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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.

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September 17, 1985 · Swearingen SA-226T · N3RB

Missing

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 17, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Missing
Aircraft
Swearingen SA-226T
Tail Number
N3RB
Operator
Orville Obrian
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW85LAMS2

A DISTRESS MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT STATING HE WAS 100 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND ISLE, LA, AND HAD LOST AN ENG ANDWAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. A SECOND MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS STATING THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 1500 FEET AND THE PILOT WAS PREPARING TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT. NO FURTHER CONTACTS AND NO ELT SIGNALS WERE HEARD. THE ACFT WRECKAGE HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED.

Full Narrative

A DISTRESS MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT STATING HE WAS 100 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND ISLE, LA, AND HAD LOST AN ENG ANDWAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. A SECOND MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS STATING THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 1500 FEET AND THE PILOT WAS PREPARING TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT. NO FURTHER CONTACTS AND NO ELT SIGNALS WERE HEARD. THE ACFT WRECKAGE HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:55 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftSwearingen SA-226T
Tail NumberN3RB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorOrville Obrian
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE3313U303G · Turboprop · 840
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data