NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series

27 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Continental C85 series, where the defining event was Nose over/nose down. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series per year, 2008–2026: 27 cases
20081
20092
20101
20114
20122
20133
20141
20151
20161
20182
20191
20222
20231
20253
20262

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '096'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB WPR27LA023Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationInvestigation openCessna 120 · Death Valley, CAOct 24, 2026 · N89885NTSB ERA26LA245Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft DCO-65 · Renovo, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during an off-airport landing.Jun 7, 2026 · N47123 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA032Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Suffolk, VAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a nose over.Nov 6, 2025 · N1860V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA020Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Canon, GAThe pilot’s inadvertent application of brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a noseover.Oct 13, 2025 · N1882V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA304Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Rangeley, METhe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.Aug 8, 2025 · N89351 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA277Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3C-50 · Elbert, COThe pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff and subsequent excessive use of brakes which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was his decision to takeoff downwind.Jun 26, 2023 · N23161 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA178Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Estancia, NMThe pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable surface which resulted in his loss of aircraft control.May 14, 2022 · N76190 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA142Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Kokomo, INThe pilot’s decision to perform the takeoff on the soft, wet, turf runway, with the tailwheel equipped airplane, which resulted in a nose-over.Feb 28, 2022 · N72831 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA095Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Marion, ALThe student pilot's overapplication of the brakes during landing to avoid a deer on the runway, which resulted in a nose-over.Oct 23, 2019 · N77200 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA013Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Marina, CAThe pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes, which resulted in a nose-over.Oct 10, 2018 · N89266 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA455Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Healdsburg, CAThe pilot's improper brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.Jul 26, 2018 · N1902V · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16CA360Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Lebanon, INPC The unseen standing water on the runway that abruptly slowed the tailwheel equipped airplane during landing resulting in a nose-over.Aug 25, 2016 · N2614N · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA042Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Mize, MSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an off airport precautionary landing roll.Apr 18, 2015 · N76452 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC14CA017Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportSilvaire Luscombe 8E · Alegnagik, AKThe pilot's failure to determine that the ice that he was taxiing on was safe for operation.Mar 2, 2014 · N2542K · Substantial damageNTSB ANC14CA004Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C 65 · Talkeetna, AKThe pilot's decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.Oct 10, 2013 · N70604 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13CA400Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Lakeville, MNThe student pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a nose-over.Jul 8, 2013 · N2693N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13CA097Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Tucson, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and his excessive application of brakes, which resulted in a noseover.Jan 21, 2013 · N223PE · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13CA042Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportLuscombe 8E · West Bend, WIThe pilot‘s failure to maintain clearance from power lines at the end of the short runway, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and subsequent nose-over of the airplane.Nov 3, 2012 · N2368K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12CA363Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSilvaire Luscombe 8E · Hillsboro, ORThe pilot’s improper use of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.Aug 19, 2012 · N2287K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA670Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Conroe, TXThe pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing.Sep 1, 2011 · N76521 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11CA408Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Kent, WAThe student pilot's inadvertent application of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.Aug 27, 2011 · N2719N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11CA447Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Pendleton, ORThe pilot's excessive brake application while landing on rough terrain.Jul 19, 2011 · N1705N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11CA281Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Apex, NCThe pilot’s excessive application of the brakes, which caused the airplane to nose over.May 3, 2011 · N1902K · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11CA097Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Winnsboro, SCThe excessive brake inputs by both pilots during the landing roll resulting in the airplane nosing over.Dec 24, 2010 · N76831 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10CA043Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Mineral Canyon, UTThe pilot's incorrect use of brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.Nov 1, 2009 · N2729N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09CA334Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Alamana, FLThe pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.Jun 6, 2009 · N42351 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA08CA075Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Logan, UTThe dual-student's excessive brake application, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.Feb 9, 2008 · N72957 · Substantial damage