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

April 4, 2005 · Air Tractor AT-602 · N5015K

Imperial, NE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 4, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Imperial, NE
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-602
Tail Number
N5015K
Operator
Top Hat Aerial Applicators
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI05LA088

The aerial application airplane was damaged during a forced landing to a field following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he had about 40 minutes of fuel remaining when he exited the last sprayed field. He stated that when he was about 1 mile south of the airport, the engine lost power. He checked the fuel flow meter which "suggested" he had over 30 minutes of fuel remaining, with 1/4 in one tank and 1/8 in the other tank. He stated that he executed a landing to a field and the main landing gear sunk into the soft dirt and the airplane nosed over. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no useable quantity of fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. Subsequent to the accident, the airplane's engine was removed from the airplane and a functional test performed. The engine was run on a test stand and no anomalies were found.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. The soft ground was a factor.

Full Narrative

On April 4, 2005, about 1025 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N5015K, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on approach to runway 31 at the Imperial Municipal Airport (IML), Imperial, Nebraska. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated about 0928. According to a report filed by the pilot, he had completed spray operations at a field located about 12 miles south of IML and was returning. He stated that according to the fuel flow meter he had about 40 minutes of fuel remaining when he exited the last field sprayed. He stated that when he was about 1 mile south of the airport, the engine lost power. He checked the fuel flow meter which "suggested" he had over 30 minutes of fuel remaining with 1/4 in one tank and 1/8 in the other tank. He stated that he executed a landing to a field and the main landing gear sunk into the soft dirt and the airplane nosed over. Post accident examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed that some fuel had drained from the right wing fuel vent due to the position of the airplane. No other evidence of fuel leakage was detected. When the airplane was righted, no useable quantity of fuel was noted in the fuel tanks. Subsequent to the accident, the airplane's engine was removed from the airplane and a functional test performed. The engine was run on a test stand and no anomalies were found with respect to the engine.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:25 MDT
Nearest AirportImperial Muni (1nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-602
Tail NumberN5015K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTop Hat Aerial Applicators
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · PT6A · Turboprop · 1050

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 36 C
Altimeter29.62 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data