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

January 6, 2005 · Piper PA-32-300 · N364BW

Polkton, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 6, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Polkton, NC
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N364BW
Operator
Package Express
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL05LA039

The engine lost power in cruise flight at night, and the pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. During forced landing, the airplane collided onto a berm. Examination revealed the right main fuel tank was empty, the electric fuel boost pump operated, and no mechanical defect was determined. The airplane's engine was disassembled, inspected, reassembled, and test run for 2 hours 15 minutes with no mechanical malfunction observed. The engine was reinstalled on the airplane, the airplane was returned to service, and the engine again lost power during a subsequent flight on February 8, 2005. Following second mishap, test bench examination of the engine-driven fuel pump revealed excessive fuel leakage from the shaft seal at the drive end of the pump. Disassembly examination of the unit revealed the rotor seal at the pump's drive end was worn beyond manufacturer's specifications, and wear and damage to the rotor interface with the drive coupling were observed.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine-driven fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On January 5, 2005, at 1939 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N364BW, registered to Race City Air, LLC, and operated by Package Express, collided onto a berm during emergency landing following a loss of engine power in Polkton, North Carolina. The domestic cargo flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, about 1845 on January 5, 2005. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet when the engine sputtered. He stated he immediately switched from the right main fuel tank to the left main fuel tank and turned on the electric fuel boost pump, then the engine quit completely. The pilot stated he performed the engine restart procedures on the emergency checklist, but his attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot reported the problem to a Charlotte Approach air traffic controller, and the controller provided radar vectors to the nearest airport in Anson County, North Carolina. The pilot was unable to see the airport in the darkness, and he stated the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to glide the distance to it. The pilot glided the airplane toward a row of lights along what appeared to be an open area for emergency landing. The pilot could not see in the darkness that the terrain was not level, and he landed the airplane on an approximate 30-degree sloping berm along a prison perimeter fence. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose landing gear was separated, the propeller was damaged, and the fuselage was buckled at the firewall. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the right main fuel tank was empty, the electric fuel boost pump operated, and no mechanical defect was determined. The airplane's engine was disassembled, inspected, reassembled, and test run for 2 hours 15 minutes with no mechanical malfunction observed. The engine was reinstalled, the airplane returned to service, and the engine again lost power during a subsequent flight on February 8, 2005. Following the February 8, 2005, mishap, the airplane's fuel system accessories were removed for examination. Test bench examination of the airplane's engine-driven fuel pump, a Lear Romec model RG17980 upgraded to model RG17980D/M, revealed the unit rotated and operated, and flow test data could not be obtained due to excessive fuel leakage from the shaft seal at the drive end of the pump. Disassembly examination of the unit revealed the rotor seal at the pump's drive end was worn beyond manufacturer's specifications, and wear and damage to the rotor interface with the drive coupling were observed. A review of manufacturer's records revealed the unit was manufactured prior to 1989, and there was no record of factory upgrade or overhaul of the unit. Evidence of non-OEM-approved field alterations to the unit were observed.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:39 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN364BW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPackage Express
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1A5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind200° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 52
Altimeter30.03 inHg
Observation Time00:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data