NTSB Reports
Aviation Safety Intelligence
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.

Get the iPhone App
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

April 28, 1990 · Beech BE-35M · N1ZY

Tomball, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 28, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tomball, TX
Aircraft
Beech BE-35M
Tail Number
N1ZY
Operator
Davis Harold E
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW90LA103

THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 5 PISTON WAS SEVERELY HEAT ERODED WITH PIECES MISSING. THE EROSION ALLOWED EXHAUST VENTING (BLOW BY) INTO THE CASE. THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE OF PRE-IGNITION ON THE OTHER PISTONS' BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT AS ON NO. 5. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS 17 HOURS OUT OF A MAJOR OVERHAUL AND HAD BEEN USING AUTO GAS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT APPEARED THAT THE PISTON EROSION HAD OCCURRED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO DETONATION AND SUBSEQUENT PISTON OVERTEMPERATURE AND EROSION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 5 PISTON WAS SEVERELY HEAT ERODED WITH PIECES MISSING. THE EROSION ALLOWED EXHAUST VENTING (BLOW BY) INTO THE CASE. THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE OF PRE-IGNITION ON THE OTHER PISTONS' BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT AS ON NO. 5. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS 17 HOURS OUT OF A MAJOR OVERHAUL AND HAD BEEN USING AUTO GAS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT APPEARED THAT THE PISTON EROSION HAD OCCURRED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:41 CDT
Nearest AirportDavid Wayne Hooks (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech BE-35M
Tail NumberN1ZY
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDavis Harold E
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-C · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:51
Weather SourceWFAC

External Links

Appendix: Source Data