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.
Kennebunkport, ME
The pilot had not flown into the airport previously, but he visited the airport the day before the accident. He walked the runway and noted the obstacles located at both ends. The morning of the accident, the pilot flew to the airport, and noted the 4-6 knot wind favored runway 20. During landing, the airplane touched down about half way down the runway. When the pilot realized that he would not be able to stop before reaching the end of the runway, he made a hard left turn. During the turn, the right main landing gear failed. Runway 20 was a 1,000-foot-long and 200-foot-wide turf runway, with 35-foot trees located at both ends. There were also 25-foot power lines located at the end of runway 20. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine, and weather at a nearby airport included calm winds.
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in the abrupt maneuver and subsequent failure of the landing gear.
On August 31, 2003, at 0850 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170, N11576, was substantially damaged during landing at Back Acres Airport (ME46), Kennebunkport, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Biddeford Municipal Airport (B19), Biddeford, Maine, about 0830. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. According to the pilot, he had never flown into Back Acres Airport, and visited the airport the day before the accident. He walked the runway and noted the obstacles located at both ends. The following morning, the pilot flew to the airport, and noted the 4-6 knot wind favored runway 20. During landing, the airplane touched down about half way down the runway. When the pilot realized that he would not be able to stop before reaching the end of the runway, he made a hard left turn. During the turn, the right main landing gear broke. An FAA inspector performed an examination of the airplane. The examination revealed that the right main landing gear had folded under the airplane and buckled the floorboard. The right wing tip was slightly damaged, and the wing was pushed up a few inches at the wing root. Runway 2/20 was a 1,000-foot-long and 200-foot-wide turf runway, with 35-foot trees located at both ends. According to the FAA inspector, there were also 25-foot power lines located at the end of runway 20. The pilot reported a total of 2,000 hours; 450 hours in tail wheel aircraft, of which 40 hours were in make and model. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine. Weather at Sanford Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, about 13 nautical miles east, at 0855, included calm winds, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 61 degrees F, dewpoint 46 degrees F, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.34 inches HG.