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

August 2, 1985 · Lockheed L-1011-385-1 L-1011-385 · N726DA

Dallas/Ft Worth, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 2, 1985
Injury Outcomes
161 injuries (134 fatalities, 15 serious injuries, 12 minor injuries), 2 uninjured, 2 unknown outcomes
Location
Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Aircraft
Lockheed L-1011-385-1 L-1011-385
Tail Number
N726DA
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA85AA031

The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-86/05. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm PSBL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS) WERE FORCAST & DRG ARRIVAL, SVRL CELLS WERE DEVELOPING IN THE AREA. DELTA FLT 191 WAS VECTORED ARND A LARGE CELL, THEN WAS SEQUENCED BHND OTHER ACFT & CLRD FOR AN ILS RWY 17L APCH. THE FLT CREW & SVRL PRECEEDING CREWS SAW LIGHTNING IN A CELL NORTH OF THE ARPT, BUT CONTD W/O RPRTG IT. ON THE APCH, FLT 191 ENCOUNTERED A MICROBURST WHILE PASSING UNDER THE CELL. INITIALLY, THE 1ST OFFICER, WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT, RETARDED THE THROTTLES IN A HEADWIND. THE ACFT THEN ENCOUNTERED APRX 73 KTS OF WINDSHEAR, UP/DWNDFTS, VORTEX FLOW & A TAILWIND. GO-AROUND PWR WAS APPLIED, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE GND APRX 6300' NORTH OF RWY 17L, HIT A CAR & 2 WATER TANKS, BROKE APART & BURNED. INV REVEALED THAT BTN 1752 & 1800 CDT, THE TSTM CELL GREW FM VIP LVL 1 TO VIP LVL 4. A CENTER WX SVC UNIT METEOROLOGIST WAS ON DUTY, BUT NOT AT THE RADAR PSN AT THAT TIME & DIDN'T OBSV THE CELL GROWTH. CAPT'S DECISION TO CONT APCH DIDN'T COMPLYWITH DELTA'S WX AVOIDANCE PROC; THERE WAS A LACK OF SPECIFIC GUIDANCE & TRAINING FOR AVOIDING/ESCAPING LOW ALT WNDSHEAR.

Full Narrative

The Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-86/05. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm PSBL SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS) WERE FORCAST & DRG ARRIVAL, SVRL CELLS WERE DEVELOPING IN THE AREA. DELTA FLT 191 WAS VECTORED ARND A LARGE CELL, THEN WAS SEQUENCED BHND OTHER ACFT & CLRD FOR AN ILS RWY 17L APCH. THE FLT CREW & SVRL PRECEEDING CREWS SAW LIGHTNING IN A CELL NORTH OF THE ARPT, BUT CONTD W/O RPRTG IT. ON THE APCH, FLT 191 ENCOUNTERED A MICROBURST WHILE PASSING UNDER THE CELL. INITIALLY, THE 1ST OFFICER, WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT, RETARDED THE THROTTLES IN A HEADWIND. THE ACFT THEN ENCOUNTERED APRX 73 KTS OF WINDSHEAR, UP/DWNDFTS, VORTEX FLOW & A TAILWIND. GO-AROUND PWR WAS APPLIED, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE GND APRX 6300' NORTH OF RWY 17L, HIT A CAR & 2 WATER TANKS, BROKE APART & BURNED. INV REVEALED THAT BTN 1752 & 1800 CDT, THE TSTM CELL GREW FM VIP LVL 1 TO VIP LVL 4. A CENTER WX SVC UNIT METEOROLOGIST WAS ON DUTY, BUT NOT AT THE RADAR PSN AT THAT TIME & DIDN'T OBSV THE CELL GROWTH. CAPT'S DECISION TO CONT APCH DIDN'T COMPLYWITH DELTA'S WX AVOIDANCE PROC; THERE WAS A LACK OF SPECIFIC GUIDANCE & TRAINING FOR AVOIDING/ESCAPING LOW ALT WNDSHEAR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:06 CDT
Nearest AirportDallas/Fort Worth Intl (0nm N)
Runway17L
Runway Length11388 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed L-1011-385-1 L-1011-385
Tail NumberN726DA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · RB-211-22B · Turbofan · 41030
Seats302

People & Injuries

Injury Summary161 injuries (134 fatalities, 15 serious injuries, 12 minor injuries), 2 uninjured, 2 unknown outcomes
Fatal134
Serious15
Minor12
Uninjured2
Total165
Crew 1Age 57 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point10 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data