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

September 18, 2022 · Piper PA-22-150 · N6076D

Great Barrington, MA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 18, 2022
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Great Barrington, MA
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-150 (1956)
Tail Number
N6076D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA22LA425

The student pilot stated that he and a flight instructor departed on a local area instructional flight with about 28 gallons of fuel, enough for 3 or more hours of flying. With the fuel selector on the left fuel tank, they performed various training maneuvers and flew to a nearby airport where they switched to the right fuel tank. They performed three full-stop landings before returning to the practice area. After about 1 hour of flight time, they entered the traffic pattern on the downwind to base leg and switched the fuel selector back to the left fuel tank before beginning their final approach. On the final leg of the traffic pattern, they elected to perform a go-around and added full power; however, the engine lost all power without warning. Too low to troubleshoot, the instructor took the flight controls and performed a forced landing in a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. As fuel leaked down from the right tank, the student pilot and flight instructor evacuated. The student reported that, during the egress, he turned off the electrical master switch off and switched the fuel tank into the 12 o’clock position. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would preclude normal engine operation. The left fuel tank was compromised during impact, and about 4 gallons of fuel were drained out of the right wing tank by first responders. The student pilot’s description that he manipulated the fuel selector to the 12 o’clock position after the accident and during his egress would be consistent with him attempting to turn off fuel flow in order to mitigate the chances of a posaccident fire. However, the position of the fuel selector handle after the accident was actually the right fuel tank position. Given that the loss of engine power occurred shortly after switching fuel tanks, it is likely that the student pilot inadvertently placed the fuel selector in the OFF position during the flight, thus eventually starving the engine for fuel during the attempted go-around after the available fuel supply in the fuel system forward of the fuel selector had been exhausted. The flight instructor was likely unable to confirm the fuel selection because the selector handle was installed on the sidewall behind the student’s left leg.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's inadvertent movement of the fuel selector to the OFF position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

Full Narrative

On September 18, 2022, about 1118 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6076D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The student pilot and instructor were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91instructional flight. The student pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, purchased the airplane 10 months before the accident to start his flight training. About 1015 on the day of the accident, he and the flight instructor departed Walter J Koladza Airport (GBR) Great Barrington, Massachusetts, with about 28 gallons of fuel (3 hours + endurance) and began the flight on the left tank. They flew to Columbia County Airport (1B1) Hudson, New York, and switched to the right tank. They performed three takeoffs and landings to a full stop before conducting basic private pilot maneuvers in the practice area. The student pilot reported the flight as uneventful and the total flight time when they returned to GBR was about 1 hour. The instructor reported that they checked the carburetor heat several times during the flight and switched fuel tanks back to the left tank as they entered the downwind to base leg of the airport traffic pattern. During final approach, which was high and a little fast, the student pilot attempted a go-around. Shortly after adding full throttle and initiating a climb, the engine lost power. There was “no surging, no sputtering, it just quit.” After pumping the throttle with no response, and being too low to troubleshoot, the instructor took the flight controls and performed a forced landing in a corn field. The airplane settled into the corn and immediately “dug in” and spun to the left before coming to a stop on its left side. According to the student pilot, as fuel leaked down from the right tank, the student pilot and flight instructor evacuated. During the egress, the student reported that he turned the master switch to OFF and switched the fuel tank selector handle (which was installed on the sidewall behind his left leg) into the 12 o’clock position. According to the airframe manufacturer and photographs of the wreckage, that position was the right tank position, and was not the OFF position. First responders subsequently drained about 4 gallons of fuel from the right wing. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left wing was severed, and the fuselage was crushed in several locations. In addition, the left fuel tank was breached. An examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or irregularities that would preclude normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:18 EDT
Nearest AirportWalter J Koladza (1nm N)
Runway11/2
Runway Length2579 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-22-150
Tail NumberN6076D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 57 · None · None
Crew 2Age 57 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 14 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time11:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data