Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
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
Search everything
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Featured 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…
High-signal investigations
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
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 manufacturersAirports
More airportsOperators
More operatorsAbout
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 7, 1988 · Piper PA-34-200 · N16502
Laconia, NH
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 7, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Laconia, NH
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200
Tail Number
N16502
Operator
Herbert Hauser
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC89LA044
The pilot made a takeoff with known conditions of a low battery and with 15 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 30 gallons in the right tank. While cruising at 7,500 feet, he experienced a power loss on the left engine. The pilot performed the emergency procedures and was unable to get a restart. He feathered the propeller and set up crossfeed. The right engine quit a few seconds later and again the pilot was unable to get it restarted and it too was feathered. Both fuel selectors at this time were on crossfeed. They were reset to tank-to-engine and the pilot tried to restart the right engine but was unable due to the low battery. An off-airport landing was made on a roadway. Post crash examination showed fuel in the right tank and no fuel in the left tank. The pilot had failed his multi-engine checkride 2-1/2 months prior to the accident and did not pass his checkride until 2 months after the accident.
NTSB Probable Cause
AIRCRAFT STRIKING THE ROAD SIGN AFTER THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A DOUBLE POWER LOSS DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT.
Full Narrative
THE PLT MADE A TAKEOFF WITH KNOWN CONDITIONS OF A LOW BATTERY AND WITH 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND 30 GALLONS IN THE RIGHT TANK. WHILE CRUISING AT 7500 FEET HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PILOT PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESTART. HE FEATHERED THE PROPELLER AND SET UP CROSSFEED. THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT A FEW SECONDS LATER AND AGAIN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED AND IT T00 WAS FEATHERED. BOTH FUEL SELECTORS AT THIS TIME WERE ON CROSSFEED. THEY WERE RESET TO TANK-TO-ENGINE AND THE PILOT TRIED TO RESTART THE RIGHT ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE DUE TO THE LOW BATTERY. AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE ON A ROADWAY. POST CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND NO FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE PILOT HAD FAILED HIS MULTI ENGINE CHECKRIDE 2-1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND DID NOT PASS HIS CHECKRIDE UNTIL 2 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:25 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-34-200
Tail NumberN16502
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHerbert Hauser
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1E6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:45
Weather SourcePILO