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

January 29, 1989 · Cessna 172 · N4843G

Ainsworth, NE

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 29, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Ainsworth, NE
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N4843G
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC89LA056

The private pilot said he was attempting to land on runway 30, with a 40 degree left crosswind of about 15 knots. Dissatisfied with his approach, he elected to go-around before touchdown. After establishing a positive rate of climb and attaining about 150 feet AGL, he said the engine failed. He went through normal emergency procedures in an effort to restart the engine without success. He attempted to land on a rough farm field, but said he felt he had let his airspeed deteriorate and the aircraft mush-stalled colliding with the terrain. Post accident investigation and engine run up failed to reveal the cause of engine failure. The carburetor and heat box were destroyed by the impact so a replacement carburetor had to be fitted for the runup. There was no evidence of fuel contamination or starvation/exhaustion. Meteorological conditions were not conducive for carburetor icing. The pilot had been well trained in the usage of carburetor leaning techniques and carburetor heat control usage.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF POWER FROM UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

THE PVT PLT SAID HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 30, WITH A 40 DEGREE LEFT CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 15 KNOTS. DISSATISFIED WITH HIS APPROACH, HE ELECTED TO GO-AROUND BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. AFTER ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB AND ATTAINING ABOUT 150 FEET AGL, HE SAID THE ENGINE FAILED. HE WENT THROUGH NORMAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN AN EFFORT TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A ROUGH FARM FIELD, BUT SAID HE FELT HE HAD LET HIS AIRSPEED DETERIORATE AND THE AIRCRAFT MUSH-STALLED COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND ENGINE RUN UP FAILED TO REVEAL THE CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE. THE CARBURETOR AND HEAT BOX WERE DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT SO A REPLACEMENT CARBURETOR HAD TO BE FITTED FOR THE RUNUP. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION OR STARVATION/EXHAUSTION. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. THE PLT HAD BEEN WELL TRAINED IN THE USAGE OF CARBURETOR LEANING TECHNIQUES AND CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL USAGE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 CST
Nearest AirportAinsworth (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN4843G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 36 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 15 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 23 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data