Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.
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.
Glenville, WV
This was the pilot's first time at this airport. He was invited to land by the airport owner who radioed and talked him through the landing. He landed successfully, and the owner then took him up for a flight to show him the normal takeoff and landing for this airport. After the second landing, the owner got into his airplane and asked the pilot to follow him. During the takeoff, the pilot stated that the engine seemed to be losing power and not climbing as normal. A witness who saw the airplane takeoff reported that the engine did not seem to be developing full power. He added that the airplane only seemed to gain 50 to 75 feet when the pilot made a right turn and disappeared behind the trees. The airplane collided with trees on top of the hill. According to the pilot operating handbook, it is recommended that for takeoff the carburetor heat should be off. Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed the carburetor heat was in the on position.
THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE TAKEOFF PROCEDURE WHICH TO LED TO A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TREES.
THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST TIME AT THIS AIRPORT. HE WAS INVITED TO LAND BY THE AIRPORT OWNER WHO RADIOED AND TALKED HIM THROUGH THE LANDING. HE LANDED SUCCESSFULLY, AND THE OWNER THEN TOOK HIM UP FOR A FLIGHT TO SHOW HIM THE NORMAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING FOR THIS AIRPORT. AFTER THE SECOND LANDING, THE OWNER GOT INTO HIS AIRPLANE AND ASKED THE PILOT TO FOLLOW HIM. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE LOSING POWER AND NOT CLIMBING AS NORMAL. A WITNESS WHO SAW THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT SEEM TO BE DEVELOPING FULL POWER. HE ADDED THAT THE AIRPLANE ONLY SEEMED TO GAIN 50 TO 75 FEET WHEN THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE TREES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ON TOP OF THE HILL. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FOR TAKEOFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT SHOULD BE OFF. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA REVEALED THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE ON POSITION.