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

March 11, 2000 · Cessna 180 · N4994A

Port Townsend, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 11, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Port Townsend, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 180
Tail Number
N4994A
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA00LA049

The pilot, who was flying a tailwheel-equipped aircraft, thought he was landing into a quartering headwind. But according to pilot-rated witnesses, the wind shifted just prior to the aircraft crossing the threshold. After the aircraft touched down, the tailwind lifted its tail into the air, and the pilot began having difficulty maintaining directional control. During his attempts to remain aligned with the runway, the aircraft departed the side runway surface, and encountered soft, wet terrain. Soon after encountering the soft terrain, one of the main gear legs separated from the aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for changing wind conditions during the landing roll in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft. Factors include a variable, shifting wind that changed from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind just prior to the aircraft touching down on the runway, and soft, wet terrain just off the edge of the runway surface.

Full Narrative

On March 10, 2000, approximately 1645 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180, N4994A, experienced a gear collapse during the landing roll at Jefferson County International Airport, Port Townsend, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned in partnership by the pilot and another individual, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight, which departed Snohomish County Airport, Everett, Washington, about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 26 into what he thought was a quartering headwind. After the aircraft touched down in a three-point attitude, it bounced back into the air and started drifting to the right. When it touched down a second time, the wind, which was now blowing from behind the aircraft, lifted the tail in the air, resulting in the pilot having difficulty maintaining directional control. The aircraft continued to the right, and the pilot began to apply braking and corrective action in an attempt to maintain alignment with the runway. During his attempts to get the aircraft to track back toward the center of the runway, it departed the right side of the runway and encountered soft, wet terrain. After encountering the soft terrain, one of the aircraft's main gear separated from the airframe and one wing impacted the ground. Pilot-rated witnesses to the accident said that there were variable winds blowing at the time, and that the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind just prior to the aircraft crossing the threshold.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:45 PST
Nearest AirportJefferson County Intl. (0nm)
Runway26
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 180
Tail NumberN4994A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-K · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data