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 28, 1985 · Piper PA-34 · N3449Q

Loxahatchee, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 28, 1985
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Loxahatchee, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-34
Tail Number
N3449Q
Operator
Albert Haward Iii
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA85FA180

THE PLT & PASSENGERS WERE SEEN DRINKING BEER IN A BAR PRIOR TO THE FLT. AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED IT FLYING VERY LOW NEAR A SHORELINE; ONE OF THEM WAS A POLICE OFFICER THAT IDENTIFIED THE ACFT BY ITS REGISTRATION NUMBER. AT APRX 1930, THE PLT MADE A VERY LOW PASS OVER AN ARPT AT HIGH SPEED & AGAINST THE PREVAILING FLOW OF TRAFFIC. NO KNOWN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACDNT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 3 DAYS LATER WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A FEDERAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE & CAME TO REST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED AGAINST THE BANK OF A CANAL. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH A HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE AT ABOUT 40 FT AGL, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. TOXICOLOGY STUDIES BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHOWED THE PLT'S BLOOD/CHEST FLUIDS HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.09%. TESTS OF THE OCCUPANTS CHEST FLUIDS AT THE FAA AEROMEDICAL CENTER SHOWED ALCOHOL LEVELS OF 0.115% FOR THE PLT, 0.151% FOR THE FEMALE PASSENGER, & 0.085% FOR THE MALE PASSENGER. THE EXTENT OF POSSIBLE PUTREFACTION WAS NO VERIFIED.

Full Narrative

THE PLT & PASSENGERS WERE SEEN DRINKING BEER IN A BAR PRIOR TO THE FLT. AFTER THE ACFT TOOK OFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED IT FLYING VERY LOW NEAR A SHORELINE; ONE OF THEM WAS A POLICE OFFICER THAT IDENTIFIED THE ACFT BY ITS REGISTRATION NUMBER. AT APRX 1930, THE PLT MADE A VERY LOW PASS OVER AN ARPT AT HIGH SPEED & AGAINST THE PREVAILING FLOW OF TRAFFIC. NO KNOWN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACDNT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 3 DAYS LATER WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A FEDERAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE & CAME TO REST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED AGAINST THE BANK OF A CANAL. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH A HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE AT ABOUT 40 FT AGL, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. TOXICOLOGY STUDIES BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHOWED THE PLT'S BLOOD/CHEST FLUIDS HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.09%. TESTS OF THE OCCUPANTS CHEST FLUIDS AT THE FAA AEROMEDICAL CENTER SHOWED ALCOHOL LEVELS OF 0.115% FOR THE PLT, 0.151% FOR THE FEMALE PASSENGER, & 0.085% FOR THE MALE PASSENGER. THE EXTENT OF POSSIBLE PUTREFACTION WAS NO VERIFIED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time00:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34
Tail NumberN3449Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAlbert Haward Iii
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-E · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind60° @ 9 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data