Overall Trends
Total, fatal, and serious accidents in the selected range.
Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.
Fast key and full-text search with live filters, watches, and precise metadata.
Use quotes for exact phrase matches (for example "fuel selector valve").
Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.
Major cases, deep-report coverage, and investigation media across decades of NTSB history.
Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.
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.
Matador, TX
The pilot stated that while the airplane was climbing through approximately 700 feet above the ground the engine lost all power. He decided to land the airplane in a small clearing, but was unable to reach the area and landed in mesquite brush. During the landing, the left wing sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not discover any abnormalities that would have contributed to the loss of engine power.
Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-(general)-Inoperative - C
On January 26, 2011, about 1510 Central Standard Time, a Piper PA-28-235, N9478W, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing in a field near Matador, Texas. The airplane was registered to N223BT LLC, Ballinger, Texas, and operated by the pilot. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There were no injuries to the pilot or single passenger. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was en route to Ballinger, Texas. The pilot reported that he had just departed from a small private airstrip south of Matador. Approximately 700 feet above ground level, he initiated a right turn to avoid some towers north of the airstrip. While in the right turn, the engine lost total power. The pilot decided to land in a small clearing, but was unable to reach the area, and the airplane landed in an area of mesquite brush. During the landing, the left main gear and nose wheel separated from the airplane, and the left wing contacted the ground, sustaining substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an NTSB investigator failed to identify any abnormalities that would have contributed to the loss of engine power.