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

August 14, 1989 · Piper PA-34-200 · N16LL

Wadsworth, OH

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 14, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Wadsworth, OH
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200
Tail Number
N16LL
Operator
Dan Weltzien
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI89LA169

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT PLT WERE ON A PERSONAL FLT IN AN ACFT EQUIPPED WITH PEDAL BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE ONLY, BUT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH PLTS. THE CFI ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO OCCUPY THE LEFT FRONT SEAT WHERE HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPN OF THE NORMAL BRAKES. DRG THE APCH TO LND, THE CFI REMINDED THE STUDENT THAT THE BRAKES WERE ON THE STUDENT'S SIDE. THE CFI RPRTD 'I FLEW THE AIRPLANE AT THE NORMAL APPROACH SPEEDS AND SLOWED IT RIGHT DOWN ON TOUCHDOWN SO THAT BRAKING WOULD BE LITTLE OR ALMOST NONE AT ALL.' THE APCH WAS NORMAL UNTIL TOUCHDOWN, 'THEN THE ACFT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AS IF SOMEONE HAD LOCKED UP THE LEFT BRAKE.' THE CFI TOLD THE STUDENT TO 'GET OFF THE BRAKE' & THE STUDENT INDCD HE DID NOT APPLY BRAKING. THE ACFT SLID SIDEWAYS, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE LEFT WING HIT THE TIRE OF ANOTHER ACFT. AN EXAM OF THE BRAKES REVEALED NO SIGN OF A MALFUNCTION. THE CFI HAD JUST RCVD HIS MULTI-ENG RATING ON 7/23/89. HE HAD ONLY 40 HRS OF MULTI-ENG FLT TIME, OF WHICH, 23 HRS WERE IN THIS MAKE & MODEL.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION BY THE CFI, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND THE PARKED AIRCRAFT.

Full Narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT PLT WERE ON A PERSONAL FLT IN AN ACFT EQUIPPED WITH PEDAL BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE ONLY, BUT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH PLTS. THE CFI ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO OCCUPY THE LEFT FRONT SEAT WHERE HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPN OF THE NORMAL BRAKES. DRG THE APCH TO LND, THE CFI REMINDED THE STUDENT THAT THE BRAKES WERE ON THE STUDENT'S SIDE. THE CFI RPRTD 'I FLEW THE AIRPLANE AT THE NORMAL APPROACH SPEEDS AND SLOWED IT RIGHT DOWN ON TOUCHDOWN SO THAT BRAKING WOULD BE LITTLE OR ALMOST NONE AT ALL.' THE APCH WAS NORMAL UNTIL TOUCHDOWN, 'THEN THE ACFT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AS IF SOMEONE HAD LOCKED UP THE LEFT BRAKE.' THE CFI TOLD THE STUDENT TO 'GET OFF THE BRAKE' & THE STUDENT INDCD HE DID NOT APPLY BRAKING. THE ACFT SLID SIDEWAYS, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE LEFT WING HIT THE TIRE OF ANOTHER ACFT. AN EXAM OF THE BRAKES REVEALED NO SIGN OF A MALFUNCTION. THE CFI HAD JUST RCVD HIS MULTI-ENG RATING ON 7/23/89. HE HAD ONLY 40 HRS OF MULTI-ENG FLT TIME, OF WHICH, 23 HRS WERE IN THIS MAKE & MODEL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:00 EDT
Nearest AirportWeltzien Skypark (0nm N)
Runway21
Runway Length2300 ft
Runway Width37 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-200
Tail NumberN16LL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDan Weltzien
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1E6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 20 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data