Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
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
Search everything
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Featured 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…
High-signal investigations
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
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 manufacturersAirports
More airportsOperators
More operatorsAbout
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
June 22, 1985 · Failing/Rand-Robinson KR-2 · N8483Y
Laurel, MT
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 22, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Laurel, MT
Aircraft
Failing/Rand-Robinson KR-2
Tail Number
N8483Y
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN85FTI04
DRG A TEST FLT, THE PLT MADE A FAST TAXI RUN, THEN TOOK OFF ON RWY 21. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE MADE A GRADUAL CLIMB & SHALLOW LEFT TURNS TO A DOWNWIND, CIRCLED THE ARPT & REENTERED A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 21. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT MADE A POWER REDUCTION & BEGAN A SHALLOW BASE TURN. THE LEFT WING THEN DROPPED & THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN. AFTER SPINNING ABOUT 2/3 OF A TURN, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP DSCNT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT HAD LOGGED NO FLT TIME FOR KR-2 ACFT; HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN N8483Y ON 1/26/84. ON THAT FLT, HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SENSITIVITY OF THE FLT CONTROLS & DECIDED TO ABORT. DURING THE LANDING (ON 1/26/84), THE LANDING GEAR & PROP WERE DAMAGED. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THAT THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 47 MG% (0.047%), BUT NO ALCOHOL WAS FND IN HIS URINE. THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD/ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED.
Full Narrative
DRG A TEST FLT, THE PLT MADE A FAST TAXI RUN, THEN TOOK OFF ON RWY 21. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE MADE A GRADUAL CLIMB & SHALLOW LEFT TURNS TO A DOWNWIND, CIRCLED THE ARPT & REENTERED A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 21. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT MADE A POWER REDUCTION & BEGAN A SHALLOW BASE TURN. THE LEFT WING THEN DROPPED & THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN. AFTER SPINNING ABOUT 2/3 OF A TURN, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP DSCNT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT HAD LOGGED NO FLT TIME FOR KR-2 ACFT; HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN N8483Y ON 1/26/84. ON THAT FLT, HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SENSITIVITY OF THE FLT CONTROLS & DECIDED TO ABORT. DURING THE LANDING (ON 1/26/84), THE LANDING GEAR & PROP WERE DAMAGED. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THAT THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 47 MG% (0.047%), BUT NO ALCOHOL WAS FND IN HIS URINE. THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD/ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:17 MDT
Nearest AirportLAUREL (1nm E)
Runway21
Runway Length3800 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftFailing/Rand-Robinson KR-2
Tail NumberN8483Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRevmaster · 2100D · Reciprocating · 76
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 66 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 36 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time12:48
Weather SourceWIT