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 19, 1984 · Rockwell S-2R · N4865X

American Falls, ID

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 19, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
American Falls, ID
Aircraft
Rockwell S-2R
Tail Number
N4865X
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA84FA110

The load/ground crew reported that the pilot planned to make one more spray run before flying back to the home base. When the aircraft did not return to the loading area, they assumed he had returned to the base. They drove 20 miles back to the base, but found neither the aircraft nor the pilot, so they returned to the spray area. The aircraft was found where it had crashed on rolling/hilly terrain at dusk. An exam revealed the propeller had contacted the ground approximately 386 feet west of the principal impact point. There was evidence that the left wing spray boom had intermittently contacted the ground in a 10 to 15 degree circular arc to the north. The left main gear then contacted the uneven terrain. Beyond that, the aircraft crossed a gully/ditch, impacted rising terrain, and came to rest in an inverted position. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. This was the pilot's first spray mission for the operator. About 18 miles east at Burley, Idaho, the 1845 MDT weather was in part: 200 feet partial obscured, 3000 feet broken.

Full Narrative

THE LOAD/GROUND CREW REPORTED THAT THE PLT PLANNED TO MAKE 1 MORE SPRAY RUN BEFORE FLYING BACK TO THE HOME BASE. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN TO THE LOADING AREA, THEY ASSUMED HE HAD RETURNED TO THE BASE. THEY DROVE 20 MI BACK TO THE BASE, BUT FOUND NEITHER THE ACFT NOR THE PLT, S0 THEY RETURNED TO THE SPRAY AREA. THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON ROLLING/HILLY TERRAIN (AT DUSK). AN EXAM REVEALED THE PROPELLER HAD CONTACTED THE GROUND APPX 386 FT WEST OF THE PRINCIPAL IMPACT POINT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT WING SPRAY BOOM HAD INTERMITTENTLY CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A 10 TO 15 DEG CIRCULAR ARC TO THE NORTH. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR THEN CONTACTED THE UNEVEN TERRAIN. BEYOND THAT, THE ACFT CROSSED A GULLY/DITCH, IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN & CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THIS WAS THE PLT'S 1ST SPRAY MISSION FOR THE OPERATOR. ABOUT 18 MI EAST AT BURLEY, ID, THE 1845 MDT WX WAS IN PART: 200 FT PARTIAL OBSCURED, 3000 FT BROKEN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:00 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRockwell S-2R
Tail NumberN4865X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340-AN-L · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 29 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDusk
Wind260° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data