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

October 15, 2020 · Cessna 152 · N6585L

South Hill, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 15, 2020
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
South Hill, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 152 (1980)
Tail Number
N6585L
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR21LA015

The pilot purchased the airplane 8 days before the accident via an online auction. The airplane was parked outside, partially covered, for several years before the purchase. The pilot said that he worked on the airplane to facilitate an engine run, which included draining the fuel from wing fuel tanks and the airframe fuel filter, during which he observed water in the fuel. The pilot continued to sump the fuel tanks and airframe fuel filter until no more water was present and conducted multiple engine runs with no issues noted. The day of the accident, he decided to relocate the airplane. Following an uneventful engine run-up, as the airplane climbed through about 250 ft above ground level during takeoff, the engine lost partial power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby parking lot, during which the airplane impacted an unoccupied parked vehicle, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank contained water. The left-wing fuel tank was empty; however, there was evidence of a fuel leak due to impact damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder bottom spark plug exhibited foreign object debris within the electrode area. Based on the available information, it is most likely that the pilot failed to completely drain the tanks of water, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to ensure that the fuel supply had been completely drained of water, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to water contamination.

Full Narrative

On October 15, 2020, about 1615 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6585L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near South Hill, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane 8 days before the accident via an online auction. The airplane was parked outside and partially covered for several years before the purchase. The pilot said that he worked on the airplane to facilitate an engine run, which included draining the fuel from wing fuel tanks and the airframe fuel filter, during which he observed water in the fuel. The pilot continued to sump the fuel tanks and airframe fuel filter until no more water was present, and conducted multiple engine runs, with no issues noted. The day of the accident, he decided to relocate the airplane to Auburn, Washington. Following an uneventful engine run-up, he initiated takeoff on runway 35. As the airplane climbed through about 250 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby parking lot, during which the airplane impacted an unoccupied parked vehicle, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Evidence of fuel was observed at the accident site. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. The left-wing fuel tank was absent of fuel; however, a fuel line leak was identified consistent with impact damage. The right-wing tank contained about 1.5 gallons of fuel and water. Visual inspection of the tank revealed clear liquid droplets along the bottom of the tank, consistent with water. The bottom edges of the tank exhibited rust discoloration. Engine valve and drivetrain continuity was established when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. Cylinder No. 2 was impact damaged. The top spark plugs displayed wear; the No. 1 cylinder plug was severely worn. The No. 1 cylinder bottom plug exhibited lead deposits; the No. 2 bottom plug displayed foreign debris within the electrode area, and the No. 4 bottom plug was oil-soaked. The magnetos remained attached to the engine and produced spark at all terminal leads when the engine was rotated.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:15 PDT
Nearest AirportPierce County Airport - Thun F (0nm)
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN6585L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-325 L2C · Reciprocating · 108
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 46 F
Altimeter30.52 inHg
Observation Time16:15

Appendix: Source Data