How to check aircraft accident and incident history
Research NTSB aircraft accident records by registration and identity, distinguish report stages, and keep missing records separate from a clean history.
Free public-record research
Start your aircraft history check.
Look up an FAA N-number for dated registration details, covered public events and the evidence behind each result.
What the free aircraft check includes
The free lookup shows registration facts, dated event information and source gaps. Open the full aircraft report for the available model-label context, AD references and downloadable edition. Both options are free during launch; the full report’s standard price is US$19.90 and its launch price is US$0.
| Research area | How to read the result |
|---|---|
| Registration | Manufacturer, model, serial and registration fields as recorded in the dated source. |
| Accidents and incidents | Covered NTSB records linked only where dated identity evidence supports the match. |
| Model context | FAA SDR source-label records and AD publication references where available in the full report. |
| Gaps and conflicts | Missing, withheld and unresolved evidence stays visible. |
What an aircraft history search cannot establish
Public records are one part of a prebuy. A missing event match does not establish that damage never occurred. Model-level reports are not this aircraft’s maintenance history. Registration does not establish clear title, airworthiness or AD compliance. Request the aircraft’s logs and configuration details, and arrange independent inspection and title review.
Aerovidence is an independent research service, not the FAA or NTSB. Each aircraft result retains its own source dates and limitations.
Official references: FAA Aircraft Inquiry · NTSB aviation data and statistics. Sources checked .
Make the next check useful
N-number changes and reuse: matching the right aircraft
Understand why one N-number can appear on different aircraft records and use serial numbers, model evidence and dates to avoid a false history match.
Aircraft prebuy records checklist
Organize aircraft identity, public events, maintenance logs, AD evidence and title questions before a pre-purchase inspection.