCUPANTS APPLIED FULL UP ELEVATOR CONTROL AT AN AIRSPEED ABOVE MANEUVERING SPEED (VA) WHICH CAUSED BOTH FORWARD WING SPARS TO FAIL IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED NEAR VERTICAL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE WING SPARS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREEXISTING CRACKS OR CORROSION. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES SINCE DEPARTURE. THE STUDENT PLT IN THE LEFT SEAT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT WHO WAS AUTHORIZED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO WHY THE PRIVATE PILOT RATED PASSENGER WAS IN THE AIRPLANE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:06 AST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftForney Ercoupe F-1 Ercoupe F
Tail NumberN7555C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGiles Garred A
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C90-12F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data