# NTSB investigations, 2018: Preflight or dispatch 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 CEN19FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA021.md): Cessna 210 · Bradley, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 2, 2018 · N81KD · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in which instrument meteorological conditions existed along the route of flight, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB CEN19FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA005.md): Piper PA28 · Cartersville, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2018 · N180QT · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning and his decision to continue flight without stopping for fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA19LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA004.md): Piper PA 24-180 · Smithville, TN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 2018 · N8371P · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to carburetor ice that formed during an extended ground delay.
- [NTSB CEN18FA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA384.md): Cessna 150 · Festus, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 21, 2018 · N7152S · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to initiate and continue the…
- [NTSB WPR18LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA259.md): Cessna 172 · Roche Harbor, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 12, 2018 · N24ME · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to secure his seat position prior to takeoff, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN18FA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA336.md): Cessna 172 · Rhome, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 17, 2018 · N2893Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate maintenance of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation when organic debris restricted available fuel to the carburetor, and the pilot's impairment due to the ingestion of alcohol, which…
- [NTSB CEN18LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA334.md): Schweizer 269C · Kindred, ND · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 16, 2018 · N3625Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately inspect the lower coupling driveshaft during his preflight inspection and his non-compliance with an applicable airworthiness directive, which resulted in the failure of the forward drive splines of the lower coupling…
- [NTSB ERA18LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA199.md): Cessna 182 · Cleveland, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 26, 2018 · N1311S · No damage
  > The undetected wear of the ignition switch and key, which allowed removal of the key from an intermediate position and subsequently led to an unintended engine start-up. Contributing to the undetected wear of the 42-year-old ignition switch was the lack of…
- [NTSB GAA18CA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA430.md): Robinson R44 · Okawville, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 9, 2018 · N944DC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper preflight weight and balance calculation, which resulted in his operating the helicopter over its maximum gross takeoff weight and in its subsequent failure to climb.
- [NTSB ERA18LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA164.md): Piper PA 44 · Daytona Beach, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 9, 2018 · N21161 · Substantial damage
  > The pilots’ improper in-flight weather evaluation and decision to continue the approach, which resulted in an encounter with a thunderstorm, a loss of airplane control, and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s…
- [NTSB ERA18LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA158.md): Bellanca 7ECA · Warsaw, KY · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 3, 2018 · N8698 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight performance planning, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a ground loop.
- [NTSB ANC18FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA036.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Whittier, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · May 12, 2018 · N7061W · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's decision to depart and continue on a solo cross-country flight through mountainous terrain in marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA18LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA140.md): Robinson R22 · Panama City, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 2, 2018 · N923SM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly remove and secure the tie-down ropes during the preflight inspection, which resulted in the ropes becoming entangled in the rotor head swashplate and pitch control rods during flight and the subsequent loss of pitch control.
- [NTSB CEN18LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA146.md): Cessna T303 · Pine Ridge, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 24, 2018 · N9746C · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s inadvertent encounter with severe icing conditions during descent, which resulted in structural icing, the pilot’s inability to maintain altitude, and an emergency landing. Contributing to the accident was an incomplete preflight weather…
- [NTSB CEN18FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA144.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Williamsburg, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 19, 2018 · N451TD · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to obtain an updated weather briefing before the flight and his subsequent loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions during a diversion to an alternate airport after…
- [NTSB ANC18FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA024.md): Mooney M20 · Chuckanut, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 13, 2018 · N123JN · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a visual approach in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

## 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2018
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '030' 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/030/sequence?year=2018

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
