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

October 22, 1987 · Cessna 150L · N17176

Lancaster, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 22, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lancaster, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 150L
Tail Number
N17176
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW88LA010

WHILE RTRNG FM A X-COUNTRY, THE STUDENT BCM DISORIENTED & REQD ASSISTANCE. REDBIRD TWR CTLR ADZD DALLAS-FT WORTH TRACON THAT THE PLT WAS LOST & NEEDED A BEACON IDENTIFICATION. A FEW MIN LATER, THE ACFT'S LOCATION WAS DETERMINED & THE CTLR AT REDBIRD RELAYED A VECTOR FOR THE PLT TO FLY TO REDBIRD. LATER, THE PLT ADZD HIS FUEL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW. HE WAS GIVEN A FREQ TO TALK TO TRACON DIRECTLY. COMMUNICATIONS WERE WEAK & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS PROMPTED THE TRACON CTLR TO VECTOR THE PLT TO LANCASTER. AFTER THE PLT FND THE ARPT, RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. BFR LNDG, THE PLT SAW AN X ON THE RWY (INDCG IT WAS CLOSED), SO HE ABORTED THE APCH & CIRCLED THE ARPT. IN DUSK CONDS, HE SAW A LIGHT COLORED AREA BESIDE THE CLOSED RWY WHICH APPEARED TO BE A NEW RWY & ELECTED TO LND; HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN AREA OF CONSTRUCTION WITH SOFT DIRT. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. WHEN THE TRACON CTLR CONTACTED REDBIRD TWR TO ADZ THE PLT HAD DIVERTED, HE WAS REMINDED THAT LANCASTER ARPT WAS NOTAMED AS CLOSED WITH HVY WORK ON THE RWY.

Full Narrative

WHILE RTRNG FM A X-COUNTRY, THE STUDENT BCM DISORIENTED & REQD ASSISTANCE. REDBIRD TWR CTLR ADZD DALLAS-FT WORTH TRACON THAT THE PLT WAS LOST & NEEDED A BEACON IDENTIFICATION. A FEW MIN LATER, THE ACFT'S LOCATION WAS DETERMINED & THE CTLR AT REDBIRD RELAYED A VECTOR FOR THE PLT TO FLY TO REDBIRD. LATER, THE PLT ADZD HIS FUEL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW. HE WAS GIVEN A FREQ TO TALK TO TRACON DIRECTLY. COMMUNICATIONS WERE WEAK & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS PROMPTED THE TRACON CTLR TO VECTOR THE PLT TO LANCASTER. AFTER THE PLT FND THE ARPT, RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. BFR LNDG, THE PLT SAW AN X ON THE RWY (INDCG IT WAS CLOSED), SO HE ABORTED THE APCH & CIRCLED THE ARPT. IN DUSK CONDS, HE SAW A LIGHT COLORED AREA BESIDE THE CLOSED RWY WHICH APPEARED TO BE A NEW RWY & ELECTED TO LND; HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN AREA OF CONSTRUCTION WITH SOFT DIRT. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. WHEN THE TRACON CTLR CONTACTED REDBIRD TWR TO ADZ THE PLT HAD DIVERTED, HE WAS REMINDED THAT LANCASTER ARPT WAS NOTAMED AS CLOSED WITH HVY WORK ON THE RWY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:59 CDT
Nearest AirportLancaster (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length3700 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150L
Tail NumberN17176
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 19 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind10°
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data