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.
De Witt, AR
The 5,700-hour commercial pilot was departing on runway 18 (a 3,200-foot long by 60-foot wide asphalt runway) in a tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane in order to fertilize a rice field approximately three miles to the south of the airport. Prior to his departure from runway 18, the pilot reported that the winds were from the east-southeast at 10 to 20 knots. During the takeoff roll, as the pilot raised the tail of the airplane, a gust of wind blew the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot was able to regain directional control and elected to proceed with the takeoff, when another gust "pulled" the aircraft off the ground prematurely. The pilot stated that the airplane "came off of the ground normal but a little higher than he wanted." The pilot added that as he tried to maintain runway heading alignment, the aircraft wanted to "settle," and the aileron control became "real light." The pilot then pointed the airplane into the wind, hoping for a "gust of help" in trying to climb and avoid an impact with trees. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest in an upright position where a post impact fire ensued. The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 1,200 hours in the same make and model, with about 75 hours in the preceding 90 days.
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
The 5,700-hour commercial pilot was departing on runway 18 (a 3,200-foot long by 60-foot wide asphalt runway) in a tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane in order to fertilize a rice field approximately three miles to the south of the airport. Prior to his departure from runway 18, the pilot reported the winds were from the east-southeast at 10 to 20 knots. During the takeoff roll, as the pilot raised the tail of the airplane gust of wind blew the airplane to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot was able to regain directional control and elected to proceed with the takeoff, when another gust "pulled" the aircraft off the ground prematurely. The pilot stated that the airplane "came off of the ground normal but a little higher than he wanted." The pilot added that as he tried to maintain runway heading alignment, the aircraft wanted to "settle," and the aileron control became "real light." The pilot then pointed the airplane into the wind, hoping for a "gust of help" in trying to climb and avoid an impact with trees. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest in an upright position where a post impact fire ensued. The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 1,200 hours in the same make and model, with about 75 hours in the preceding 90 days.