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 23, 1993 · British Aerospace BAE3201 · N496UE

Rochester, NY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 23, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Rochester, NY
Aircraft
British Aerospace BAE3201
Tail Number
N496UE
Operator
Atlantic Coast Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
BFO93IA057

According to the pilot, after the main cabin door was closed by ramp personnel, he had a door ajar warning light on the cap panel. He reported he had flown the subject aircraft for four legs the previous day and a similar situation occurred on three of those legs, so he pulled the circuit breaker and reset it after 10 seconds. The door light was extinguished, and the pilots proceeded to takeoff. During the climb, while passing through 4000 feet above the ground, a popping sound was heard followed by a rapid decompression. The pilots noted that the main cabin door was ajar, but for safety reasons, they did not go to inspect the door. The pilots slowed the airplane to 130 knots indicated airspeed, and after landing, they noted the door had separated from the aircraft. Search efforts were made and the door was located in a field along the path of the flight. The door was flown to Scotland for further examination at Jetstream Aircraft Limited; however, the examination did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE MAIN CABIN DOOR TO BE ADEQUATELY SECURED FOR FLIGHT FOR AN UNKNOWN REAS0N.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WAS CLOSED BY RAMP PERSONNEL, HE HAD A DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ON THE CAP PANEL. HE REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT FOR FOUR LEGS THE PREVIOUS DAY AND A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED ON THREE OF THOSE LEGS, SO HE PULLED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND RESET IT AFTER 10 SECONDS. THE DOOR LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND THE PILOTS PROCEEDED TO TAKEOFF. DURING THE CLIMB, WHILE PASSING THROUGH 4000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DECOMPRESSION. THE PILOTS NOTED THAT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WAS AJAR, BUT FOR SAFETY REASONS, THEY DID NOT GO TO INSPECT THE DOOR. THE PILOTS SLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO 130 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, AND AFTER LANDING, THEY NOTED THE DOOR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. SEARCH EFFORTS WERE MADE AND THE DOOR WAS LOCATED IN A FIELD ALONG THE PATH OF THE FLIGHT. THE DOOR WAS FLOWN TO SCOTLAND FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION AT JETSTREAM AIRCRAFT LIMITED; HOWEVER, THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time06:50 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBritish Aerospace BAE3201
Tail NumberN496UE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorAtlantic Coast Airlines
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE-331-124AR · Turboprop · 1020
Seats21

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data