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 16, 1992 · Piper PA-32-300 · N4075R

Austin, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 16, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Austin, NV
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N4075R
Operator
Galen M Reimer
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX92LA150

The pilot said that on short final to the airstrip he encountered a windshear and downdraft. He added power to go around and the plastic control wheel on the left side broke into two sections at the middle. The aircraft hit the ground hard and veered off the runway. The pilot stated that after his control wheel broke, he attempted to control the aircraft by grabbing the wheel on the right side of the cockpit; however, the aircraft hit the ground and he lost directional control. The plastic control wheels in this aircraft are the subject of a reoccurring airworthiness directive (69-22-2), which requires repetitive dye penetrant inspections at each annual inspection for cracks in the center of the wheel. The maintenance records disclosed that the control wheel was inspected in accordance with the AD at the last annual. Microscopic examination of the fracture face revealed no evidence of dye penetrant, indicating that the crack did not exist at the last inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF HIS CONTROL WHEEL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO AROUND.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT ON SHORT FINAL TO THE AIRSTRIP HE ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR AND DOWNDRAFT. HE ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND AND THE PLASTIC CONTROL WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE INTO TWO SECTIONS AT THE MIDDLE. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND HARD AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER HIS CONTROL WHEEL BROKE, HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT BY GRABBING THE WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLASTIC CONTROL WHEELS IN THIS AIRCRAFT ARE THE SUBJECT OF A REOCCURRING AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (69-22-2), WHICH REQUIRES REPETITIVE DYE PENETRANT INSPECTIONS AT EACH ANNAUL INSPECTION FOR CRACKS IN THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT THE CONTROL WHEEL WAS INSPECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AD AT THE LAST ANNUAL. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE FACE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF DYE PENETRANT, INDICATING THAT THE CRACK DID NOT EXIST AT THE LAST INSPECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:37 PST
Nearest AirportPvt Ranch Airstrip (0nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN4075R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorGalen M Reimer
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-P1A5C · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 5 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data