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 6, 1988 · Beech 77 · N3818U

Knoxville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 6, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities), 2 uninjured
Location
Knoxville, TN
Aircraft
Beech 77
Tail Number
N3818U
Operator
Aviatin Instruction
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL88FA106

THE CESSNA MADE A LONG STRAIGHT IN FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT'S RADIO TRANSMITTER WAS INOP. AFTERWARD THE CESSNA PIC RPTED THAT INITIALLY HE SAW THE BEECH ON A LEFT BASE. LATER HE STATED THE BEECH WAS HEADING AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE BEECH FLYING A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ARRIVING ON FINAL ABOVE & SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE CESSNA. THE BEECH BEGAN A STEEPER, FASTER DESCENT & COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM BEHIND. THE INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED INTENSE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE CESSNA OPERATORS AND THE FLIGHT SCHOOL WHERE THE BEECH WAS BASED. CORPORATE PILOTS COMPLAINED ABOUT TRAFFIC PATTERN DISCOURTESY BY TWO ACFT WHOSE DESCRIPTIONS MATCHED THE ACFT INVOLVED IN THIS COLLISION. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE BEECH MAKING POSITION REPORTS IN THE PATTERN. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE CESSNA RADIO WAS RECEIVING SATISFACTORILLY.

Full Narrative

THE CESSNA MADE A LONG STRAIGHT IN FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT'S RADIO TRANSMITTER WAS INOP. AFTERWARD THE CESSNA PIC RPTED THAT INITIALLY HE SAW THE BEECH ON A LEFT BASE. LATER HE STATED THE BEECH WAS HEADING AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE BEECH FLYING A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ARRIVING ON FINAL ABOVE & SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE CESSNA. THE BEECH BEGAN A STEEPER, FASTER DESCENT & COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM BEHIND. THE INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED INTENSE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE CESSNA OPERATORS AND THE FLIGHT SCHOOL WHERE THE BEECH WAS BASED. CORPORATE PILOTS COMPLAINED ABOUT TRAFFIC PATTERN DISCOURTESY BY TWO ACFT WHOSE DESCRIPTIONS MATCHED THE ACFT INVOLVED IN THIS COLLISION. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE BEECH MAKING POSITION REPORTS IN THE PATTERN. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE CESSNA RADIO WAS RECEIVING SATISFACTORILLY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:40 CST
Nearest AirportKnoxville Downtown Island (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 77
Tail NumberN3818U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAviatin Instruction
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100 | Lycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 115
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities), 2 uninjured
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total4
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 23 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 10 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data