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

May 1, 2018 · Cosmos Phase III NO Series · N6466

Fernandina Beach, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 1, 2018
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Fernandina Beach, FL
Aircraft
Cosmos Phase III NO Series (2003)
Tail Number
N6466
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR18LA132

The flight instructor reported that, during the initial climb for the instructional flight in the weight-shift-control trike, the student pilot was manipulating the controls. About 700 ft above ground level, the aircraft suddenly entered a "hard" left bank. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft but was unable to recover control before the aircraft impacted terrain in a nose-down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage. The flight instructor did not recall if there was a mechanical malfunction or failure but reported that the student pilot was known to freeze on the controls and the student could have been fighting him. It is likely that the flight instructor was not adequately monitoring the student pilot when the aircraft entered the excessive turn and that, due to the low altitude, he did not have sufficient time to recover control before the collision.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the student pilot before aircraft control was lost at a low altitude.

Full Narrative

On May 1, 2018, about 0845 eastern daylight time, a weight-shift-control Cosmos Phase III, N6466, sustained substantial damage after it impacted terrain shortly after departure from Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB), Fernandina Beach, Florida. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries, and the student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the flight instructor as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at 0830 from FHB. In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the flight instructor reported that the student pilot was manipulating the controls and flying the aircraft. During the initial climb, at about 700 ft above ground level, the airplane suddenly entered a "hard" left bank. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft, however, was unable to recover and the aircraft impacted terrain in a nose down attitude. The flight instructor does not recall if there was a mechanical anomaly, but reported that the student pilot was known to freeze on the controls and he could have been fighting him. The student did not provide a statement as to the circumstances of the accident. Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot completed or submitted the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1 to the investigator in charge.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:45 EDT
Nearest AirportFernandina Beach Muni (0nm NNE)
Runway04
Runway Length5301 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCosmos Phase III NO Series
Tail NumberN6466
Aircraft CategoryWsft
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.23 inHg
Observation Time12:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data