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 9, 1993 · Featherston Titan Tornado Titan TORN · N7020J

Mechanicsville, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 9, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Mechanicsville, VA
Aircraft
Featherston Titan Tornado Titan TORN
Tail Number
N7020J
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC94LA008

PRIOR TO THE END OF CIVIL TWILIGHT, A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE 'MAKE TWO OR THREE FLOATING PERFECT TURNS THAT APPEARED DELIBERATE BUT A BIT FASTER THAN NORMAL.' HE SAID HE LOST SIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BELOW THE TREELINE, BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING TO INDICATE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, & THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD, WHILE DESCENDING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. TOXICOLOGY TESTS REVEALED THE SEDATIVE TEMAZEPAM (0.213 UG/ML) IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD & OXAZEPAM (1.425 UG/ML) IN HIS URINE.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECT THE DESCENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT FROM USE OF A MEDICATION (PRESCRIPTION DRUG), AND POSSIBLE LACK OF VISUAL QUES (PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION).

Full Narrative

On October 9, 1993, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Titan Tornado, N7020J, owned and piloted by Mr. Richard A. Wolters, of Hanover, Virginia, struck the ground in a descent. The airplane was destroyed by the impact and the pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane in a shallow descending turn until it disappeared below the tree line. The engine was heard operating. The airplane struck the ground in a open field, while descending. The 73 years old pilot was the holder of a private pilot certificate for gliders and did not hold an FAA Airman Medical Certificate. The FAA reported the pilot purchased the airplane on October 7, 1993, and received a ground checkout, but no flight checkout. Additionally, they reported that the pilot was being treated for heart disease, and after he purchased the airplane, he removed the registration numbers, the airplane data plate, and the sticker identifying the airplane as an experimental home built airplane. In a telephone interview, Mr. Elwyn Jordan, of the Richmond Flight Standards District Office said flight control continuity was verified and he found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane. A autopsy was conducted by Dr. Deborah Kay, Medical Examiner, State of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Cause of death was injuries received in the accident. A toxicological examination by the FAA found the drug TEMAZEPAM in the pilot's blood at a therapeutic level. According to Dr. Stephen Veronneau of the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute, TEMAZEPAM is a trade name for RESTORIL, which is similar to valium. It is used as a night time sedative (sleeping pill). The drug could produce drowsiness and slow reaction times.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftFeatherston Titan Tornado Titan TORN
Tail NumberN7020J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · Reciprocating
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind170° @ 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 61 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data