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 22, 2007 · Socata TB20 · N203AB

Beatty, NV

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 22, 2007
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Beatty, NV
Aircraft
Socata TB20
Tail Number
N203AB
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA07LA270

The pilot and passenger were on a cross-country flight. After night had fallen, they encountered deteriorating weather conditions, and diverted to an airport along their route of flight. During the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane entered an excessive descent rate, and the pilot initiated a go-around. As the pilot turned the airplane onto the downwind leg, the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot operating handbook for the airplane indicates that once a positive rate of climb is established, the landing gear should be retracted, as well as incremental flap retraction. Although the pilot believed that he retracted the flaps and landing gear, the cockpit selectors were both found in the extended position. The pilot had approximately 8 hours total night flight time, with 0.8-hour in the 30 days prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow the manufacturer's procedures during a go-around and subsequent loss of airplane control. A contributing factor to the accident was the dark night.

Full Narrative

On September 21, 2007, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, a Socata TB20, N203AB, collided with terrain during a go-around at Beatty Airport, Beatty, Nevada. The pilot, who was also the registered owner of the airplane, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from Derby Field Airport, Lovelock, Nevada, about 1800. The pilot reported in a written statement that he decided to land at Beatty due to deteriorating weather at his destination. During the approach to runway 34, about 400 to 500 feet above ground level, it appeared to him that the airplane was high, so he initiated a go-around. The pilot applied full throttle, retracted the flaps one notch, and retracted the landing gear. Without warning, the airplane impacted the ground on the downwind leg. After evacuating the airplane he observed the landing gear in the down position. The pilot reported 242 hours total flight time, with 10.6 hours over the last 24 hours. He reported 8.0 total night hours. The pilot had flown 1.6 hours at night in the last 90 days and 0.8-hour at night in the last 30 days. The passenger, also a pilot, reported approximately 3,500 hours total flight time. He was not familiar with the accident airplane as the majority of his time was in high-wing Cessna airplanes. During the flight, the passenger assisted the pilot with navigation but did not fly the airplane. The passenger reported that while en route, they encountered weather and decided to land at Beatty. The weather conditions at the time were clear at Beatty, but it was dark. The passenger stated that the pilot aligned the airplane for the approach to runway 34, but he thought the airplane was too high and was descending too quickly, at a rate of 1,200 feet per minute. As the airplane crossed the threshold, he told the pilot that he should perform a go-around. The pilot applied full power and turned crosswind, then turned onto the downwind leg. Shortly thereafter, the left wing clipped the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. The passenger reported that he was knocked unconscious during the collision sequence, but prior to ground impact, he did not hear any stall warnings or feel a buffet. He could not recall if the pilot retracted the landing gear and/or flaps, and he thought that the pilot might not have arrested his descent, prior to initiating the go-around and making turns in the traffic pattern. He did not believe that there were any mechanical anomalies that resulted in a loss of control. During the on-site documentation, the first identified piece of wreckage was the left wing tip. A 500-foot distance separated the wing tip and the main wreckage. Both wings were sheared from the structure and in pieces leading up to the main wreckage. The landing gear was in the extended position. According to aircraft recovery personnel, the cockpit flap indicator showed that the flaps were in the fully retracted position. The landing gear selector handle was in the extended position. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane indicates under Normal Procedures, Section 4, that during a go-around, smoothly apply power and obtain/maintain 76 to 81 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). Then, once the climb rate is positive, retract the landing gear and set the flaps to the takeoff setting. Once 90 KIAS is reached, fully retract the flaps and climb at 95 KIAS. According to the United States Naval Observatory records for Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 21, 2007, sunset was at 1839 and the end of civil twilight was at 1905.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 PDT
Nearest AirportBeatty Airport (0nm)
Runway34
Runway Length5600 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSocata TB20
Tail NumberN203AB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTextron Lycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind30° @ 10 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 55
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time02:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data