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 4, 1985 · Beech V35A · N4RW

Santa Monica, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 4, 1985
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Santa Monica, CA
Aircraft
Beech V35A
Tail Number
N4RW
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85FA238

AFTER DEPTG & CLIMBING TO 4500', THE PLT & HIS PLT RATED PAX NOTED A FUEL ODOR & RETURNED TO THE ARPT TO LAND. BFR LNDG,THE PLT CALLED THE TOWER (TWR), BUT DIDN'T ADVISE TWR PSNL OF THE FUEL ODOR OR OF A PSBL PRBLM. AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING OFF THE RWY, FIRE & SMOKE ERUPTED IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT & SPREAD BEYOND THE FIREWALL TO THE COCKPIT. THE PLT & BOTH PAXDEPLANED. A TWR CONTROLLER SAW THE SMOKE & INITIATED FIRE/RESCUE RESPONSE, BUT DIDN'T USE PROPER TERMINOLOGY. FIRE DEPT PSNL WERE DISPATCHED APRX 1 MIN LATER. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE ACFT WAS BADLY DAMAGED. MOST OF THE ENG'S FIRE DAMAGE WAS ON ITS LEFT SIDE. WHEN TESTED, SVRL FUEL LINES/COMPONENTS LEAKED, BUT THEY HAD FIRE DAMAGE & THE EXACT IN-FLTFUEL LEAK WAS NOT VERIFIED. FUEL STAIN/DISCOLORATION WAS NOTED WHERE THE AIR THROTTLE METERING UNIT LEAKED AT AN O-RING.THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT THE IDLE FUEL ADJUSTMENT SCREW, ALTHO IT WAS 'FROZEN' IN A FIXED PSN. ALSO, BEECH HAD RCMDD REPLACING THE FUEL LINES EVERY 5 YRS, BUT NO RECORD WAS FND OF THEIR REPLACEMENT DURING THE LAST 5 YRS.

Full Narrative

AFTER DEPTG & CLIMBING TO 4500', THE PLT & HIS PLT RATED PAX NOTED A FUEL ODOR & RETURNED TO THE ARPT TO LAND. BFR LNDG,THE PLT CALLED THE TOWER (TWR), BUT DIDN'T ADVISE TWR PSNL OF THE FUEL ODOR OR OF A PSBL PRBLM. AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING OFF THE RWY, FIRE & SMOKE ERUPTED IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT & SPREAD BEYOND THE FIREWALL TO THE COCKPIT. THE PLT & BOTH PAXDEPLANED. A TWR CONTROLLER SAW THE SMOKE & INITIATED FIRE/RESCUE RESPONSE, BUT DIDN'T USE PROPER TERMINOLOGY. FIRE DEPT PSNL WERE DISPATCHED APRX 1 MIN LATER. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE ACFT WAS BADLY DAMAGED. MOST OF THE ENG'S FIRE DAMAGE WAS ON ITS LEFT SIDE. WHEN TESTED, SVRL FUEL LINES/COMPONENTS LEAKED, BUT THEY HAD FIRE DAMAGE & THE EXACT IN-FLTFUEL LEAK WAS NOT VERIFIED. FUEL STAIN/DISCOLORATION WAS NOTED WHERE THE AIR THROTTLE METERING UNIT LEAKED AT AN O-RING.THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT THE IDLE FUEL ADJUSTMENT SCREW, ALTHO IT WAS 'FROZEN' IN A FIXED PSN. ALSO, BEECH HAD RCMDD REPLACING THE FUEL LINES EVERY 5 YRS, BUT NO RECORD WAS FND OF THEIR REPLACEMENT DURING THE LAST 5 YRS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:48 PDT
Nearest AirportSanta Monica Muni (0nm N)
Runway21
Runway Length4987 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech V35A
Tail NumberN4RW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520 · Reciprocating · 285
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 5 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data