# Fatal NTSB investigations: Aircraft loading event

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR24FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA215.md): Cessna 182 · Big Creek, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 28, 2024 · N6210A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s delayed decision to go around after descending below the recommended abort altitude with a slight tailwind and an over-gross-weight airplane, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to…
- [NTSB CEN24FA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA028.md): Piper PA46 · McCook, NE · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 30, 2023 · N510KC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, resulting in an aerodynamic stall from which he could not recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to take off with the airplane well above its maximum…
- [NTSB ANC23FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA074.md): Piper PA-18-150 · St. Mary's, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Sep 13, 2023 · N109T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane above its maximum certificated gross weight, and his installation of an unapproved external load that degraded takeoff performance and flight characteristics resulting in a loss of airplane control during takeoff…
- [NTSB ERA23FA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA280.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · North Myrtle Beach, SC · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 2, 2023 · N5524F · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of control during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s operation of the airplane above its maximum gross weight and near its aft center of gravity limit,…
- [NTSB WPR23FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA188.md): Cessna T182T · Albany, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 14, 2023 · N665B · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to conduct flight into an area of icing in an airplane that was prohibited from such conditions, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall/spin, and the pilot’s spatial disorientation…
- [NTSB ERA22FA422](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA422.md): Wren Ronnie D Titan II · Citra, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 17, 2022 · N709RD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failure to maintain airspeed while recovering from an aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s use of…
- [NTSB ERA22FA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA218.md): Cessna 172 · Altha, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 3, 2022 · N6413B · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to perform a preflight weight and balance calculation and his operation of the flight at an excessive takeoff weight, resulting in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack after liftoff and an aerodynamic stall from which…
- [NTSB ERA22FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA024.md): Mooney M20J · Holly Ridge, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 21, 2021 · N3933H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/mush during takeoff and initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s loading the airplane near its maximum allowable gross weight and near its aft cg…
- [NTSB ERA22FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA009.md): Cessna P210 · Atlanta, GA · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 8, 2021 · N128EE · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to ensure that his seat was properly secured before initiating the takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an installed secondary seat stop, and the airplane’s aft…
- [NTSB CEN20LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA305.md): Piper PA28 · San Antonio, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2020 · N716RL · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s improper decision to take off in an airplane over maximum gross weight and with a tailwind, which prevented the airplane from climbing.
- [NTSB ERA20LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA207.md): Quad City Challenger · Wurtsboro, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 5, 2020 · N850RW · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control after takeoff due to the pilot’s improper use of ballast weight. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane above its maximum gross weight.
- [NTSB ANC18FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA055.md): De Havilland DHC-2 · Willow, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jul 19, 2018 · N9878R · Destroyed
  > The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during departure climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to load the airplane beyond its allowable gross weight and center…
- [NTSB CEN18WA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18WA279.md): Cessna 150 · Tortola, British Virgin Islands · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Jul 18, 2018 · N66778 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR18FA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA119.md): Piper PA 24-260 · Scottsdale, AZ · Accident · 6 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 10, 2018 · N9456P · Destroyed
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb as a result of the airplane being loaded above its maximum gross weight and beyond its aft center of gravity limits. Contributing to the accident was a degraded engine power…
- [NTSB WPR18FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA077.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Newport Beach, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 30, 2018 · N7530R · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to perform weight and balance calculations before departing on the flight, which resulted in his operation of the helicopter outside of its published weight and balance limitations and a subsequent loss of control shortly after takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA17LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA261.md): Cessna 172 · Danbury, CT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 30, 2017 · N612DF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane above its maximum gross weight, which likely reduced…
- [NTSB ERA17FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA106.md): Beech C23 · Winder, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 16, 2017 · N24695 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate preflight planning and operation of the airplane outside its center of gravity envelope, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR16FA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA178.md): Piper PA 28R-201T · Reno, NV · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 12, 2016 · N821ET · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to depart with the airplane loaded above its maximum gross weight and at or just beyond its aft center of gravity limitations, which resulted in a loss of control during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the pressure to…
- [NTSB CEN16LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA310.md): Piper PA-11 · Indianola, IA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2016 · N4707M · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the airplane being operated above its maximum gross weight, degraded its climb performance, and led to an aerodynamic stall during the initial climb.
- [NTSB WPR14FA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA362.md): Cessna 177B · Neihart, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 2014 · N34880 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude in turbulent conditions over mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to traverse the mountainous area with the airplane over…
- [NTSB CEN14FA453](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA453.md): Cessna 172R · Willoughby Hills, OH · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 26, 2014 · N4207P · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while returning to the airport immediately after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and entering an aerodynamic stall during the turn. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB ERA14FA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA343.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · North Captiva Island, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 16, 2014 · N297AS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to secure the cargo in the cargo compartment, which resulted in a weight shift that led to the center of gravity exceeding its aft limit during a go-around attempt and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Also causal to the accident were the…
- [NTSB CEN14FA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA278.md): Hermann Bjorn Lancair IV · Duluth, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2014 · N86NW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while operating in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions, which was due to spatial disorientation resulting from erroneous heading and bank angle information shown on the primary flight display. Contributing…
- [NTSB DCA13MA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA13MA081.md): Boeing 747-400 BCF · Bagram, Afghanistan · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Apr 29, 2013 · N949CA · Destroyed
  > National Airlines' inadequate procedures for restraining special cargo loads, which resulted in the loadmaster's improper restraint of the cargo, which moved aft and damaged hydraulic systems Nos. 1 and 2 and horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism components,…
- [NTSB WPR12LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA302.md): Bunch COZY-CANARDIII · Winslow, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2012 · N718JT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during climb in high-density altitude conditions and with the airplane’s weight in excess of its maximum allowable gross weight.
- [NTSB ERA12FA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA326.md): Gutierrez Pablino Hummel Bird · DeFuniak Springs, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 9, 2012 · N9001N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control due to the airplane’s exceedence of its maximum gross weight and center of gravity’s most rearward limit and his lack of familiarity with the airplane make and model, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and…
- [NTSB WPR11FA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA242.md): Cessna 172R · Wendover, UT · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 1, 2011 · N475ER · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during the downwind turn resulting in an aerodynamic stall, in-flight loss of control, and spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and exceedance of the approved weight and…
- [NTSB WPR11FA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA059.md): Mooney M20R · Hollister, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 25, 2010 · VH-PPA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not ensure the airplane was loaded within its weight and balance envelope, which resulted in longitudinal instability and a loss of aircraft control during the initial climb.
- [NTSB CEN11LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA067.md): Brantly B-2B · Post, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 14, 2010 · N2268U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to operate the helicopter over the maximum gross weight and forward of the recommended center of gravity.
- [NTSB ANC10FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10FA048.md): Cessna U206F · Anchorage, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 2, 2010 · N59352 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to load the airplane well beyond its allowable weight and center of gravity limits, resulting in a loss of control during the initial climb. Contributing to the severity of the injuries was the pilot’s decision to allow two child…
- [NTSB LAX08PA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08PA259.md): Sikorsky S-61N · Weaverville, CA · Accident · 9 fatal · Class 1 · Final report · Aug 6, 2008 · N612AZ · Destroyed
  > The following actions by Carson Helicopters: 1) the intentional understatement of the helicopter's empty weight, 2) the alteration of the power available chart to exaggerate the helicopter's lift capability, and 3) the practice of using unapproved…

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '010' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence?fatal=1

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