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

May 8, 1992 · Piper PA-24-250 · N7851P

Falmouth, KY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 8, 1992
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Falmouth, KY
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N7851P
Operator
Douglas J Deszell
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO92LA055

N7851P departed with 90 gallons of fuel on board. Approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, the pilot noted that fuel consumption was high. All four occupants could smell fuel throughout the cabin. Approximately two hours after departure, the engine quit and was restarted. The pilot proceeded to land at an alternate airport. The pilot stated that the final approach was high and east. A 20 knot tailwind existed at the time of the landing. The airplane overshot the runway, contacted trees, and crashed. The on-scene investigation revealed that there was no fuel in the left main fuel tank, 3 gallons in the auxiliary fuel tanks, and the right main fuel tank contained some fuel, but the quantity could not be determined. The right full tank lines were found separated from the fuel tank and the left fuel tank lines were intact. The engine-driven fuel pump, quick drain, fuel selector valve, fuel tank caps, and left fuel tank exhibited no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE IN REFERENCE TO THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM LEAK.

Full Narrative

N7851P DEPARTED WITH 90 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTED THAT FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGH. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS COULD SMELL FUEL THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE THE ENGINE QUIT AND WAS RESTARTED. THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO LAND AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FINAL APPROACH WAS HIGH AND EAST. A 20 KNOT TAILWIND EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY, CONTACTED TREES AND CRASHED. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK, 3 GALLONS IN THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS, AND THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CONTAINED SOME FUEL, BUT THE QUANTITY COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE RIGHT FULL TANK LINES WERE FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE FUEL TANK AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK LINES WERE INTACT. THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP, QUICK DRAIN, FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, FUEL TANK CAPS AND LEFT FUEL TANK EXHIBITED NO ANOMALIES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:28 EDT
Nearest AirportGene Snyder (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN7851P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDouglas J Deszell
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-AID5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured1
Total4
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 20 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data