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

April 6, 2020 · Kolb Firestar 2 · N90KL

La Center, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 6, 2020
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
La Center, WA
Aircraft
Kolb Firestar 2 (2013)
Tail Number
N90KL
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR20LA118

A witness observed the airplane maneuvering about 200 to 300 ft above the floor of a valley. The airplane was headed southwest then turned south flying above the tree line. The witness reported seeing the airplane make a sharp left turn and that it then stalled and collided with terrain in a near-vertical attitude. Impact damage precluded determination of the preimpact integrity of the airplane’s structure or its control systems. The airplane wreckage was sold before investigators were able to perform an examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Full Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 6, 2020, about 0920 Pacific daylight time, a Kolb Firestar 2, N90KL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Daybreak Airport (WA46), La Center, Washington. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness who lived near the accident site stated that she routinely observed aircraft maneuver around Daybreak Airport. She recalled that on the day of the accident, she was walking and observed an airplane pass over the top of her location at an estimated 200 to 300 ft above the floor of the valley. The airplane was headed southwest and then turned south maneuvering above the tree line. The airplane made a sharp left turn, and she lost sight of it as it descended below the tree line. She subsequently heard a loud boom and ran up the hill to call 911. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot's flight logbooks were not located. The pilot kept the airplane at Grove Field Airport in Camas, Washington. A search of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed that the pilot was issued a private pilot’s license in June 2018. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe kit-built airplane was registered to the pilot in August 2018, but he was not the builder of the airplane. The airplane structure consisted primarily of aluminum tubing covered with fabric skin. The airplane was equipped with a 50-horsepower Rotax 503 series engine mounted in an over-wing pusher configuration. No maintenance records were found during the investigation. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe 0853 automated weather observation at an airport located about 14 miles south of the accident site included wind from 080° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 2,000 ft, temperature 08°C, dew point 04°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury. A Clark County Sherriff sergeant reported that the wind was about 5 knots at the time of the accident. AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe kit-built airplane was registered to the pilot in August 2018, but he was not the builder of the airplane. The airplane structure consisted primarily of aluminum tubing covered with fabric skin. The airplane was equipped with a 50-horsepower Rotax 503 series engine mounted in an over-wing pusher configuration. No maintenance records were found during the investigation. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe accident site was located about 525 ft northeast of the WA46. The airplane came to rest in a near vertical attitude. Ground scar evidence indicated that the airplane had no horizontal travel during or after ground impact. Throttle and flight control continuity could not be verified. Impact damage precluded determination of the pre-accident integrity of the airplane’s structure or its control systems. The airplane was sold before investigators were able to perform an examination. The sergeant who responded to the accident stated that he smelled fuel at the site.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 PDT
Nearest AirportDAYBREAK (0nm SE)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftKolb Firestar 2
Tail NumberN90KL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · None · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 6000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 39 C
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data