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

March 23, 1986 · Piper PA-46-310P · N43769

Boyne Falls, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 23, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Boyne Falls, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA-46-310P
Tail Number
N43769
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI86FA108

AFTER THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN RNAV-B APCH, THE ACFT CRASHED ON HILLY TRRN APRX 3 MI SE OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEV OF 750'MSL. IMPACT OCCURRED AFTER THE ACFT HAD TURNED TO THE SSE & WAS DSCNDG. MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) FOR THE APCH WAS 1680'. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FND. APRX 4 HRS BFR TAKEOFF, FSS PSNL PROVIDED A WX BRIEFING. THERE WAS NO WX RPRTG STN AT THE DESTN, BUT THE AREA FORECAST WAS FOR MARGINAL VMC WITH ISOLATED VISIBILITIES OF 3 TO 5 MI IN LGT SNW SHOWERS.PELLSTON (APRX 25 MI AWAY) WAS FORECAST FOR A CHANCE OF 1200' OVERCAST & 3 MI VIS WITH LGT SNW SHOWERS, BUT THIS INFO WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE PLT. LATER, WHEN THE PLT FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN, HE DID NOT UPDATE HIS WX BRIEFING. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE CHECKED THE PELLSTON & TRAVERSE CITY WX & WAS ADVISED THEY HAD INDEF OR OBSCD CEILINGS OF 1500' OR LESS WITH GUSTY WNDS & LGT SNW SQUALLS. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THERE WERE SNW SHOWERS OR SQUALLS IN THE ACDNT AREA WITH 1/4 TO 3/4 MI VIS. THE MISSED APCH PROCEDURE CALLED FOR: RGT CLIMBING TURN TO 3000', PROCEED TO THE IAF (8 MI SOUTH OF ARPT) & HOLD.

Full Narrative

AFTER THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN RNAV-B APCH, THE ACFT CRASHED ON HILLY TRRN APRX 3 MI SE OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEV OF 750'MSL. IMPACT OCCURRED AFTER THE ACFT HAD TURNED TO THE SSE & WAS DSCNDG. MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) FOR THE APCH WAS 1680'. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FND. APRX 4 HRS BFR TAKEOFF, FSS PSNL PROVIDED A WX BRIEFING. THERE WAS NO WX RPRTG STN AT THE DESTN, BUT THE AREA FORECAST WAS FOR MARGINAL VMC WITH ISOLATED VISIBILITIES OF 3 TO 5 MI IN LGT SNW SHOWERS.PELLSTON (APRX 25 MI AWAY) WAS FORECAST FOR A CHANCE OF 1200' OVERCAST & 3 MI VIS WITH LGT SNW SHOWERS, BUT THIS INFO WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE PLT. LATER, WHEN THE PLT FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN, HE DID NOT UPDATE HIS WX BRIEFING. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE CHECKED THE PELLSTON & TRAVERSE CITY WX & WAS ADVISED THEY HAD INDEF OR OBSCD CEILINGS OF 1500' OR LESS WITH GUSTY WNDS & LGT SNW SQUALLS. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THERE WERE SNW SHOWERS OR SQUALLS IN THE ACDNT AREA WITH 1/4 TO 3/4 MI VIS. THE MISSED APCH PROCEDURE CALLED FOR: RGT CLIMBING TURN TO 3000', PROCEED TO THE IAF (8 MI SOUTH OF ARPT) & HOLD.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:43 EST
Nearest AirportBoyne Mountain (3nm SE)
Runway35
Runway Length4300 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-46-310P
Tail NumberN43769
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-BE1 · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 40 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data