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 23, 1987 · Cessna 208A · N828FE

Fairfield, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 23, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Fairfield, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 208A
Tail Number
N828FE
Operator
Union Flights
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX88FA020

WHILE CRUISING ON A SCHEDULED CARGO FLIGHT IN IMC THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE NEAR AN AREA WHERE WEATHER CELLS COULD HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ON THE AIRCRAFT'S RADAR. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED.THE RECENTLY HIRED PILOT HAD COMPLETED THE FAA APPROVED GROUND AND FLIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE PILOT'S RECENT TRAINING, NEITHER THE FAA NOR THE OPERATOR REQUIRED THE PILOT TO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE RECOVERIES OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE IN THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WEATHER RADAR. COMPANY EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDED THE PILOT'S HUSBAND, STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH WEATHER RADAR AND DID NOT UNDERSTANDTHE WEATHER RADAR INSTALLED IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE PILOT APPEARED TO BE TIRED.

NTSB Probable Cause

PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE WHICH PRECIPITATED A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.

Full Narrative

WHILE CRUISING ON A SCHEDULED CARGO FLIGHT IN IMC THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE NEAR AN AREA WHERE WEATHER CELLS COULD HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ON THE AIRCRAFT'S RADAR. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED.THE RECENTLY HIRED PILOT HAD COMPLETED THE FAA APPROVED GROUND AND FLIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE PILOT'S RECENT TRAINING, NEITHER THE FAA NOR THE OPERATOR REQUIRED THE PILOT TO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE RECOVERIES OR HAVE KNOWLEDGE IN THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WEATHER RADAR. COMPANY EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDED THE PILOT'S HUSBAND, STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH WEATHER RADAR AND DID NOT UNDERSTANDTHE WEATHER RADAR INSTALLED IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE PILOT APPEARED TO BE TIRED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:23 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 208A
Tail NumberN828FE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorUnion Flights
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-114 · Turboprop · 600
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind30° @ 3 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingOvercast 7000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time10:55
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data