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

June 22, 2003 · Cessna T337D · N86182

Driggs, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 22, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Driggs, ID
Aircraft
Cessna T337D
Tail Number
N86182
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA03LA117

The pilot calculated the distance to his destination at 201 nautical miles and estimated that he had 2 hours of fuel in the main tanks at the time of takeoff. Twelve minutes into the flight and leveling off at 13,500 feet MSL, the Global Positioning System was indicating a groundspeed of 190 knots, with the destination airport 59 minutes away. The pilot assumed he had close to 1 3/4 hours of fuel remaining, and elected to proceed directly to his destination rather than to stop and refuel. Eighty nautical miles from the destination airport the pilot began a descent out of 8,000 feet MSL, and 60 nautical miles northwest of the airport he mentioned to his passenger that the right main fuel gauge, which feeds the rear engine, seemed to be reading lower than usual. The pilot switched over to the right aux tank, but two to three minutes later the rear engine started to cough. The pilot then switched back to the right main tank. Approximately 20 nautical miles from the destination airport the front engine began to fail from lack of fuel. The pilot attempted to crossfeed the front engine to the right main tank as the engine was starting to quit. Unable to keep the front engine running, the pilot feathered the front propeller. As the pilot was about to make a radio call on the airport's Unicom frequency, the rear engine began to fail from lack of fuel. The pilot feathered the rear propeller, retracted the flaps, reduced airspeed, and began looking for a forced landing site. The right seat passenger began to manually pump the gear down, but deciding that there was no suitable road within gliding range, the pilot elected to make a wheels up landing in a field. Touching down fairly hard and fast, the airplane spun 90 degrees to the left and began sliding sideways before coming to a stop in an upright position. There was no post-impact fire and neither the pilot or passenger sustained injury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate inflight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. A factor contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On June 22, 2003, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T337D, N86182, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while descending near Driggs, Idaho. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Johnson Creek Airport (3U2), Yellow Pine, Idaho, at 1400, and was en route to the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (U59), Driggs, Idaho. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that after departing 3U2 and climbing to 13,500 feet mean sea level (MSL), his intention was to check weather to the east and refuel in either Challis (LLJ) or Salmon (SMN), Idaho. The pilot stated that the distance to his destination, U59, was 201 nautical miles and estimated that he had 2 hours of fuel in the main tanks at the time of takeoff. After approximately .2 hours (12 minutes) the pilot related that the Global Positioning System (GPS) was indicating a groundspeed of 190 knots, with U59 only 59 minutes away. The pilot stated, "Assuming (incorrectly, as it turned out!) that we had near 1 3/4 hours of fuel remaining, I deleted LLJ from our GPS fight plan and decided to proceed direct to Driggs. We continued to achieve groundspeeds of 180 knots to 190 knots throughout the flight. Approximately 80 nautical miles from U59 the pilot began a slow descent to 8,000 feet MSL. Approximately 60 nautical miles northwest of U59, the pilot mentioned to his passenger that the right main fuel gauge seemed to be reading lower than usual. The pilot then switched the rear engine (normally feed off the right main and right aux tanks) over to the right aux tank. Two to three minutes later the engine [rear engine] started to "cough", prompting the pilot to switch it back over to the right main tank. The pilot reported that about 20 nautical miles from U59 the front engine began to fail from lack of fuel. "Knowing there was little fuel in the left aux tank, I tried to crossfeed the front engine to the right main tank while the engine was still coughing. I was unable to keep the engine running, so I feathered the front propeller and proceeded direct to U59 while maintaining 7,500 feet MSL." The pilot said he was about to make a radio call on the airport's Unicom frequency when the rear engine began to fail from lack of fuel. "I feathered the rear engine while there was still oil pressure, retracted the flaps I had put out for the descent, reduced airspeed to about 115 miles per hour, and began looking for a forced landing site. The pilot stated that at 7,000 feet MSL he turned toward the south, into the wind, looking for north/south roadways while the right seat passenger began to manually pump the gear down. With only the gear doors open and deciding that there was no suitable road within gliding range, the pilot elected to make a wheels up landing in a field. The pilot reported the airplane touched down "fairly hard and fast" due to having only 1/3 flaps on. After slowing, the airplane spun 90 degrees to the left and began sliding sideways before coming to a stop in an upright position. Both the pilot and his passenger exited the airplane uninjured. There was no post-impact fire. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the aircraft recovery site, reported the aircraft had sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage frame where both wing struts are attached, as well as to the bottom of the fuselage. The right wing tip and the forward wheel well area were also damaged. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported, "Accident was caused by faulty fuel planning. Inadequate allowance for fuel consumed during startup, warm-up, taxi, and initial departure. Avoid by dipping tanks prior to every flight."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T337D
Tail NumberN86182
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360 · Reciprocating · 210 | Continental · TSIO-360 · Reciprocating · 210
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 21 kt, gusting 26 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 30 C
Altimeter29.85 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data