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
January 20, 1987 · Piper PA-32-260 · N3293W
Westerly, RI
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 20, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (7 uninjured)
Location
Westerly, RI
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Tail Number
N3293W
Operator
Three Wing Crop of Conn
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC87FA061
The Piper PA-32-260 was taking off from an uncontrolled airport and making a left downwind departure. A second aircraft, a Piper PA-28-181, was transiting the area 1 mile south of the airport at an altitude of 1500 ft AGL. The PA-28-181 saw the PA-32-260 just prior to contact and made a descending right turn. The right main landing gear wheel struck the aft portion of the left wing tip of the PA-28-181. The right outboard aileron hinge was destroyed and the aileron bent backward and up. The PA-32-260 received a small cut on the right main landing gear tire and a scrape on the outside portion of the wheel rim. The pilot of the PA-32-260 said he never saw the other aircraft prior to contact. Two passengers, one in the right front seat and the other in the right rear seat of the PA-32-260, both saw the PA-28-181 prior to the collision. Both aircraft landed safely.
Full Narrative
THE PIPER PA-32-260 WAS TAKING OFF FROM AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT AND MAKING A LEFT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE. A SECOND AIRCRAFT, A PIPER PA-28-181 WAS TRANSITING THE AREA 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1500 FT AGL. THE PA-28-181 SAW THE PA-32-260 JUST PRIOR TO CONTACT AND MADE A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL STRUCK THE AFT PORTION OF THE LEFT WING TIP OF THE PA-28-181. THE RIGHT OUTBOARD AILERON HINGE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AILERON BENT BACKWARD AND UP. THE PA-32-260 RECEIVED A SMALL CUT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE AND A SCRAPE ON THE OUTSIDE PORTION OF THE WHEEL RIM. THE PILOT OF THE PA-32-260 SAID HE NEVER SAW THE OTHER AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO CONTACT. TWO PASSENGERS, ONE IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT AND THE OTHER IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT OF THE PA-32-260 BOTH SAW THE PA-28-181 PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:50 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway32
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-32-260
Tail NumberN3293W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorThree Wing Crop of Conn
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E465 · Reciprocating · 260 | Lycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (7 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured7
Total7
Crew 1Age 26 · First Class
Crew 2Age 58 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:45
Weather SourceWFAC