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 15, 2021 · Cessna A188 B · N731TB

Dover, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 15, 2021
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Dover, NC
Aircraft
Cessna A188 B (1978)
Tail Number
N731TB
Operator
Eastern Flying Services
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA21LA188

The pilot departed to familiarize himself with the airplane and to practice maneuvers. A few minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of about 300 ft, he heard a “loud pop,” and the engine lost total power. He looked at the engine gauges and noticed that there was “no fuel flow.” As the propeller windmilled, he unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, then elected to perform a forced landing to a nearby corn field. He stated that the landing was “hard.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft No. 2 main bearing had spun, smearing metal into the oil ports on the bearing bore and deforming the bore. Numerous fragments of bearing material were found in the oil sump and inside the case adjacent to the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinders. Based on the available information, it is likely that the shift of the No. 2 main bearing resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent failure of the engine crankshaft. The reason for the bearing shift was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to a shift of a crankshaft main bearing, which resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent overheating and failure of the engine crankshaft. Contributing to the accident was the hard touchdown during the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On April 15, 2021, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N731TB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dover, North Carolina. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he fueled the airplane before the flight at a private airport. The purpose of the accident flight was for the pilot to familiarize himself with the airplane and to practice maneuvers in advance of the spraying season. A few minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of about 300 ft, he heard a “loud pop,” and the engine lost all power. He looked at the engine gauges and noticed that there was “no fuel flow.” As the propeller windmilled, he unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, then elected to perform a forced landing to a nearby corn field. He stated that the landing was “hard.” Examination of the airplane at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed leading edge damage and compression buckling of the top of the left wing outboard of the wing strut, that extended aft of the wing spar. The left side of the empennage was buckled just forward of the vertical stabilizer. The right horizontal stabilizer was bent upward slightly about 12 inches from its root. The upper surface of the right elevator was buckled forward of the trim tab. When the inspector attempted to rotate the propeller by hand, she heard a “clink” sound, and the propeller would not rotate. A follow-up examination and disassembly of the engine revealed that the No. 2 main bearing had spun, smearing metal into the oil ports on the bearing bore and deforming the bore. Numerous fragments of bearing material were found in the oil sump and inside the case, adjacent to the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinders. The remaining main bearings were well lubricated and were normal in appearance. The crankshaft was fractured between main journal No. 2 and rod journal No. 2. There were visible signatures of heat distress near the fracture surfaces. All connecting rods remained attached to their journals on the crankshaft and they rotated freely. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was performed 9 days (11 flight hours) before the accident. The previous annual inspection was performed in September 2019, 73 flight hours before the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:05 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A188 B
Tail NumberN731TB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEastern Flying Services
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-550-D26B · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 9000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 57
Altimeter29.72 inHg
Observation Time15:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data