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

August 6, 2013 · Piper PA-36-300 · N3789E

Santa Teresa, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 6, 2013
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Santa Teresa, NM
Aircraft
Piper PA-36-300
Tail Number
N3789E
Operator
Roger Zeledon
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13LA464

The pilot was conducting an agricultural spray operation to a small field with obstacles, including a power line, trees, and heavy construction equipment. His pull-up from the spray pass was too late and the airplane struck a tree on the edge of the field. Due to the tree strike, the pilot lost roll control and maneuvered to a forced landing, during which the airplane cartwheeled. The pilot stated that he accepted a high level of risk to spray the small, tightly confined field, which he regretted. Factoring in his decision were multiple requests to spray the field by a persistent farm owner. Multiple sleep interruptions occurred on the night prior to the accident, which would have affected both the quality and amount of sleep the pilot obtained during his reported sleep opportunity. The resultant fatigue would have likely affected both the pilot’s decision making and flying performance on the day of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree at the completion of an agricultural spray run. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to accept a high level of risk to spray a small field bordered by multiple obstacles and his fatigue due to interrupted sleep the night before the accident.

Full Narrative

On August 6, 2013, at 0856 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-36-300 airplane, N3789E, was substantially damaged after ground impact near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The pilot did not report any injuries. The airplane was registered to Valley Ag Aerial Services and was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which departed without a flight plan from a private airfield near San Miguel, New Mexico, about 0830. The pilot stated that he arrived to spray a small cotton field, which was divided by a diagonal power line. After a spray pass on the north side of the power line, he maneuvered the airplane for a spray pass on the south side of the power line. Due to the power line and heavy construction equipment near the approach end of the pass, the pilot conducted an approach with a steeper angle. During the pull-up from this pass, the airplane struck a tree at the departure end of the field. The pilot was unable to maintain roll control and maneuvered to a forced landing, during which the airplane cartwheeled in a grass field. Both wings and the rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that the land owner had made multiple requests to spray the small, tightly confined field and he regretted his decision to accommodate the request. He had sprayed this field during previous years and realized that it was challenging to spray due to its size and the obstacles. The pilot made a habit of sleeping at least seven hours per night. On the night prior to the accident, his sleep was interrupted about five to eight times by a dog that he was taking care of for a friend. Since the spray season started in the spring, he had consistently averaged about 6 work days a week. During the last month, he averaged about 4 hours of flight time, per day, conducting spray operations. In retrospect, the pilot stated that he was fatigued at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:56 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-36-300
Tail NumberN3789E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRoger Zeledon
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-720 AIB · Reciprocating · 400
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time14:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data