Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
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
Search everything
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Featured 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…
High-signal investigations
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
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 manufacturersAirports
More airportsOperators
More operatorsAbout
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
October 28, 1990 · Piper PA-28-180 · N9292J
Columbia, PA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 28, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Columbia, PA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180
Tail Number
N9292J
Operator
Patrick J Mcginness
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC91LA019
THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWERLINES AND A TREE, AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 300 TO 400 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 29. THE PILOT REPORTED AN UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENDING RIGHT TURN DUE TO A SPLIT FLAP CONDITION. EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AND THE ACCIDENT SCENE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE IMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE WINDS WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 16 TO 22 KNOTS. THE POWERLINES WERE ON WOODEN POLES 50 TO 60 FT AGL, AND APPROXIMATELY 400 TO 500 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WENT THROUGH THE POWERLINES LEAVING THE TOP AND BOTTOM WIRES INTACT AND THE MIDDLE TWO WIRES BROKEN. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. SHEARING THE WING OFF PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO WIRE MARKS ON THE WING, HOWEVER, THERE WERE WIRE MARKS ON THE PROPELLER.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH AND COMPENSATE FOR THE HEADWIND. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOGNIZE HIS LOW ALTITUDE AND EXECUTE A GO-AROUND.
Full Narrative
THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWERLINES AND A TREE, AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 300 TO 400 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 29. THE PILOT REPORTED AN UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENDING RIGHT TURN DUE TO A SPLIT FLAP CONDITION. EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AND THE ACCIDENT SCENE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE IMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE WINDS WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 16 TO 22 KNOTS. THE POWERLINES WERE ON WOODEN POLES 50 TO 60 FT AGL, AND APPROXIMATELY 400 TO 500 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WENT THROUGH THE POWERLINES LEAVING THE TOP AND BOTTOM WIRES INTACT AND THE MIDDLE TWO WIRES BROKEN. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. SHEARING THE WING OFF PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO WIRE MARKS ON THE WING, HOWEVER, THERE WERE WIRE MARKS ON THE PROPELLER.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:45 EST
Nearest AirportMcginness (0nm N)
Runway29
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28-180
Tail NumberN9292J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPatrick J Mcginness
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A3A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO