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

May 15, 2003 · Cessna A188B · N4931R

Kinta, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 15, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kinta, OK
Aircraft
Cessna A188B
Tail Number
N4931R
Operator
Agratech
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW03LA151

The pilot taxied out and departed the private airstrip to perform an aerial application on a field 25 miles southwest the airstrip. Approximately one hour into the aerial application flight the pilot noticed the "fuel gauges indicated empty." The pilot terminated the aerial application spray run and started a "gentle climb" to gain altitude. The engine started to "sputter and cough", and he initiated an "engine out" landing in the field he was spraying. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear "fell into a small gully" approximately 3 feet deep. Subsequently, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The pilot stated that during the aircraft servicing operations prior to takeoff, "the aircraft was not properly fueled as per the pilot's instruction."

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to supervise the refueling of the aircraft and failure to use his before takeoff checklist.

Full Narrative

On May 15, 2003, at 1420 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B agricultural airplane, N4931R, owned and operated by Agratech, Inc., of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Kinta, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed at 1320 from a private airstrip near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. The 4,933-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the flight departed the private airstrip to perform an aerial application on a field 25 miles southwest the airstrip. Upon arriving at the field, he "began spraying without noticing the low fuel quantity indications." Approximately one hour into the flight, he was half way through his aerial application flight, and noticed the "fuel gauges indicated empty." He terminated the aerial application spray run and started a "gentle climb" to gain altitude. The engine started to "sputter and cough", and he initiated a "engine out" landing to the field he was spraying. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear "fell into a small gully" approximately 3 feet deep. Subsequently, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground. The pilot added that during the aircraft servicing operations prior to takeoff, "the aircraft was not properly fueled as per his instruction." The pilot stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 under the Recommendation (How This Accident Could Have Been Prevented) section: "Pay attention to the refueling operations on the ground. Use checklist on takeoff to make sure both fuel tanks are full before taking off." Examination of the airplane by the operator revealed the outboard 3-feet of the right wing, and the outboard 12-inches of the right horizontal stabilizer, were bent upward approximately 45-degrees. The right main landing gear was also bent.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A188B
Tail NumberN4931R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAgratech
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-720 A/B · Reciprocating · 400
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data