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.
Chicago, IL
A runway incursion occurred when a Boeing 737-700 (B737) was cleared by a tower local controller to cross a runway immediately after a Learjet 45 was cleared for takeoff on the same runway. The first officer of the B737 saw the departing Learjet and warned the captain, who stopped the B737 short of the runway edge. Air traffic control personnel did not take any actions to resolve the conflict between the two airplanes. Recorded data indicated that the Learjet passed within 287 feet laterally and 62 feet vertically of the B737.
The tower local controller did not ensure that the runway was clear of conflict before directing the B737 to cross the runway, and other air traffic control personnel did not effectively intervene when the separation between the two airplanes became questionable.
At 0907 on December 1, 2011, a runway incursion and operational error occurred at MDW when Southwest Airlines flight 844 (SWA844), a Boeing 737-700, was cleared to cross runway 31R immediately after Gama Charters flight 17 (GAJ17), a Learjet 45, was cleared for takeoff on the same runway. After landing on runway 31C, the crew of SWA844 was instructed to cross runway 31R and contact ground control. GAJ17 was departing from runway 31R at the time, and conflicted with SWA844 as the B737 crossed the hold-short line for runway 31R at taxiway N. The first officer of SWA844 saw the Learjet departing runway 31R and warned the captain, who was at the controls, to stop. The captain stopped the B737 short of the runway edge. Air traffic control did not take any actions to resolve the conflict between the two aircraft. After the incident, the captain of SWA844 said that the departing Learjet had overflown his aircraft. Recorded FAA data indicated that the closest proximity as the Learjet passed the B737 was 287 feet laterally and 62 feet vertically. Although MDW is equipped with an Airport Surface Detection Equipment – X (ASDE-X) ground movement safety system that included conflict detection and warning capability, the system did not sound an alarm during the incident. The 0851 weather observation for MDW was wind 180 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 15,000 feet above ground level (AGL), broken clouds at 20,000 feet AGL, broken clouds at 25,000 feet AGL, temperature 1 degree Celsius, dew point minus 4 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.26 inches of mercury. For further information, see the Air Traffic Control Group Chairman's Factual Report included in the docket for this incident.