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 18, 2004 · Quicksilver MXL · UNREG

Mountain Home, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 18, 2004
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Mountain Home, ID
Aircraft
Quicksilver MXL
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA04LA110

Prior to the accident, the pilot landed at a road-side truck stop to take on automobile fuel for the operation of his unregistered two-place ultralight-like aircraft. Records show that he refueled at 0910, and witnesses said that he took off from a road beside the truck stop about 0930. After takeoff, the pilot flew past a private airstrip about a mile from the truck stop, and then headed in the direction of his destination, where a gathering of ultralight-like aircraft was taking place. About 30 minutes later, an individual on the ground came upon the wreckage of the aircraft near some hilly terrain. There were no witnesses to the impact, and there was no fire. The entire aircraft structure was located together, and there were no ground scars indicating any movement across the terrain after the initial impact. An examination of the aircraft structure did not find any indication of an in-flight structural failure, nor any evidence of an engine malfunction. It was determined however that the wing washout angle had been changed by the pilot so that the aircraft would cruise at a faster speed. It was also determined that since the pilot had made the washout angle change, and added a large windshield to the airframe, the aircraft's cruise speed was only about 10 knots greater than its stall speed. The investigation also revealed that there had been very strong gusty winds (to 20 knots) and turbulence in the area the pilot was flying through. It was the opinion of the FAA Inspector who responded to the scene that the pilot had lost control of the aircraft while trying to continue his flight in the windy/gusty conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an undetermined in-flight operational phase resulting in an uncontrolled descent into the terrain. Factors include strong gusty winds in the area of the accident.

Full Narrative

On June 18, 2004, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, an unregistered non-certified Quick Silver MXL aircraft impacted the terrain about seven miles east of Mountain Home, Idaho. The individual flying the aircraft, who's student pilot certificate expired in January of 1999, received fatal injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. There were no other occupants. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, departed the Oasis Truck Stop, which is located about 15 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho, about 0930. The aircraft, which was being operated in visual meteorological conditions, was en route to Fairfield, Idaho. No flight plan had been filed. According to witnesses, the pilot landed at the Oasis Truck Stop to take on automobile fuel for the operation of his aircraft. Records show that he refueled at 0910, and witnesses said that he took off from a road beside the truck stop about 0930. After takeoff, the pilot flew past a private airstrip about a mile from the truck stop, and then headed in the direction of Fairfield, where a gathering of ultralight-type aircraft was taking place. About 30 minutes later an individual on the ground came upon the wreckage of the aircraft near some hilly terrain. There were no witnesses to the impact, and there was no fire. The entire aircraft structure was located together, and there were no ground scars indicating any movement across the terrain after the initial impact. According to the FAA Inspector who examined the aircraft structure, there was no indication of an in-flight structural failure, nor any evidence of an engine malfunction. He did discover however that the wing washout angle had been changed by the pilot so that the aircraft would cruise at a faster speed. A discussion with owners of similar aircraft, who knew this pilot and his aircraft well, determined that since the pilot had made the washout angle change, and added a large windshield to the airframe, the aircraft's cruise speed was only about 10 knots greater than its stall speed. Witnesses also reported that there were very strong gusty winds (to 20 knots) and moderate turbulence in the area at the time of the accident. It was the opinion of the FAA Inspector who responded to the scene that the pilot had lost control of the aircraft while attempting to continue his flight in the windy/gusty conditions.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftQuicksilver MXL
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 46
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · None · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data