Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.
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.
Sardis, AL
The aircraft was on an IFR flight from Memphis, TN to Selma, AL. During arrival, he was cleared for an NDB approach to the Craig Airport. At that time, the weather was reported as measured 400 ft overcast, visibility 1/2 mi with fog. The weather minimums for the approach were 700 ft ceiling, 3/4 mi visibility. The pilot reported that he was going to try the approach, and if he did not make it, he would go to Montgomery, AL. The controller lost contact with the aircraft after the approach was started (at dusk). A witness reported seeing the aircraft before it crashed. He stated that he saw the aircraft bank to miss a 50 ft tree, then disappear into the fog. This witness estimated that the ceiling and visibility were both about 100 ft. Two mercury vapor security lights were installed on the farm where the plane crashed. They were located between the final approach fix and the runway. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact aircraft malfunctions.
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM MEMPHIS, TN TO SELMA, AL. DURING ARRIVAL, HE WAS CLEARED FOR AN NDB APPROACH TO THE CRAIG AIRPORT. AT THAT TIME, THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS MEASURED 400 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH FOG. THE WEATHER MINIMUMS FOR THE APPROACH WERE 700 FT CEILING, 3/4 MI VISIBILITY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY THE APPROACH, AND IF HE DID NOT MAKE IT, HE WOULD GO TO MONTGOMERY, AL. THE CONTROLLER LOST CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE APPROACH WAS STARTED (AT DUSK). A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT CRASHED. HE STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT BANK TO MISS A 50 FT TREE, THEN DISAPPEAR INTO THE FOG. THIS WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WERE BOTH ABOUT 100 FT. TWO MERCURY VAPOR SECURITY LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE FARM WHERE THE PLANE CRASHED. THEY WERE LOCATED BETWEEN THE FINAL APPROACH FIX AND THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTIONS.