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

June 4, 1992 · Jacanin Great Lakes Great LAKE · N4045

Gila Bend, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 4, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Gila Bend, AZ
Aircraft
Jacanin Great Lakes Great LAKE
Tail Number
N4045
Operator
John H Connor
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92LA234

The pilot had just purchased the aircraft and was on the delivery flight from Arizona to Georgia. He landed at the airport for a fuel stop and took off after topping the fuel tank. The pilot said he attained about 100 feet AGL when the engine power level suddenly reduced to idle. The pilot said he had insufficient altitude to affect a landing and collided with the ground in a nose down attitude. FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and found no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction. The fuel selector is an 'ON' or 'OFF' valve without detents. One quarter of a turn (90 degrees) of the valve is the total motion between settings. The valve handle was found about 15 degrees from the full ON position. The previous aircraft owner stated that the fuel valve is very sensitive to being in an intermediate setting. He said that if the valve were in anything but the full ON position, the engine would not run.

NTSB Probable Cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE FULL 'ON' SETTING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND THE LOCATION OF THE TEMPORARY RADIO INSTALLATION WHICH LIMITED THE PILOT'S VIEW OF THE SELECTOR VALVE.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS ON THE DELIVERY FLIGHT FROM ARIZONA TO GEORGIA. HE LANDED AT THE AIRPORT FOR A FUEL STOP AND TOOK OFF AFTER TOPPING THE FUEL TANK. THE PILOT SAID HE ATTAINED ABOUT 100 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE POWER LEVEL SUDDENLY REDUCED TO IDLE. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO AFFECT A LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE FUEL SELECTOR IS AN 'ON' OR 'OFF' VALVE WITHOUT DETENTS. ONE QUARTER OF A TURN (90 DEGREES) OF THE VALVE IS THE TOTAL MOTION BETWEEN SETTINGS. THE VALVE HANDLE WAS FOUND ABOUT 15 DEGREES FROM THE FULL ON POSITION. THE PREVIOUS AIRCRAFT OWNER STATED THAT THE FUEL VALVE IS VERY SENSITIVE TO BEING IN AN INTERMEDIATE SETTING. HE SAID THAT IF THE VALVE WERE IN ANYTHING BUT THE FULL ON POSITION, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:17 MST
Nearest AirportGila Bend Muni (0nm N)
Runway4
Runway Length3800 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftJacanin Great Lakes Great LAKE
Tail NumberN4045
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJohn H Connor
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-75 · Reciprocating · 75
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 7 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point11 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data