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

February 17, 1988 · Cessna 150M · N9399U

So. Charleston, WV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 17, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury), 2 unknown outcomes
Location
So. Charleston, WV
Aircraft
Cessna 150M
Tail Number
N9399U
Operator
Merry R Casto
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO88FA022

THE STU PLT SAID THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ALTERNATE BETWEEN PARTIAL AND FULL POWER DURING THE INITIAL TKF CLIMB. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 100 FT AGL AND ABOUT 300 FT PAST THE RWY END. ACCORDING TO THE STU THE INST TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, TURNED LEFT, REVERSED COURSE AND HEADED TOWARD A TAXIWAY ON THE ARPT. THE TAXIWAY IS ORIENTED EAST-WEST AND IS EAST OF AND ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY USED FOR TKF, RWY 15. THE STU COULD NOT RECALL WHETHER THE ACFT LOST OR GAINED ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH TO THE RWY; HOWEVER HE SAID THE ACFT STAYED ABOVE THE ARPT. A WITNESS SAID HE HEARD ENGINE SOUNDS AS THE ACFT REVERSED COURSE. ACCORDING TO THE STU AS THEY NEARED THE TAXIWAY THE ACFT WAS STILL IN A LEFT TURN WHEN SUDDENLY IT STRUCK TREES ABOUT 200 FT SHORT OF THE EAST END OF THE TAXIWAY. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT STALLED BEFORE IT STRUCK TREES. THE STU WAS RESCUED FROM THE ACFT BUT THE ACFT EXPLODED BEFORE THE INSTR COULD BE RESCUED. TWO RESCUERS WERE INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION. FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF LOSS OF POWER. THE ACFT USED AUTO GAS.

Full Narrative

THE STU PLT SAID THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ALTERNATE BETWEEN PARTIAL AND FULL POWER DURING THE INITIAL TKF CLIMB. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 100 FT AGL AND ABOUT 300 FT PAST THE RWY END. ACCORDING TO THE STU THE INST TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, TURNED LEFT, REVERSED COURSE AND HEADED TOWARD A TAXIWAY ON THE ARPT. THE TAXIWAY IS ORIENTED EAST-WEST AND IS EAST OF AND ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY USED FOR TKF, RWY 15. THE STU COULD NOT RECALL WHETHER THE ACFT LOST OR GAINED ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH TO THE RWY; HOWEVER HE SAID THE ACFT STAYED ABOVE THE ARPT. A WITNESS SAID HE HEARD ENGINE SOUNDS AS THE ACFT REVERSED COURSE. ACCORDING TO THE STU AS THEY NEARED THE TAXIWAY THE ACFT WAS STILL IN A LEFT TURN WHEN SUDDENLY IT STRUCK TREES ABOUT 200 FT SHORT OF THE EAST END OF THE TAXIWAY. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT STALLED BEFORE IT STRUCK TREES. THE STU WAS RESCUED FROM THE ACFT BUT THE ACFT EXPLODED BEFORE THE INSTR COULD BE RESCUED. TWO RESCUERS WERE INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION. FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF LOSS OF POWER. THE ACFT USED AUTO GAS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:10 EST
Nearest AirportMALLORY (0nm N)
Runway15
Runway Length2000 ft
Runway Width20 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150M
Tail NumberN9399U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMerry R Casto
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury), 2 unknown outcomes
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 7 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 27 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data