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

April 26, 1992 · Beech 35 · N3121V

Reno, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 26, 1992
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Reno, NV
Aircraft
Beech 35
Tail Number
N3121V
Operator
Donald J and Joan Williams
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA188

The pilot contacted approach control at 1720 with information 'November' for radar service to his destination. ATIS 'November' had been recorded at 1650 and reported the winds as 210 degrees at 8 knots. At 1724, the pilot was told to contact the tower. At 1725, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 16 right. Witnesses reported the pilot made a constant turn from downwind to final. The airplane overshot final and appeared to steepen its bank. The airplane entered an accelerated stall from a low altitude on the turn to final, and fell to the ground nose first. The pilot's last communication with the tower recorded at 1728:58 was when he said 'Two One Victor's.' That is about the time the airplane was observed falling to the ground. A weather observation taken at 1731 reported winds from 290 degrees at 13 knots. With winds from that direction, the pilot had a left quartering tail wind on base and a right quartering tail wind on final.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH TO COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL AT 1720 WITH INFORMATION 'NOVEMBER' FOR RADAR SERVICE TO HIS DESTINATION. ATIS 'NOVEMBER' HAD BEEN RECORDED AT 1650 AND REPORTED THE WINDS AS 210 DEG AT 8 KTS. AT 1724, THE PILOT WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE TOWER. AT 1725, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 16 RIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT MADE A CONSTANT TURN FROM DOWNWIND TO FINAL. THE AIRPLANE OVERSHOT FINAL AND APPEARED TO STEEPEN ITS BANK. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN ACCELERATED STALL FROM A LOW ALTITUDE ON THE TURN TO FINAL, AND FELL TO THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. THE PILOT'S LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOWER RECORDED AT 1728:58 WAS WHEN HE SAID 'TWO ONE VICTOR'S.' THAT IS ABOUT THE TIME THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FALLING TO THE GROUND. A WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN AT 1731 REPORTED WINDS FROM 290 DEG AT 13 KTS. WITH WINDS FROM THAT DIRECTION, THE PILOT HAD A LEFT QUARTERING TAIL WIND ON BASE AND A RIGHT QUARTERING TAIL WIND ON FINAL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:29 PDT
Nearest AirportReno Cannon International (1nm)
Runway16R
Runway Length10002 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 35
Tail NumberN3121V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDonald J and Joan Williams
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-225-8 · Reciprocating · 225
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 55 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 13 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:31
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data