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

August 5, 2020 · Piper PA25 235 · N223AB

Miami, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 5, 2020
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Miami, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA25 235 (1966)
Tail Number
N223AB
Operator
Aerial Banners North
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA20LA275

The commercial pilot departed on a banner tow flight and after takeoff, as part of his procedures, briefly checked two times for carburetor ice. Prior to beginning a descent, he applied carburetor heat a third time, but before he had time to adjust the throttle, the engine lost total power. Unable to restore power he maneuvered over water and dropped the banner as to avoid injury to any persons or property then maneuvered for a forced landing on a road. After touchdown on the road, the airplane collided with a fence and went down a slight embankment before coming to rest upright. Postaccident examination and operational test run of the engine, as well as the carburetor heat system, revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide (idle) and cruise engine power settings. Thus, it is likely that during cruise flight before the third application of carburetor heat, carburetor ice formed that was not detected by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to carburetor icing-Effect on equipment

Full Narrative

On August 5, 2020, about 1333 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N223AB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 banner tow flight. The pilot picked up a banner and climbed on an easterly heading to 1,300 ft mean sea level (msl). He leaned the mixture, then at the top of the climb he checked the carburetor heat by applying it for 15 to 30 seconds and noted a 100-rpm drop. He removed carburetor heat and flew in a southeast direction, then proceeded in a southerly direction. He flew over the Port of Miami at 1,100 ft msl where he checked the carburetor heat a 2nd time, applying it and leaving on for 15 to 30 seconds, again noting a 100-rpm drop. He removed carburetor heat and continued in a southerly direction. When the flight was south of Fisher Island, he made a radio call on the Watson Island Advisory air-to-air frequency that the flight was at 1,100 ft msl, turning to the north, descending to 700 ft msl. He applied carburetor heat before beginning to descend, but before he had time to adjust the throttle control, the engine rpm dropped to between 1,000 and 1,200. The pilot maneuvered the airplane over water where he dropped the banner. With full power applied, the mixture leaned, and carburetor heat on it felt to him like the engine was not producing power. He picked out the landing site, checked the magnetos, applied full rich mixture and with carburetor heat still applied, he descended to between 50 and 100 ft. About that time the engine sputtered "like it wanted to come back," but it did not recover. Just before touchdown he pulled the throttle and mixture controls and was fast at the intended landing site. The airplane touched down and collided with a fence. He reported that the engine was stopped when he came to rest, and he then secured the airplane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane at the accident site, there was no fuel contamination in the fuel tank or airframe fuel strainer, and only scratches to the propeller blades, though the propeller spinner was damaged. While he and the pilot were present, a company employee started the engine and briefly operated it to idle. Following recovery of the airplane an inspection of the carburetor heat system revealed no discrepancies. The engine was operated using the fuel that was in the fuel tank at the time of the accident. At 1353, the weather reported at Miami International Airport (MIA), about 8 miles west-northwest of the accident site, included a temperature of 28°C and a dew point 25°C. The calculated relative humidity at those conditions was about 80%. Review of the icing probability chart contained within FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to icing at glide [idle] and cruise power."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:33 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA25 235
Tail NumberN223AB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAerial Banners North
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-B2C5 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 21 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data