NTSB Reports
Aviation Safety Intelligence
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.

Get the iPhone App
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 23, 1992 · Cessna 401 · N3271Q

New Port Richey, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 23, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
New Port Richey, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 401
Tail Number
N3271Q
Operator
Joseph a Mcdonald
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA92FA114

THE PIC DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FERRY PERMIT. WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 150 TO 500 FEET. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BEGAN A LEFT TURN WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. A FIRE WAS OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN A STEEP DESCENDING LEFT TURN BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE LINE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS) WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING AN IN FLIGHT LEFT ENGINE FIRE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADVERTENT SHUTDOWN OF THE WRONG ENGINE.

Full Narrative

THE PIC DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FERRY PERMIT. WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 150 TO 500 FEET. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BEGAN A LEFT TURN WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. A FIRE WAS OBSERVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN A STEEP DESCENDING LEFT TURN BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE LINE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:06 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 401
Tail NumberN3271Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJoseph a Mcdonald
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 17 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

External Links

Appendix: Source Data