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

August 17, 2007 · Cessna 207 · N73463

Fairbanks, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 17, 2007
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fairbanks, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 207
Tail Number
N73463
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC07LA085

The commercial air taxi pilot was returning to base on a cross country positioning flight when he noticed that the engine oil pressure gauge was registering zero. He stated that the rest of the engine gauges appeared normal, and he elected to continue the flight. About 45 minutes later, the engine seized, and the pilot made a forced landing on an oil service road, where the airplane collided with a ditch and received substantial damage. Postaccident inspection of the engine by company maintenance personnel and an FAA airworthiness inspector disclosed that the engine seized due to a lack of oil. No preimpact signs of oil leakage were discovered. The FAA inspector noted that the engine was a high time engine, and was nearly ready for an overhaul. He indicated that the pilot could have returned to his departure airport, or landed at several suitable sites en route with engine power after the low oil pressure reading, but that he elected to continue towards the operator's base.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power in cruise flight due to a lack of sufficient oil. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue the flight after noting a loss of oil pressure.

Full Narrative

On August 16, about 1920 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 207 airplane, N73463, operated by Wright Air Service, Fairbanks, Alaska, as a Title 14, CFR Part 91 positioning flight, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and a forced off-airport landing, about 15 miles northwest of Fairbanks. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Squaw Lake, Alaska, about 1810, en route to Fairbanks. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 17, the director of operations related that the pilot told him that while en route to Fairbanks, he noticed that the engine oil pressure went to zero. According to the director of operations, the pilot said the other engine gauges appeared to be normal, and instead of seeking a spot to land, he continued the flight. About 45 minutes to an hour later, the engine seized, and the pilot attempted to land on an oil field access road. The airplane went off the access road, and collided with a ditch, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An FAA airworthiness inspector from the Fairbanks Flights Standards District Office was present at the operator's facility when the accident engine was disassembled. The inspector noted that the engine had seized from operating without sufficient oil. He was unable to find a source of any preaccident oil leak, and noted that the engine had a history of oil consumption, and was within 200 service hours of an engine overhaul.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:20 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 207
Tail NumberN73463
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · IO-550 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data