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

November 3, 2000 · Cessna 172N · N734UW

Spangle, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 3, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Spangle, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N734UW
Operator
Felts Field Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA01LA013

During a night approach to an unlighted field, the pilot came in high in order to avoid the trees off the approach end of the runway. After crossing the runway threshold and pulling the power to idle, the pilot realized that he was too high. He therefore elected to slip the aircraft in order to lose altitude. During the slip, the aircraft drifted beyond the side boundary of the runway and touched down in an adjacent plowed field. Although the touchdown was uneventful, soon thereafter the nose gear sank into the soft dirt and the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, he did not realize he had allowed the aircraft to drift over the plowed field until after the nose gear started to sink into the terrain.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequately executed remedial action and his failure to ensure that the aircraft touched down at the proper location. Factors include a dark night, an unlighted runway, and trees off the approach end of the runway.

Full Narrative

On November 2, 2000, approximately 1900 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N734UW, nosed over during the landing roll in a plowed field adjacent to the turf runway at Spangle Field, Spangle, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Felts Field Aviation, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Felts Field, Spokane, Washington, about 25 minutes earlier, was being operated in night visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT did not activate. According to the pilot, who was attempting to land at the unlighted field on a dark night, after turning on his landing light and making two low passes over the field, he decided to land. Because there were trees off the approach end of the runway, he came in high with full flaps and then cut the power to idle over the end of the runway. Seeing that he was too high and realizing that he needed to initiate remedial action, he slipped the aircraft to the left in order to lose altitude. During the slip sequence, the aircraft drifted beyond the side boundary of the runway and touched down in an adjacent plowed field. Although the touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll, the nose gear dug into the soft terrain and the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, he did not realize he had drifted beyond the runway edge until the aircraft encountered the soft terrain.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 PST
Nearest AirportSpangle Field (0nm)
Runway18
Runway Length2800 ft
Runway Width70 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN734UW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFelts Field Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data