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

December 10, 1988 · Cessna 650 · N61BE

Hutchinson, KS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 10, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Hutchinson, KS
Aircraft
Cessna 650
Tail Number
N61BE
Operator
Jetcraft
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC89FA038

Purpose of flight was to prepare the left-seat pilot for a type rating, and this was his first landing since completing ground school. There was another student in the jump seat, and two more in the back of the airplane. The airplane was landing on runway 31; winds were from 010 degrees at 16 knots. The airplane touched down in a crab, bounced, touched down again in a left drift, and then the left main gear collapsed. The students in the left and jump seats stated that the CFI called for touch-and-go; CFI stated that he did not. The flaps were found in the full-down position. The CFI had made only 2 landings in the airplane during the previous 4 months. During postaccident testing, gear would not free fall to a locked position until weight increased well beyond acceptance criteria. The lead seal on the down-and-locked indicator switch was missing. Switch adjusted in 1/16-inch increments; adjustment inconclusive. Black material was found in the locking collar, but whether the amount found would have affected the lock mechanism was also inconclusive.

Full Narrative

PURPOSE OF FLIGHT WAS TO PREPARE THE LEFT-SEAT PILOT FOR A TYPE RATING, AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST LANDING SINCE COMPLETING GROUND SCHOOL. THERE WAS ANOTHER STUDENT IN THE JUMP SEAT, AND TWO MORE IN THE BACK OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 31; WINDS WERE FROM 010 DEGREES AT 16 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A CRAB, BOUNCED, TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN IN A LEFT DRIFT, AND THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE STUDENTS IN THE LEFT AND JUMP SEATS STATED THAT THE CFI CALLED FOR TOUCH-AND-GO; CFI STATED THAT HE DID NOT. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE FULL-DOWN POSITION. THE CFI HAD MADE ONLY 2 LANDINGS IN THE AIRPLANE DURING THE PREVIOUS 4 MONTHS. DURING POSTACCIDENT TESTING, GEAR WOULD NOT FREE FALL TO A LOCKED POSITION UNTIL WEIGHT INCREASED WELL BEYOND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA. THE LEAD SEAL ON THE DOWN-AND-LOCKED INDICATOR SWITCH WAS MISSING. SWITCH ADJUSTED IN 1/16-INCH INCREMENTS; ADJUSTMENT INCONCLUSIVE. BLACK MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THE LOCKING COLLAR, BUT WHETHER THE AMOUNT FOUND WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS ALSO INCONCLUSIVE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:20 CST
Nearest AirportHutchinson (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 650
Tail NumberN61BE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJetcraft
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsAiresearch · TFE-731-3B · Turbofan · 3650
Seats11

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 63 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 16 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:19
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data