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

February 28, 2001 · Grumman-Schweizer G-164A · N48651

Waitsburg, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 28, 2001
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Waitsburg, WA
Aircraft
Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
Tail Number
N48651
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA01LA055

The pilot was engaged in a pull-up maneuver while applying fertilizer over a field. Unmarked power lines crossed the north end of the field on an east/west line. The pilot lost sight of the lines against the upsloping background terrain and impacted all three lines. The upper wing was severed from the aircraft and the aircraft subsequently crashed out of control.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a pull-up, resulting in an in-flight collision with the lines, loss of control and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing factors were the power lines and the pilot's degraded visual detection due to the background terrain.

Full Narrative

On February 28, 2001, approximately 1515 hours Pacific standard time, a Grumman/Schweizer G-164A agricultural aircraft, N48651, registered to Cropland Air Service, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during a collision with power lines and terrain while maneuvering approximately six nautical miles southwest of Waitsburg, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries and a post-crash fire consumed the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was dispensing fertilizer, was operated under 14CFR137, and originated from a private airstrip approximately two miles east of Waitsburg, Washington, approximately 1445 hours. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he was aware of a set of Bonneville power lines running east-west but lost sight of them at the completion of a northbound swath run. During the pull-up maneuver the aircraft impacted the unmarked wires severing all three cables and separating the aircraft's entire top wing from the fuselage. The aircraft continued to the north impacting hilly terrain, nosing over and then catching fire (refer to photograph 1). The pilot further reported (NTSB Form 6120.1/2 attached) that "I entered the field and began spreading fertilizer and lost sight of the power lines in the hillside behind them. I started pulling out and struck three wires." Terrain at the site gradually sloped uphill from the south to the north, and daylight conditions with no restrictions to visibility existed at the time of the accident. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot was wearing corrective lenses at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:15 PST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman-Schweizer G-164A
Tail NumberN48651
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · 1340-AN1 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 22 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data