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 8, 1982 · Piper PA-23-250 · N148AF

Bandera, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 8, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Bandera, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N148AF
Operator
Norman K Evans
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82FRG39

While returning from Mexico, the pilot landed at Eagle Pass, TX and cleared U.S. Customs. Without refueling or obtaining a weather briefing, he continued toward his home airfield at the Flying L Ranch near Bandera, TX. Local weather observations indicated that there were thunderstorms and heavy rains at the Flying L Ranch, but only light rain to the south. Approaching from the south, the pilot flew over the ranch of a business associate, then proceeded north toward the Flying L Ranch. Shortly thereafter, the pilot returned. By this time, light precipitation was just beginning while lightning and heavier rain showers were observed to the north. The wind was from 270 deg at 20, gusting 25 kts. The pilot approached an open field behind his friend's property from the north, landed, then initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the plane hit the tops of 3 trees, pitched nearly straight up into a half loop, then struck the ground in a nose low attitude. There was 20 to 25 gal of fuel remaining.

Full Narrative

WHILE RETURNING FROM MEXICO, THE PILOT LANDED AT EAGLE PASS, TX AND CLEARED U.S. CUSTOMS. WITHOUT REFUELING OR OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING, HE CONTINUED TOWARD HIS HOME AIRFIELD AT THE FLYING L RANCH NEAR BANDERA, TX. LOCAL WEATHER OBSERVATIONS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAINS AT THE FLYING L RANCH, BUT ONLY LIGHT RAIN TO THE SOUTH. APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTH, THE PILOT FLEW OVER THE RANCH OF A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE, THEN PROCEEDED NORTH TOWARD THE FLYING L RANCH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PILOT RETURNED. BY THIS TIME, LIGHT PRECIPITATION WAS JUST BEGINNING WHILE LIGHTNING AND HEAVIER RAIN SHOWERS WERE OBSERVED TO THE NORTH. THE WIND WAS FROM 270 DEG AT 20, GUSTING 25 KTS. THE PILOT APPROACHED AN OPEN FIELD BEHIND HIS FRIENDS PROPERTY FROM THE NORTH, LANDED, THEN INITIATED A GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE PLANE HIT THE TOPS OF 3 TREES, PITCHED NEARLY STRAIGHT UP INTO A HALF LOOP, THEN STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THERE WAS 20 TO 25 GAL OF FUEL REMAINING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN148AF
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorNorman K Evans
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-AIDS · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 20 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point16 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data