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

September 11, 2016 · Piper PA 18 95 · N3286Z

Greenville, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 2016
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Greenville, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA 18 95 (1959)
Tail Number
N3286Z
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN16LA366

The private pilot reported that, during the takeoff climb for the personal cross-country flight, he turned the airplane too early and at too low of an altitude to clear the trees ahead. The pilot then turned the airplane to avoid the trees, and it stalled. As he continued to try to maneuver the airplane away from the trees, the airplane entered a secondary stall, descended, and impacted terrain in a vertical attitude. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, engine, or related systems that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's premature turn during the takeoff climb and subsequent turn to avoid trees, which resulted in his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.

Full Narrative

On September 11, 2016, at 1558 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N3286Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain southwest of the Greenville Municipal Airport (6D6), Greenville, Michigan. The private pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight . Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Hillsdale Municipal Airport (JYM), Hillsdale, Michigan. According to the written statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board by the pilot, the airplane departed from runway 28. The pilot turned the airplane on course prior to reaching an altitude sufficient to clear the trees south of the runway. The pilot turned the airplane to avoid the trees and stalled the airplane. As he continued to try and maneuver the airplane away from the trees the airplane entered a secondary stall, descended, and impacted terrain on the south side of the airport about 100 yards southwest of the grass airstrip. The airplane impacted the ground in a vertical attitude and the fuselage and wings were crushed. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airframe, engine, or flight controls that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:58 EDT
Nearest AirportGreenville Municipal Airport (1nm S)
Runway28
Runway Length4199 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 18 95
Tail NumberN3286Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental Motors · C90-12F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 24 · First Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter30.17 inHg
Observation Time19:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data