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

May 6, 1987 · Cessna 152 · N25991

Ina, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 6, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Ina, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N25991
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI87FA124

BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT STATED HIS INTENTIONS WERE TO PRACTICE NGT LNDGS. HE TOOK OFF AT 2010 CDT WITH AN ESTD 1.5 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WAS FND BY FISHERMEN, SUBMERGEDIN A LAKE APPROXIMATELY 15 MI SE OF THE ARPT. AFTER IT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE LAKE, AN EXAM REVEALED CRUSHING DAMAGE ON THE NOSE OF THE ACFT & THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS. ALSO, THE NOSE GEAR SEPD, THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED TO THE REAR & THE AFT FUSELAGE WAS BENT DOWNWARD JUST AFT OF THE WINGS & MAIN GEAR. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. A WITNESS AT A BOAT DOCK SAID HE SAW AN ACFT (MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N25991) FLYING OVER THE LAKE AT ABOUT 2030 CDT. HE SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING EXTREMELY LOW, THEN CLIMBED OVER TREES, TURNED TOWARD THE NE & BEGAN CLIMBING. HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT AFTER THAT & ASSUMED IT WAS RTRNG TO THE ARPT. A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PLT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF RECENT &OLD MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. THE CORONER BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS RELATED TO HIS CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITION.

Full Narrative

BEFORE THE FLT, THE PLT STATED HIS INTENTIONS WERE TO PRACTICE NGT LNDGS. HE TOOK OFF AT 2010 CDT WITH AN ESTD 1.5 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WAS FND BY FISHERMEN, SUBMERGEDIN A LAKE APPROXIMATELY 15 MI SE OF THE ARPT. AFTER IT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE LAKE, AN EXAM REVEALED CRUSHING DAMAGE ON THE NOSE OF THE ACFT & THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS. ALSO, THE NOSE GEAR SEPD, THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED TO THE REAR & THE AFT FUSELAGE WAS BENT DOWNWARD JUST AFT OF THE WINGS & MAIN GEAR. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. A WITNESS AT A BOAT DOCK SAID HE SAW AN ACFT (MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N25991) FLYING OVER THE LAKE AT ABOUT 2030 CDT. HE SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING EXTREMELY LOW, THEN CLIMBED OVER TREES, TURNED TOWARD THE NE & BEGAN CLIMBING. HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT AFTER THAT & ASSUMED IT WAS RTRNG TO THE ARPT. A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PLT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF RECENT &OLD MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. THE CORONER BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS RELATED TO HIS CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:10 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN25991
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind10° @ 9 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data