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

November 13, 1988 · Cessna 172 · N8045B

Riverton, WY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 13, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Riverton, WY
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N8045B
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN89LA030

The instructor reported closing the throttle to simulate an engine failure during a training flight. The student added carburetor heat first, instead of establishing a proper glide. The instructor removed carburetor heat and advised the student of the desired sequence. The instructor added carb heat, opened the throttle slightly, and cleared the engine during descent. The student selected a field for the simulated forced landing. The instructor added power to recover at 300 ft AGL. The engine accelerated to partial power then 'cut out.' The instructor tried twice more to restore full power to no avail. A forced landing was made in a beet field, 10 miles southwest of the destination. At touchdown, the nose wheel hit a ditch and was sheared off. The aircraft traveled 200 feet, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. A post accident engine run by an FAA inspector failed to reveal evidence to explain the reported loss of power. The temperature was 41, and the dew point was 27.

Full Narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED CLOSING THE THROTTLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE, DURING A TRAINING FLIGHT. THE STUDENT ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT FIRST, INSTEAD OF ESTABLISHING A PROPER GLIDE. THE INSTRUCTOR REMOVED CARBURETOR HEAT AND ADVISED THE STUDENT OF THE DESIRED SEQUENCE. THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED CARB HEAT, OPENED THE THROTTLE SLIGHTLY, AND CLEARED THE ENGINE DURING DESCENT. THE STUDENT SELECTED A FIELD FOR THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR ADDED POWER TO RECOVER AT 300 FT AGL. THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO PARTIAL POWER THEN 'CUT OUT.' THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TWICE MORE TO RESTORE FULL POWER TO NO AVAIL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A BEET FIELD, 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE DESTINATION. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A DITCH AND WAS SHEARED OFF. THE ACFT TRAVELED 200 FEET, NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN BY AN FAA INSPECTOR FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER. THE TEMP WAS 41, AND THE DEW POINT WAS 27.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN8045B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-A · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point41 C / 27 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data