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 17, 1986 · Piper PA-28-160 · N5412W

Chino, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 17, 1986
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Chino, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-160
Tail Number
N5412W
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX86FA220

AT THE END OF A 5.3 HR FLT, THE PLT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN & WAS HI ON BASE & FINAL APCH. HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND, BUT THE ENG LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AT ABOUT 200' AGL, JUST PAST THE DEP END OF THE RWY. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RWY. THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP LEFT TURN IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED DOWN & HIT THE GND BFR THE PLTCOULD RECOVER. ALTHO THE FUEL SYS REMAINED INTACT, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS OR LINES. AN INV REVEALED THE PLT HAD TAKEN OFF WITH THE ACFT LOADED 264 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LIMIT & WITH THE CG JUST AHEAD OF THE FORWARD LIMIT. HE HAD ESTIMATED 4.4 HRS EN ROUTE, BUT HAD EXTENDED HIS VFR FLT PLAN BY .7 HR. CALCULATIONS SHOWED THAT IF THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED WITHIN ITS MAX LIMITS, 42 TO 44 GAL OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED FOR THE FLT. HOWEVER, FLT TEST DATA SHOWED THAT WITH THE ACFT'S EXTRA WT & FWD CG, APRX 51.5 GAL OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. TOTAL USABLE FUEL FOR THE ACFT WAS 48 GAL. THE PLT HAD WORKED A NORMAL SHIFT (1600 TO 2400 HRS) PRIOR TO THE FLT. ARPT WAS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE AT 1300.

Full Narrative

AT THE END OF A 5.3 HR FLT, THE PLT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN & WAS HI ON BASE & FINAL APCH. HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND, BUT THE ENG LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AT ABOUT 200' AGL, JUST PAST THE DEP END OF THE RWY. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RWY. THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP LEFT TURN IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED DOWN & HIT THE GND BFR THE PLTCOULD RECOVER. ALTHO THE FUEL SYS REMAINED INTACT, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS OR LINES. AN INV REVEALED THE PLT HAD TAKEN OFF WITH THE ACFT LOADED 264 LBS OVER ITS MAX WT LIMIT & WITH THE CG JUST AHEAD OF THE FORWARD LIMIT. HE HAD ESTIMATED 4.4 HRS EN ROUTE, BUT HAD EXTENDED HIS VFR FLT PLAN BY .7 HR. CALCULATIONS SHOWED THAT IF THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED WITHIN ITS MAX LIMITS, 42 TO 44 GAL OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED FOR THE FLT. HOWEVER, FLT TEST DATA SHOWED THAT WITH THE ACFT'S EXTRA WT & FWD CG, APRX 51.5 GAL OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. TOTAL USABLE FUEL FOR THE ACFT WAS 48 GAL. THE PLT HAD WORKED A NORMAL SHIFT (1600 TO 2400 HRS) PRIOR TO THE FLT. ARPT WAS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE AT 1300.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:21 PDT
Nearest AirportCHINO (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length3856 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-160
Tail NumberN5412W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-B2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal3
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 28 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:21
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data