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.
Pala, CA
The airplane collided with trees near a rock quarry while practicing a simulated engine out forced landing procedure. When the certified flight instructor (CFI) called for a termination of the maneuver the pilot under instruction (PUI) delayed executing the proper go-around procedures. The student left the flaps at the 30-degree position, and the airspeed got slow enough to activate the stall warning horn. The CFI called for the flaps to 20 degrees and to maintain airspeed. The CFI then called for flaps 10 degrees, but the student retracted them to 0 degrees. The airplane entered an excessive sink rate, and the CFI was unable to recover before the airplane impacted trees.
the dual student's delay in executing the proper recovery procedures and improper retraction of the flaps, the CFI's inadequate supervision during the recovery to normal flight, the CFI's delayed remedial action, and the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall-mush and collision with trees.
On May 6, 2003, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N48796, collided with trees and terrain while practicing emergency procedures near Pala, California. Pinnacle Aviation Services, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot and the private pilot under instruction (PUI) sustained minor injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. The local instructional flight departed Carlsbad, California, about 1000. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 23.0 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 03.0 minutes west longitude. The CFI reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice emergency procedures. In the area of a rock quarry, they were performing a simulated engine out procedure. When the CFI called for a termination of the maneuver, he said that the PUI delayed in executing the proper go-around procedures. The PUI left the flaps at the 30-degree position, and the airspeed got slow enough to activate the stall warning horn. The CFI called for the flaps to 20 degrees and to "maintain airspeed." The CFI then called for flaps to 10 degrees, but the PUI mistakenly retracted them to 0 degrees. The airplane established a sink rate, and the CFI was unable to recover before the airplane impacted trees. The airplane came to rest approximately 50 yards from a dirt road. The airplane was destroyed during the impact sequence. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage at the accident scene. They noted no pre-impact discrepancies with the airframe or the engine. The CFI and the PUI reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.