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 16, 1988 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC9-31 · N965VJ

Minneapolis, MN

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
November 16, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (106 uninjured)
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas DC9-31
Tail Number
N965VJ
Operator
Usair
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
MKC89IA024

The scheduled commuter flight was boarded with passengers and a crew consisting of 3 flight attendants, the first officer, and the captain for a flight to Pittsburg, PA. After a gate release, the aircraft was taxied to runway 29R and prepared for takeoff. The takeoff roll progressed normally until a point 4,200 feet from initiation. The crew reported a vibration and the left engine power diminished. The takeoff was aborted, but the aircraft speed at the time of the abort and runway distance remaining was insufficient to avoid departing the end of the runway. The aircraft became mired in the rain-soaked terrain up to the axle. Post-incident examination of the left main gear tires indicated a failure of the tire carcass. The tires had been retreaded 300 and 244 landings respectively prior to the failure. The carcass, however, had no records to show an operational or replacement history. The reason for the failure of the carcass was not determined. The cause of the initial power loss on the left engine was from ingestion of tire debris.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE CARCASS AND THE INGESTION OF THE TIRE DEBRIS INTO THE LEFT ENGINE WHICH HINDERED NORMAL OPERATION.

Full Narrative

THE SCHEDULED COMMUTER FLT WAS BOARDED WITH PASSENGERS AND ACREW CONSISTING OF 3 FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, THE FIRST OFFICER AND THE CAPTAIN FOR A FLT TO PITTSBURG, PA. AFTER A GATE RELEASE, THE ACFT WAS TAXIED TO RWY 29R AND PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF. THE TAKEOFF ROLL PROGRESSED NORMALLY UNTIL A POINT 4,200 FEET FROM INITIATION. THE CREW REPORTED A VIBRATION AND THE LEFT ENG POWER DIMINISHED. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED, BUT THE ACFT SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE ABORT AND RWY DISTANCE REMAINING WAS INSUFFICIENT TO AVOID DEPARTING THE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT BECAME MIRED IN THE RAIN SOAKED TERRAIN UP TO THE AXLE. POST-INCIDENT EXAM OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TIRES INDICATED A FAILURE OF THE TIRE CARCASS. THE TIRES HAD BEEN RETREADED 300 AND 244 LANDINGS RESPECTIVELY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CARCASS HOWEVER, HAD NO RECORDS TO SHOW AN OPERATIONAL OR REPLACEMENT HISTORY. THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF THE CARCASS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CAUSE OF THE INITIAL POWER LOSS ON THE LEFT ENG WAS FROM INJESTION OF TIRE DEBRIS.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time20:50 CST
Nearest AirportMinneapolis St Paul Intl (0nm N)
Runway29R
Runway Length8202 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas DC9-31
Tail NumberN965VJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorUsair
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-7 · Turbojet · 14000
Seats117

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (106 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured106
Total106
Crew 1Age 52 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind350° @ 19 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 36 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data