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.
Atlantic City, NJ
According to the pilot, a rolled up, 20- by 60-foot billboard banner that he had tied with ropes to the outside of the airplane, came loose in flight and inflated. The airplane was then unable to maintain altitude, even with full power, and stalled just prior to touchdown in a marsh.
The pilot's failure to properly secure an aerial advertising banner to the outside of the airplane.
On June 29, 2003, about 1820 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N4133Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a marsh about 2 miles north of Atlantic City Municipal Airport/Bader Field (AIY), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM), Farmingdale, New Jersey, about 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said that cause of the accident was "fairly evident." A rolled up, 20- by 60-foot billboard banner that he had tied with ropes to the outside of the airplane had come loose in flight and inflated. That created a large parachute effect, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude, even with full power. The airplane stalled prior to landing in the marsh. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported a total of 897 flight hours, of which, 68 were in make and model. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine. Weather reported at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, about 6 miles northwest, at 1554, was wind from 110 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and clear skies. The temperature was 79 degrees F, and the dewpoint was 61 degrees F, with a barometric pressure setting of 30.10 inches HG.