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

March 12, 2019 · Piper PA32R 300 · N750R

Waterloo, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 12, 2019
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Waterloo, IL
Aircraft
Piper PA32R 300 (1976)
Tail Number
N750R
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN19LA098

The pilot reported that he heard a "horrible noise" and that the engine "immediately seized" about 10 minutes from the destination airport. Oil covered the windshield and obstructed his forward field of view. He executed a forced landing to a road by holding the airplane in a right crab so that he could see out of the left side window. The airplane came to rest inverted in the grass adjacent to the road and sustained damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the No. 4 and No. 6 connecting rods had fractured and separated from the crankshaft. Metallurgical examination was unable to determine the source of the initial failure due to secondary mechanical damage. The intact fracture surfaces that were available for examination exhibited features consistent with overstress.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power due to a connecting rod failure for reasons that could not be determined due to secondary mechanical damage, which resulted in a subsequent forced landing.

Full Narrative

On March 12, 2019, at 1442 central daylight time, a Piper PA32R-300 airplane, N750R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Waterloo, Illinois. The pilot sustained serious injuries, one passenger sustained minor injuries, and the second passenger, a child restrained in a car seat, was not injured. The airplane operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported hearing a "horrible noise" and the engine "immediately seized" about 10 minutes from the destination airport. Oil covered the windshield, obstructing his forward field of view. He executed a forced landing to a road by holding the airplane in a right crab to see out of the left side window. The airplane came to rest inverted in a grass area adjacent to the road with damage to the fuselage and both wings. A postrecovery engine examination revealed the No. 4 and No. 6 connecting rods had separated from the crankshaft. The no. 4 connecting rod was fractured through the upper rod yoke. The corresponding rod cap and bearing fragments were deformed. The no. 6 connecting rod was fractured across one side of the rod yoke; the opposite side was intact but deformed. The corresponding rod cap was deformed. The connecting rods remained attached to the pistons. The pistons were wedged within the cylinders. The pistons, lower cylinder flanges and connecting rods exhibited secondary mechanical damage. The crankshaft was intact. The crankcase was fractured above the No. 4 and No. 6 cylinders exposing a hole in the upper surface of the crankcase. Metallurgical examination was unable to determine source of the initial failure due to secondary mechanical damage. The intact fracture surfaces that were available for examination exhibited features consistent with overstress.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:42 CDT
Nearest AirportSt Louis Downtown (13nm SSE)
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA32R 300
Tail NumberN750R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 63 · Basc · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 30 C
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data