NTSB Reports
Aviation Safety Intelligence
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.

Get the iPhone App
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 20, 1986 · Cessna R172K · N7526V

Rockwood, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 20, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Rockwood, TN
Aircraft
Cessna R172K
Tail Number
N7526V
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC87FA023

THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED DEPARTING AT APPROX 2010 HOURS, REVERSING COURSE AND FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT AT 300-400 FT AGL. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED 3/4 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT IN UNPOPULATED, MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 1560 FEET, WHICH IS 104 FEET LOWER THAN THE AIRPORT ELEVATION. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROX 2 DAYS LATER. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD 6.1 HOURS OF NIGHT TIME, WITH LAST NIGHT FLIGHT BEING 23 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A TOTAL OF 155 HOURS FLYING TIME WAS ACCUMULATED OVER A 9 YEAR AND 2 MONTH PERIOD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT OR RELATED EQUIPMENT.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED DEPARTING AT APPROX 2010 HOURS, REVERSING COURSE AND FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT AT 300-400 FT AGL. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED 3/4 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT IN UNPOPULATED, MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 1560 FEET, WHICH IS 104 FEET LOWER THAN THE AIRPORT ELEVATION. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND APPROX 2 DAYS LATER. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD 6.1 HOURS OF NIGHT TIME, WITH LAST NIGHT FLIGHT BEING 23 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A TOTAL OF 155 HOURS FLYING TIME WAS ACCUMULATED OVER A 9 YEAR AND 2 MONTH PERIOD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT OR RELATED EQUIPMENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:20 EDT
Nearest AirportROCKWOOD (7nm S)
Runway4
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna R172K
Tail NumberN7526V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-360-K · Reciprocating · 195
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind5 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

External Links

Appendix: Source Data