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
August 28, 1985 · Beech C-99 · N992SB
Conover, NC
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1985
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Conover, NC
Aircraft
Beech C-99
Tail Number
N992SB
Operator
Sunbird Airline
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL85FA261
ACFT WAS ON TRNG FLT FOR INITIAL COPILOT QUAL FOR COMMUTER AIR CARRIER. INSTRUCTOR AND TWO TRAINEES WERE ON BOARD. THE ACFT DEPARTED CHARLOTTE AT ABOUT 2314EDT FOR THE HICKORYAREA FOR TRNG. AT ABOUT 0015EDT,IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CREW VISITED THE HICKORY FSS. AFTER DEPARTING HICKORY, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 5500 FT AND REMAINED GENERALLY BETWEEN CHARLOTTE. AT ABOUT 0145EDT, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT TO BE IN A STEEPNING DESCENT AN GAINING SPEED. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREE LIMBS, A UTILITY POLE AND THE GROUND IN ABOUT 35 ANGLE OF DESCENT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF CONOVER NC. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A NOSE UP TRIM,WHICH WAS APRX 75 PERCENT OF THE AVAILABLE UP-TRIM(3.38 DEGREES UP- NOSE. THIS IS AN ABNORMAL SETTING;SO THE ENTIRE TRIM UNIT WAS RETAINED & SENT TO THE TALLEY CORP FOR DETAILED EXAM. THE RAM END FITTINGS WERE SENT TO GA TECH RESEARCH FOR SURFACE FRACTURE ANALYSIS. THE EXAM SHOWED DUCTILE OVERSTRESS & NO INDICATION OF PRE-CRACKED CONDITION. PITCH TRIM EMERGENCIES ARE A PART OF SUNBIRDS C-99 TRAINING PROGRAM(FIT 1 & 2)
Full Narrative
ACFT WAS ON TRNG FLT FOR INITIAL COPILOT QUAL FOR COMMUTER AIR CARRIER. INSTRUCTOR AND TWO TRAINEES WERE ON BOARD. THE ACFT DEPARTED CHARLOTTE AT ABOUT 2314EDT FOR THE HICKORYAREA FOR TRNG. AT ABOUT 0015EDT,IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CREW VISITED THE HICKORY FSS. AFTER DEPARTING HICKORY, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 5500 FT AND REMAINED GENERALLY BETWEEN CHARLOTTE. AT ABOUT 0145EDT, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT TO BE IN A STEEPNING DESCENT AN GAINING SPEED. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREE LIMBS, A UTILITY POLE AND THE GROUND IN ABOUT 35 ANGLE OF DESCENT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF CONOVER NC. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A NOSE UP TRIM,WHICH WAS APRX 75 PERCENT OF THE AVAILABLE UP-TRIM(3.38 DEGREES UP- NOSE. THIS IS AN ABNORMAL SETTING;SO THE ENTIRE TRIM UNIT WAS RETAINED & SENT TO THE TALLEY CORP FOR DETAILED EXAM. THE RAM END FITTINGS WERE SENT TO GA TECH RESEARCH FOR SURFACE FRACTURE ANALYSIS. THE EXAM SHOWED DUCTILE OVERSTRESS & NO INDICATION OF PRE-CRACKED CONDITION. PITCH TRIM EMERGENCIES ARE A PART OF SUNBIRDS C-99 TRAINING PROGRAM(FIT 1 & 2)
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time01:45 EDT
Nearest AirportHICKORY (20nm ESE)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBeech C-99
Tail NumberN992SB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSunbird Airline
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-36 · Turboprop · 715
Seats17
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 38 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind290° @ 5 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time05:50
Weather SourceWFAC