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

April 11, 1988 · Piper PA-28-180 · N32911

Bowling Green, KY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 11, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180
Tail Number
N32911
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL88FA138

PILOT CALLED FSS ON WRONG FREQ. ANOTHER PILOT ANSWERED & PILOT REQ FSS FREQ. HE THEN CALLED FSS, RPTED ENG QUIT. WITNESS HEARD 'ENG STARTING' MOMENTARILY OVERHEAD, WATCHED ACFT PITCH OVER, DIVE TO GND & IMPACT WITH NO ATTEMPT TO FLARE FOR LNDING. PITCH TRIM WAS FULLY NOSE DOWN, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PROPELLER ROTATION UNDER POWER AT IMPACT, & NO REASON FOUND TO PREVENT ENG RUNNING. PIC BACKGROUND CHECK SHOWED TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION, CONTINUOUS USE OF VALIUM TO SLEEP SINCE 1979, NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OF FATHER, FEAR OF NERVOUS BREAKDOWN HIMSELF, SEVERE SHORTAGES IN GOVT GRAIN IN HIS WAREHOUSE, & 1 MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE TO WAREHOUSE. WHEN GOVT AUDITOR ARRIVED UNEXPECTEDLY, PIC LEFT WAREHOUSE, RENTED ACFT, TOOK OFF HURRIEDLY, & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. WITNESSES REPORTED PILOT DID NOT PREFLT, DID NOT ACCOMPLISH A RUN-UP, AND TAXIIED AT HIGH SPEED.

Full Narrative

PILOT CALLED FSS ON WRONG FREQ. ANOTHER PILOT ANSWERED & PILOT REQ FSS FREQ. HE THEN CALLED FSS, RPTED ENG QUIT. WITNESS HEARD 'ENG STARTING' MOMENTARILY OVERHEAD, WATCHED ACFT PITCH OVER, DIVE TO GND & IMPACT WITH NO ATTEMPT TO FLARE FOR LNDING. PITCH TRIM WAS FULLY NOSE DOWN, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PROPELLER ROTATION UNDER POWER AT IMPACT, & NO REASON FOUND TO PREVENT ENG RUNNING. PIC BACKGROUND CHECK SHOWED TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION, CONTINUOUS USE OF VALIUM TO SLEEP SINCE 1979, NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OF FATHER, FEAR OF NERVOUS BREAKDOWN HIMSELF, SEVERE SHORTAGES IN GOVT GRAIN IN HIS WAREHOUSE, & 1 MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE TO WAREHOUSE. WHEN GOVT AUDITOR ARRIVED UNEXPECTEDLY, PIC LEFT WAREHOUSE, RENTED ACFT, TOOK OFF HURRIEDLY, & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. WITNESSES REPORTED PILOT DID NOT PREFLT, DID NOT ACCOMPLISH A RUN-UP, AND TAXIIED AT HIGH SPEED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:23 CDT
Nearest Airport4nm NE
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-180
Tail NumberN32911
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 18 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data