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

December 9, 2024 · Piper PA28 181 · N90874

Pahokee, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 9, 2024
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Pahokee, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA28 181 (1985)
Tail Number
N90874
Operator
Skyblue Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA25LA072

The low-wing airplane and the high-wing airplane were both being operated as instructional flights. Both airplanes arrived from different airports and had completed several uneventful landings at the non-tower-controlled accident airport. The pilots of both airplanes reported that they were transmitting position reports and hearing transmissions on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency. Review of ADS-B data indicated that the low-wing airplane flew a wider left traffic pattern, and the high wing airplane flew a closer left traffic pattern before the airplanes converged on final approach, and the left wing of the high-wing airplane contacted the upper cabin of the low-wing airplane, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. The instructors onboard each airplane took control, and landed without further incident. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the failure of the pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while operating in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a midair collision.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision during short final approach.

Full Narrative

On December 9, 2024, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N90874, and a Cessna 172S, N497SJ, were substantially damaged when they were involved in a midair collision near Pahokee, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot onboard the Piper were not injured. The flight instructor, private pilot receiving instruction, and student pilot observer onboard the Cessna were also not injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flights. Both airplanes had previously completed multiple landings on runway 18 at Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), Pahokee, Florida. The instructor onboard the low-wing Piper reported that, during final approach for a third landing, about 300 to 350 ft above ground level, he heard a “crunching metal noise” and realized that another airplane had collided with the cabin roof from above. He was able to continue and land on the runway. The instructor added that he had been making position reports in the traffic pattern on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He remembered a Cessna making a “short approach” report during their previous traffic pattern, but he did not hear anything during the accident traffic pattern. The pilot and instructor onboard the high-wing Cessna reported that they had completed one full-stop and two touch-and-go landings. During the fourth approach, the student pilot in the rear seat yelled as he saw “something big” on the left side of the airplane. The pilot pulled back on the control yoke, but it was too late, as contact was already made. The instructor took control and landed uneventfully. The pilot and flight instructor stated that they completed position reports on the CTAF during all four approaches. They heard a transmission from a different airplane on the ground at PHK, but never heard from another airplane in the traffic pattern. Examination of the airplanes by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the cabin roof fuselage of the Piper and the outboard left wing of the Cessna. Review of ADS-B data revealed that the Piper flew a wider left traffic pattern and the Cessna flew a tighter left traffic pattern before the two airplanes converged on short final approach.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 EST
Nearest AirportPalm Beach County Glades Airpo (1nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length4116 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA28 181
Tail NumberN90874
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSkyblue Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 181 | Lycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 20 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Age 25 · Second Class · None
Crew 3Age 22 · First Class · None
Crew 4Age 17 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 F
Altimeter30.10 inHg
Observation Time16:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data