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

November 26, 1993 · Albrecht Polywagon · N320PW

Vacaville, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 26, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Vacaville, CA
Aircraft
Albrecht Polywagon
Tail Number
N320PW
Operator
Robert T Albrecht
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX94LA060

An FAA inspector who witnessed the accident said the aircraft was on a go-around near the runway's midpoint when the left wing suddenly dropped. The aircraft turned left, collided with trees bordering the airport, and cartwheeled into a field. He reported that the winds were from the northwest at 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots. He stated that trees line the runway which can create wind shear conditions in cross wind situations. The pilot said that he flared high and bounced on the runway during the landing approach, and initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot said he could not control the aircraft and the left wing dropped. The aircraft then turned and collided with trees. The pilot said that a fuel imbalance may have contributed to the loss of lateral control. FAA inspectors said that about 18 months ago the pilot crashed the aircraft during its first test flight. The pilot rebuilt the aircraft and this was the first flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during a go-around. Factors in the accident were the wind shear conditions and the pilot's failure to adequately balance the fuel load during the flight.

Full Narrative

On November 26, 1993, at 1000 Pacific standard time, an experimental homebuilt Albrecht Polywagon aircraft, N320PW, collided with trees and the ground during an attempted go-around at the Nutree Airport, Vacaville, California. The aircraft, owned and operated by Robert T. Albrecht of Suisun, California, was on its initial test flight following a complete rebuilding. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at Vacaville, California, on the day of the mishap at 0945 hours as a local area test flight. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector from the Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office, witnessed the accident. He reported observing the aircraft on a go-around near the midpoint of runway 20 when the left wing suddenly dropped. The aircraft turned to the left, collided with trees bordering the airport, and cartwheeled into a field. The inspector reported that the winds were from the northwest at 12 knots with higher gusts in the 15-to-20 knot range. He stated that trees line the runway which, in his experience, can create wind shear conditions in crosswind situations. On November 30th, the FAA inspector was able to interview the pilot in the hospital. The pilot reported that he flared high and bounced on the runway during the landing approach, and he subsequently initiated a go-around. The pilot said he thought he struck the tail, damaging the rudder hinges. During the go- round, the pilot said he could not control the aircraft and the left wing dropped. The aircraft then turned and collided with trees. The pilot also speculated that, since he had flown about one-half hour on the left fuel tank, a possible fuel imbalance may have contributed to the inability to control the aircraft. The responding FAA inspector reported that about 18 months ago the pilot crashed the aircraft during its first test flight following initial construction. The pilot rebuilt the aircraft and obtained FAA approval for a new test flight. Airworthiness inspectors from the Sacramento FAA Flight Standards District Office examined the empennage and its associated control system for damage. According to the inspector, no evidence was observed to indicate that the tail of the aircraft struck the runway during the initial landing bounce.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 PST
Nearest AirportVacaville Nut Tree (0nm)
Runway2
Runway Length3800 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAlbrecht Polywagon
Tail NumberN320PW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRobert T Albrecht
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 12 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data