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 18, 2001 · Waters Avid Bandit · N62PT

Northville, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 2001
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Northville, MI
Aircraft
Waters Avid Bandit
Tail Number
N62PT
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI01LA285

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight and was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The pilot reported, "... I noticed uneven fuel usage from tanks. Decision made to return to airport immediately, but engine quit en route." He attempted an engine re-start but was unsuccessful. He executed a forced landing to a racetrack. He reported the airplane collided with a concrete building. The airplane had no fuel in the right tank and 8 gallons of fuel in the left tank. No fuel leak was observed. The pilot reported that during the flight, he had the right wing fuel selector ON and the left wing fuel selector OFF. He forgot to select the left wing fuel selector to ON, and when the right wing fuel tank ran out of fuel, the engine quit. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause

fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper fuel calculations. A factor was the concrete building.

Full Narrative

On August 18, 2001, at 1115 eastern daylight time, an experimental Waters Avid Bandit, N62PT, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed the Mettetal-Canton Airport (1D2), Plymouth, Michigan, at 1030, on a local flight. The airplane was in cruise flight returning to 1D2 when it experienced a loss of engine power and a forced landing was made to a racetrack located about 5 miles from the airport. The airplane hit a concrete building during landing roll. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported, "... I noticed uneven fuel usage from tanks. Decision made to return to airport immediately, but engine quit en route." He attempted an engine re-start but was unsuccessful. He executed a forced landing to a racetrack. He reported the airplane collided with a cement wall. A Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector examined the airplane and found no fuel in the right tank and 8 gallons of fuel in the left tank. No fuel leak was observed. He reported the pilot had informed him that during the flight, the pilot had the right wing fuel selector ON and the left wing fuel selector OFF. The pilot reported he forgot to select the left wing fuel selector to ON, and when the right wing fuel tank ran out of fuel, the engine quit. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:15 EDT
Nearest AirportMettetal-Canton Airport (5nm S)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWaters Avid Bandit
Tail NumberN62PT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 912 UL · Reciprocating · 80
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 65 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
Wind160° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 8000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data