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.
Wax, KY
The pilot and passenger departed on a local flight and when the airplane did not return to the departure airport, it was reported as missing. The airplane was located in a lake, submerged in 21 feet of water. A power line which extended about 870 feet, was approximately 80 to 85 feet above the lake in the vicinity of the accident site. A power interruption was reported on the power line about 1 hour after the airplane departed, and subsequent examination of the power line revealed it was damaged. A witness who lived near the accident site stated he observed an airplane about the time of the accident, "buzzing the lake and flying really low." Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. Vertical cuts with diagonal marks consistent with a wire strike, were observed on the leading edges of the left and right wings. Weather reported at an airport about 30 miles south-southwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, included a visibility of 10 miles and clear skies.
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Low altitude flight is a contributing factor.
On October 16, 2003, about 1755 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N3807V, was substantially damaged when it struck wires and impacted a lake, while maneuvering in Wax, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that departed the Vine Grove Airport (70KY), Vine Grove, Kentucky, about 1700. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was based at 70KY. According to the owner of the airplane, the pilot arrived at the airport about 1615 and was informed that another pilot had reserved the airplane at 1630. The pilot elected to wait around, and when the previously scheduled flight was cancelled, he refueled the airplane and departed about 1700. The airplane was reported as missing after it did not return to Vine Grove, on the evening of October 16. The airplane was located about 30 miles south-southwest of 70KY, in Nolin Lake, on October 18, 2003, submerged in 21 feet of water. A power line which extended about 870 feet, was approximately 80 to 85 feet above the lake in the vicinity of the accident site. According to a power company representative, a power interruption was reported at 1755, on October 16, and subsequent examination of the power line revealed it was damaged. The power line was unmarked. It consisted of a neutral conductor, which was found broken, and a 7,200 volt "#452 alumoweld single phase tap line," which had separated from it's cross arm as it crossed the lake. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, a witness who lived near the accident site stated he observed an airplane about the time of the accident, "buzzing the lake and flying really low." The airplane was recovered on October 20, 2003, and examined at the Vine Grove Airport. The examination did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all primary control surfaces. Vertical cuts with diagonal marks consistent with a wire strike, were observed on the leading edges of the left and right wings. The airplane had been operated for about 82 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on March 1, 2003. The pilot reported 180 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third class medical certificate, which was issued on April 7, 2003. Weather reported at an airport about 30 miles south-southwest of the accident site, at 1753, included a visibility of 10 miles and clear skies.