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 20, 1991 · Piper PA-28-161 · N9135T

San Jose, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 20, 1991
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
San Jose, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Tail Number
N9135T
Operator
Flying Country Club
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91LA221

During takeoff at about 200' above ground level over the runway's departure end, the aircraft's engine suffered a total loss of power. The pilot performed necessary emergency procedures. He entered a power-off forced landing descent and made a right turn to the best available landing area. The aircraft landed hard, bounced, and collided with a hangar, separating the left wing from the fuselage. An FAA safety inspector examined the aircraft on-scene. He drained approximately 1/4 pint of fuel out of the intact right wing. The left had considerably more fuel and had lost fuel during impact. The aircraft's engine was removed from the aircraft for further examination. The engine started and ran at various power settings with no problem. The certified flight instructor and his student pilot in oral and written statements, did not indicate that the flight instructor changed the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.

Full Narrative

DURING TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 200' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL OVER THE RUNWAY'S DEPARTURE END, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE SUFFERED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED NECESSARY EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. HE ENTERED A POWER-OFF FORCED LANDING DESCENT AND MADE A RIGHT TURN TO THE BEST AVAILABLE LANDING AREA. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, AND COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR, SEPARATING THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUSELAGE. AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON-SCENE. HE DRAINED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 PINT OF FUEL OUT OF THE INTACT RIGHT WING. THE LEFT HAD CONSIDERABLY MORE FUEL AND HAD LOST FUEL DURING IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN AT VARIOUS POWER SETTINGS WITH NO PROBLEM. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HIS STUDENT PILOT IN ORAL AND WRITTEN STATEMENTS, DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK DURING THE FLIGHT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:08 PDT
Nearest AirportReid-Hillview (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length3100 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-161
Tail NumberN9135T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFlying Country Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D3G · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 28 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data