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

April 23, 2010 · Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A · N4450

Madera, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 23, 2010
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Madera, CA
Aircraft
Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A
Tail Number
N4450
Operator
Larry Wright
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR10LA214

The pilot was ferrying the newly-purchased agricultural airplane to his home airport. Approximately 1 hour since fueling, the engine lost power. Despite the pilot's attempts to restart the engine, he was forced to land the airplane in an agricultural field. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C

Full Narrative

On April 23, 2010, at 1330 Pacific daylight time, a restricted category Grumman Aircraft Engineering G164A, N4450, lost engine power in flight and was substantially damaged during a forced landing approximately 2 miles north of Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, California. The commercial pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the positioning flight. The pilot departed from Lodi Airport, Lodi, California, and was en route to Shirley Williams Airport, Kingsland, Texas. His next planned stop was Fresno Chandler Executive Airport, Fresno, California. According to the pilot, he recently purchased the airplane and was ferrying it home. He made a fuel stop and then flew approximately 1 hour when the loss of engine power occurred. While established in cruise flight at 1,500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot pushed the engine and propeller controls forward and looked for a place to land. He attempted to land at Madera but force-landed the airplane in a pistachio orchard where the airplane came to rest inverted. From the time of his initial departure, the pilot had flown 1.8 hours in the airplane. The last annual inspection was completed in January 2010 and the airplane had not been flown since that time. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and engine with a representative from Pratt and Whitney. The exhaust turbine wheel rotated freely. The engine was manually rotated with no unusual sounds from the power or compressor turbines. The main fuel filter was removed showing no water or other contamination. The fuel selector was found in the "On" position and the inspector noted difficulty in rotating the selector from the "On" to the "Off" position. The fuel control unit and fuel pump were removed from the engine and sent to Pratt and Whitney Canada for further examination and testing. Representatives from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and Pratt and Whitney examined the fuel control unit and fuel pump. Trace amounts of contaminants were found in the fuel pump inlet and outlet filter. Testing of the fuel control unit and fuel pump revealed no mechanical anomalies.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A
Tail NumberN4450
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLarry Wright
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney · PT-6 · Turboprop · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 65 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time20:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data