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 8, 2012 · Cessna 120 · N1875N

Smith Valley, NV

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 8, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Smith Valley, NV
Aircraft
Cessna 120
Tail Number
N1875N
Operator
Valley View Flyers
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12LA262

The pilot reported that the airplane bounced during the landing, and when it touched down again, it veered to the left. The pilot applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway surface into sagebrush. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear strut was transversely fractured through the upper attachment hole for the step bracket. Subsequent metallurgical examination revealed that the fracture surface was indicative of fatigue and originated in an area of corrosion.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the right main landing gear strut due to corrosion-induced fatigue, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Full Narrative

On June 8, 2012, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 120, N1875N, experienced a runway excursion during landing at Farias Wheel Airport (NV33), Smith Valley, Nevada. Valley View Flyers LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Yerington, Nevada, about 0955, with a planned destination of NV33. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that during landing the airplane bounced; when it touched down again, it suddenly veered to the left. He applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane continued left, and departed the runway surface into sagebrush. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and the propeller contacted the ground. The pilot turned off the master switch, shut off the fuel, and exited the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage on site. He noted that the fracture surface of the right main landing gear was flat with beach marks. The part was submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory for examination. An NTSB metallurgist observed that the main landing gear strut was transversely fractured through the upper attachment hole for the step bracket. The upper fracture face was mechanically damaged, while the lower face was mostly undamaged. Optical examinations of the fractured face revealed chevron markings indicative of fracture initiation on both sides of the hole at the corners formed by the hole’s bore and the upper surface of the strut. Closer magnified examinations uncovered small fatigue cracks at both corners of the hole. The fatigue on the forward side of the hole initiated at three locations in a corrosion pitted area of the bore surface. The aft fatigue region initiated at a single origin at the corner in a corroded area. Corrosion was visible in unpainted areas. Removing the remnant paint from the bore revealed corrosion and corrosion pitting over the entire bore surface. The airplane was built in 1946, and had a total airframe time of 8,934 hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 PDT
Nearest AirportSmith Valley (0nm)
Runway16
Runway Length3200 ft
Runway Width22 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 120
Tail NumberN1875N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorValley View Flyers
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · C85-12 · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 1 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data