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

July 16, 2019 · Vans RV14 A · N365EM

Aumsville, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 2019
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Aumsville, OR
Aircraft
Vans RV14 A (2018)
Tail Number
N365EM
Operator
Mitchell Eugene W
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
WPR19LA189

The airplane was in cruise flight when all electrical instrumentation was suddenly lost, and the pilot started to smell burning wires. A few seconds later, the smoke began to fill the cockpit and fire started to enter the lower part of the cockpit by the left side rudder pedals. The pilot initiated an emergency descent and subsequently landed in a field. The pilot egressed the airplane and the fire continued to burn until first responders arrived. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed extensive thermal damage to the engine and its surrounding area, which precluded identifying the exact origin of the fire. However, there was significantly more charring and fire damage to the left side of the engine compartment and engine mount powder coating. Based on the pilot’s statement and the charring of the engine mount powder coating, it is likely that the fire started on the left side of the engine compartment. A service bulletin issued by the airplane manufacturer identified a potential leaking of Kavlico pressure sensors that were installed in the aluminum manifold located on the upper left side of the airplane’s firewall. However, the accident airplane’s manifold and both sensors were destroyed by the postaccident fire. Although a sensor failure is a possible cause, there are many potential failure points in fuel and oil supply and pressure indication lines that could have resulted in the fire. Due to the extensive thermal damage, the origin of the fire could not be determined based on available evidence.

NTSB Probable Cause

An inflight fire that originated in the engine compartment for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

Full Narrative

On July 16, 2019, about 1321 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur built Vans RV 14A airplane, N365EM, was destroyed in an accident near Aumsville, Oregon. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot departed Aurora State Airport (UAO), Aurora, Oregon at 1235, with the intended destination to Corvallis Municipal Airport (CVO), Corvallis, Oregon. The pilot reported that about 1 hour into the flight, at a cruise altitude of 1,500 ft above ground level, he lost all electrical instrumentation and smelled burning wiring. He initiated an emergency descent a few seconds later when the smoke began to fill the cockpit and the fire started to enter the lower part of the cockpit by the left side rudder pedals. He conducted a forced landing to a field and evacuated the airplane that continued to burn until the first responders extinguished the fire. The pilot informed investigators that the day before the accident, he changed the oil and replaced the oil filter. When he removed the engine cowling, there was no indication of an oil leak. After the oil change, the pilot started the engine and ran it up to average temps (oil pressure was 75 pounds per square inch) and then shut it down. When he inspected for leaks, he did not locate any. The new oil filter was safety-wired. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed extensive thermal damage, especially in the engine and cockpit area; charring of the engine mount powder coating indicated that the fire was more significant on the left side of the airplane. About 13 gallons of aviation fuel was present in the left tank and about 6 gallons was in the right tank. Due to extensive thermal damage to the engine and its surrounding area, it was not possible to determine the exact origin of the fire. On May 6, 2020, Van’s Aircraft released a service bulletin that warned about the potential leaking of Kavilco pressure sensors, whihc are commonly used in fuel, oil, and manifold pressure applications on all RV models. The exact cause (manufacturing, installation, fatigue etc.) of the Kavilco pressure sensors failures has not been determined. The accident airplane was equipped with an aluminum manifold located on the upper left side of the aircraft’s firewall, which was where both the oil and fuel pressure sensors were mounted. The manifold and both sensors were destroyed by the fire.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:21 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftVans RV14 A
Tail NumberN365EM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMitchell Eugene W
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-390-EXP10 · Reciprocating · 210
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time13:00
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data