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

September 4, 2006 · Mcnabb Bushmaster · N5090F

Delta Junction, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 4, 2006
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Delta Junction, AK
Aircraft
Mcnabb Bushmaster
Tail Number
N5090F
Operator
Timothy D Smithen
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC06LA130

The commercial certificated pilot was accumulating flight hours on an experimental airplane for the builder, as part of a Title 14, CFR Part 91 flight test period to comply with the experimental type certificate. The airplane's engine was an automotive, Ford 3.8L, V-6. It was equipped with an electronic ignition system. After 1.25 hours of flight time, the pilot was on final approach for landing, and when he turned on the airplane's landing light, the engine lost power. He was unable to restart the engine and descended into high vegetation, about 200 feet short of the runway. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and landing gear. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. He found an electrical short in the landing light system. The inspector indicated that the electrical short also disabled the electronic ignition system on the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

An electrical short that disabled the electronic ignition system of the airplane's engine during the final approach phase for landing, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with high vegetation. A factor contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain proper altitude in the landing pattern to reach the runway during the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On September 3, 2006, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped amateur built experimental McNabb Javelin Bushmaster airplane, N5090F, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing and collision with terrain, at the Delta Junction Airport, Delta Junction, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The flight originated at the Delta Junction Airport about 1920. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 3, the pilot reported that he was accumulating flight hours on the airplane for the builder, as part of a 40 hour flight test period to comply with an experimental type certificate. The pilot said that after 1.25 hours of flight time, he was on final approach for landing on runway 7. He said that when he turned on the airplane's landing light, the engine lost power. He was unable to restart the engine and descended into high vegetation, about 200 feet short of the runway. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and landing gear. The airplane's engine was an automotive, Ford 3.8L, V-6. It was equipped with an electronic ignition system. An FAA inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Fairbanks, Alaska, reported that he examined the airplane at the accident site. He found an electrical short in the landing light system. The inspector indicated that the electrical short also disabled the electronic ignition system on the engine.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:00 AKDT
Nearest AirportDelta Junction (0nm)
Runway07
Runway Length2400 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcnabb Bushmaster
Tail NumberN5090F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTimothy D Smithen
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFord · 3.8 L · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind75° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 6500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 37 C
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time23:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data