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 17, 1992 · Mooney M20F · N2920L

Glendive, MT

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 17, 1992
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Glendive, MT
Aircraft
Mooney M20F
Tail Number
N2920L
Operator
Fischer Richard C & Verril J
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA92FA101

The pilot of the Mooney M20F retracted his landing gear almost immediately after the tires lifted off the runway. He continued to accelerate while flying very low over the airfield, and then executed a steep right hand 180 degree turning pull-up. Numerous pilot-rated witnesses stated that during this pull-up the aircraft appeared to be flying just on the edge of a stall. He then proceeded to the approach end of the airfield, entered a descending turn and then executed a high speed, low level pass. During this pass a helium filled balloon was released for the pilot to attempt to burst with the aircraft's propeller. At the conclusion of this pass, the pilot made a rapid climbing pull-up to the left, reaching an altitude of approximately 300 feet above ground level. The bank angle at the top of the climbing turn was estimated by the witnesses to be approximately 50 degrees. The aircraft maintained approximately the same angle of bank as it descended toward the terrain, ultimately impacting near the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT, AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF AND THE AIRCRAFT.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT OF THE MOONEY M20F RETRACTED HIS LANDING GEAR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TIRES LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY. HE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE FLYING VERY LOW OVER THE AIRFIELD, AND THEN EXECUTED A STEEP RIGHT HAND 180 DEGREE TURNING PULL-UP. NUMEROUS PILOT-RATED WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THIS PULL-UP THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE FLYING JUST ON THE EDGE OF A STALL. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE APPROACH END OF THE AIRFIELD, ENTERED A DESCENDING TURN AND THEN EXECUTED A HIGH SPEED, LOW LEVEL PASS. DURING THIS PASS A HELIUM FILLED BALLOON WAS RELEASED FOR THE PILOT TO ATTEMPT TO BURST WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S PROPELLER. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PASS, THE PILOT MADE A RAPID CLIMBING PULL-UP TO THE LEFT, REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE BANK ANGLE AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMBING TURN WAS ESTIMATED BY THE WITNESSES TO BE APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED APPROXIMATELY THE SAME ANGLE OF BANK AS IT DESCENDED TOWARD THE TERRAIN, ULTIMATELY IMPACTING NEAR THE RUNWAY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:25 MDT
Nearest AirportDawson Community (1nm NNE)
Runway12
Runway Length5704 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20F
Tail NumberN2920L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFischer Richard C & Verril J
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 8 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data