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

May 19, 2007 · Thrush Aircraft S2RHG-T65 · N40097

Tyndall, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 19, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Tyndall, SD
Aircraft
Thrush Aircraft S2RHG-T65
Tail Number
N40097
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI07LA147

An agricultural application airplane impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering. A post impact fire occurred. The operator's accident report stated that "10-15 minutes before [the] crash eye witness reports indicate all was normal. Thunderstorms in the area developed rapidly. At [the] time of [the] crash eyewitness accounts, per Sheriff's report, were very heavy rain and some hail, 20 [feet] visibility." Examination of the wreckage revealed a section of powerline was found wrapped around the airplane's hopper. A propeller blade had a semicircular depression on its leading edge. The recorded weather about 25 miles east of the accident site was: Wind 240 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds 7,500 feet; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 13 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury; remarks lightning observed in the distant west, thunderstorm ended at 18 minutes before the accident. Low levels of an antidepressant was a finding in the pilot's toxicology report.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from a powerline while maneuvering. A factor was the low visibility associated with the thunderstorm and the powerlines.

Full Narrative

On May 19, 2007, about 1816 central daylight time, a Thrush Aircraft Inc. S2RHG-T65, N40097, operated by Mettler Aerial Inc., sustained substantial damage when it impacted power lines and terrain, while maneuvering near Tyndall, South Dakota. A post impact fire occurred. The aerial application flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The local flight departed from the Turkey Ridge Airport, near Hurley, South Dakota, at time unknown. The operator's accident report stated that "10-15 minutes before [the] crash eye witness reports indicate all was normal. Thunderstorms in the area developed rapidly. At [the] time of [the] crash eyewitness accounts, per Sheriff's report, were very heavy rain and some hail, 20 [feet] visibility." Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the wreckage on-scene. A section of powerline was found wrapped around the airplane's hopper. A propeller blade had a semicircular depression on its leading edge. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument ratings. He held a Second Class Medical certificate that was issued on March 27, 2007. On the application for that medical certificate, the pilot did not indicate taking any medications and listed "no" for "mental disorders of any sort; depression, anxiety, etc." The operator reported that the pilot's total flight time was 7,073 hours and that he had accumulated 315 hours of flight time in the same make and model as the accident airplane. N40097, was registered as a 2004 Thrush Aircraft Inc. S2RHG-T65, serial number T65HG-01, which was a tail-wheel equipped, single-engine, low-wing, all-metal airplane, used for aerial application of agricultural products. The operator reported that the last annual inspection was performed on February 6, 2007. The total time on the airframe, at the time of the inspection, was 581 hours. The airplane was powered by a Pratt &Whitney PT6A-60AG turboprop engine, serial number PCE-BG0102. At 1815, the recorded weather about 25 nautical miles and 90 degrees from the accident site at the Chan Gurney Municipal Airport, near Yankton, South Dakota, was: Wind 240 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds 7,500 feet; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 13 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury; remarks lightning observed in the distant west, thunderstorm ended at 1758. The Bon Homme County Coroner's Office arranged for an autopsy to be performed on the pilot. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report stated: SERTRALINE detected in Blood SERTRALINE detected in Urine 0.048 (ug/mL, ug/g) DESMETHYLSERTRALINE detected in Blood DESMETHYLSERTRALINE present in Urine

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:16 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftThrush Aircraft S2RHG-T65
Tail NumberN40097
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · PT6A-60AG · Turboprop · 1060
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time23:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data