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 5, 1993 · Piper PA-18 · N5285J

Haines, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 5, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Haines, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N5285J
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC94LA012

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLARED ABOUT 3 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN HE 'CUT' THE THROTTLE & THE AIRPLANE 'DROPPED' ONTO THE TUNDRA. BOTH LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLIES COLLAPSED AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN. THE PILOT REPORTED THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE WELDED SECTION OF THE RIGHT OLEO STRUT TUBING. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH 30 INCH TUNDRA TIRES.

NTSB Probable Cause

FATIGUE FAILURE IN A WELD ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR OLEO STRUT TUBING.

Full Narrative

On October 5, 1993, at 1715 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N5285J, owned and operated by the commercial rated pilot-in-command, crashed during a landing attempt at a remote landing site located approximately 4 miles north of Haines, Alaska. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Haines, Alaska, at 1700 and the destination was the remote landing site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The pilot told the investigator-in-charge, during a telephone conversation, that he was surveying the area looking for mountain goats. During the landing attempt on the saddle back of the mountain, he flared too high and the airplane "dropped" onto the ground from a height estimated to be three to five feet. The airplane did not bounce. Both main landing gear structural assemblies collapsed. The airplane was equipped with 30 inch tundra tires. The pilot reported that his post accident inspection of the landing gear found a fracture in the welded section of the right oleo strut tubing. An inspection of the fuselage by the NTSB investigator-in-charge found a fracture in a longeron tube (a major structural member) in the area where the left forward landing gear ear attaches to the fuselage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:15 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN5285J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 26 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind330° @ 3 kt
Visibility75 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data