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

July 20, 2003 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8199D

Sandusky, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 20, 2003
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 serious injuries)
Location
Sandusky, OH
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8199D
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC03LA163

The airplane was on final approach to a 3,559-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway, when the pilot observed a twin-engine airplane on a taxiway near the runway. The pilot was not certain if the airplane was going to utilize the runway, and elected to go-around. The pilot pushed the throttle full-forward and kept his right hand on the power quadrant. During the climb out, the engine began to sputter and lose power. The pilot looked down at the power quadrant and noticed that the engine mixture control was pulled back. He pushed mixture control in and lowered the airplane's nose to avoid a stall; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the engine and associated controls did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the engine mixture control during the go-around, which resulted in a loss of power, and in-flight collision with trees.

Full Narrative

On July 20, 2003, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8199D, was substantially damaged during a go-around at the Griffing-Sandusky Airport (SKY), Sandusky, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), Fort Wayne, Indiana. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was on approach to runway 27, a 3,559-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that while turning onto the final approach path, he observed a twin-engine airplane on a taxiway near the runway. The pilot was not certain if the airplane was going to utilize the runway, and elected to go-around. The pilot pushed the throttle full-forward and kept his right hand on the power quadrant. The airplane was configured with two notches of flaps during the approach, and the pilot retracted one notch of flaps. The pilot looked over his left shoulder and observed the twin-engine airplane passing under his airplane's left wing, which was approximately 300 feet above the ground, and climbing. The engine then began to "stumble," and he felt the yoke in his left hand becoming very heavy. He looked down at the power quadrant and noticed that the engine mixture control was pulled back. The pilot pushed mixture control in and lowered the airplane's nose to avoid a stall; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway. The wreckage was moved to a hangar at SKY, where it was examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The examination did not revealed any pre-impact malfunctions of the engine and associated controls. The engine was rotated by hand and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. All spark plugs were removed. Their electrodes were intact and light gray in color. The right magneto generated a spark through all four of its leads when rotated. The left magneto sustained impact damage and could not be tested. The engine driven fuel pump and carburetor were disassembled with no discrepancies noted. The pilot reported 338 hours of total flight experience, which included 67 hours in the same make and model airplane as the accident airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:50 EDT
Nearest AirportGriffing Sandusky (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length3559 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8199D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious4
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data