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 13, 1992 · Christen Industries Pitts S2B · N53385

Schellsburg, PA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 13, 1992
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Schellsburg, PA
Aircraft
Christen Industries Pitts S2B
Tail Number
N53385
Operator
Richard D Schauss
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO92LA036

While en route to Cincinnati, OH, approximately one hour after takeoff from Maytown, PA, the pilot and passenger observed oil on the airplane's windscreen. The pilot stated he decided to make a precautionary landing, but as soon as he turned towards the alternate airport, he noticed an excessive amount of oil flowing across the airplane's clear floorboard. The pilot said he started to look for suitable terrain to make a precautionary landing, but there was none. At this time, the oil pressure gauge was reading zero. He said he pulled the power back to an idle setting, hoping that if he needed power later, the engine might still be functional. He said he flew the airplane into a small clearing in the wooded terrain. The airplane hit the field, turned 90 degrees in direction, and slid on the right wing for 100 feet, coming to rest approximately 250 feet from a treeline. On-scene investigations revealed that the oil breather line had accumulated ice near the end of the line and was totally blocked. The oil leak originated from the crankshaft oil seal.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF THE OIL BREATHER LINE CAUSING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IN THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN OIL LEAKAGE AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE.

Full Narrative

WHILE EN ROUTE TO CINCINATI, OH, APPROX ONE HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF FROM MAYTOWN, PA, THE PLT AND PASSENGER OBSERVED OIL ON THE AIRPLANE'S WINDSCREEN. THE PLT STATED HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, BUT AS SOON AS HE TURNED TOWARDS THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, HE NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL FLOWING ACROSS THE AIRPLANE'S CLEAR FLOORBOARD. THE PLT SAID HE STARTED TO LOOK FOR SUITABLE TERRAIN TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LDG, BUT THERE WAS NONE. AT THIS TIME, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS READING ZERO. HE SAID HE PULLED THE POWER BACK TO AN IDLE SETTING, HOPING THAT IF HE NEEDED POWER LATER, THE ENGINE MIGHT STILL BE FUNCTIONAL. HE SAID HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE INTO A SMALL CLEARING IN THE WOODED TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE HIT THE FIELD, TURNED 90 DEGREES IN DIRECTION, AND SLID ON THE RIGHT WING FOR 100 FEET, COMING TO REST APPROX 250 FT FROM A TREELINE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT THE OIL BREATHER LINE HAD ACCUMULATED ICE NEAR THE END OF THE LINE AND WAS TOTALLY BLOCKED. THE OIL LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:20 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftChristen Industries Pitts S2B
Tail NumberN53385
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRichard D Schauss
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsAvco Lycoming · AEIO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 13 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 10 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data