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

June 29, 2011 · Cessna 140 · N2332V

Burlington, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 29, 2011
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Burlington, WI
Aircraft
Cessna 140
Tail Number
N2332V
Operator
Stick and Rudder
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN11LA448

The pilot reported that he departed with the fuel selector set to the right fuel tank, which was full of fuel. About 30 minutes after departure, he made a touch-and-go landing and takeoff at his destination airport. During the initial climb, the engine started to lose power when the airplane was about 100 feet above the runway. The pilot entered a left turn and attempted to land on an adjacent grass runway, but the airplane impacted the terrain short of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s fuel system revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank was full of fuel. Examination of the airplane’s fuel selector revealed that the fuel selector indicator handle was improperly installed. When the fuel selector indicator handle was placed in the right fuel tank position, the fuel was actually coming from the left fuel tank. There was no record in the airplane’s maintenance logbook that indicated replacement of the fuel selector valve, the fuel selector indicator handle, or the fuel selector placard. It was not determined who performed the maintenance on the fuel selector and had improperly installed the fuel selector indicator handle.

NTSB Probable Cause

The improper installation of the fuel selector indicator handle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On June 29, 2011, about 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2332V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during the initial climb from runway 11 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Stick and Rudder LLC and operated by the pilot on a personal flight under the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), Kenosha, Wisconsin, about 1400. The pilot reported he departed ENW and flew to BUU and did a touch-and-go landing on runway 11. After he started the initial climb from the touch-and-go landing, the engine started to lose power when the airplane was about 100 feet above the runway. The pilot determined that there was not enough runway remaining to land on runway 11. He entered a left turn and attempted to land on runway 19, which was a grass runway, but the airplane impacted the terrain short of the runway. The airplane landed hard on the left wheel and then on the right wheel, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The inspection revealed that the fuel selector handle indicated that the right fuel tank was selected. However, the right tank was full of fuel, and the fuel gauge located in the right wing root above the pilot also indicated that the right tank was full. The left fuel tank was empty, and the fuel gauge located in the left wing root above the pilot also indicated that the left tank was empty. The examination of the fuel selector revealed that the fuel selector placard complied with the airplane’s operations manual. However, the inspection revealed that the fuel selector indicator handle was improperly installed. When the fuel selector indicator handle was placed on the right fuel tank, the fuel was actually coming from the left fuel tank. The pilot reported that he departed with the fuel selector set to the right tank, and that he did not switch tanks during the flight. The airplane was purchased by a flying club from a private owner. The private owner reported that he bought the airplane in 1990. The fuel placard that came with the airplane at that time did not comply with the placard found in the airplane’s operations manual. Although the blue/grey colored placard was not the same as the one found in the operations manual, it did work. The previous owner reported that when he was preparing to sell the airplane to the flying club, he decided to make a fuel selector placard that was identical to the one found in the operations manual. He reported that he made the placard and provided it to the mechanic of the flying club so that the mechanic could install it. However, the mechanic at the flying club reported that he did not install the fuel selector placard, and that the previous owner had installed it prior to the airplane being purchased. There was no record in the airplane’s maintenance logbook that indicated when, or by whom, the fuel selector placard was replaced. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and single-engine sea ratings. He reported that he had approximately 4,000 total flight hours with 10 hours in make and model. His last medical was on April 4, 2008, and his last biennial flight review was conducted on September 15, 2008. The pilot indicated on the National Transportation Safety Board’s accident report form that his medical certificate was his “Driver’s License (Sport Pilot only).” The Cessna 140’s maximum gross weight is 1,450 pounds, which exceeds the light-sport airplane maximum gross weight limitation of 1,320 pounds.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest AirportBurlington Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway19
Runway Length2410 ft
Runway Width130 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 140
Tail NumberN2332V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorStick and Rudder
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-90-12F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 82 · Sprt · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter30.07 inHg
Observation Time21:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data