NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series

18 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Lycoming IO-540 series, where the defining event was Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT). 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

20092026
NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series per year, 2009–2026: 18 cases
20091
20104
20111
20123
20151
20171
20191
20201
20211
20221
20232
20261

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 ('41530', '41585')
      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\" = '120'))
  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 ERA26FA271Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportSmith Aerostar 601 · Lake Clear, NYOn July 13, 2026, about 2236 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N800AA was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lake Clear, New York. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14…Jul 14, 2026 · N800AA · DestroyedNTSB ANC23FA045Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Old Harbor, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed decision to turn away from the terrain.Jul 2, 2023 · N1132Q · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23FA108Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Dayton, VAThe pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while descending over mountainous terrain at night.Jan 11, 2023 · N43156 · DestroyedNTSB CEN22FA113Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182T · Heath, OHThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude after takeoff, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain.Feb 1, 2022 · N716MC · DestroyedNTSB WPR22FA044Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportJahnke Lionel G Glasair III · Big Bear City, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Nov 21, 2021 · N291KT · DestroyedNTSB ANC20CA023Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportRobinson R44 · Talkeetna, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Feb 21, 2020 · N716JL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20FA014Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA32 · Raleigh, NCThe pilot’s failure to maintain a safe glidepath during final approach to the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of recent instrument flight experience.Oct 20, 2019 · N534Z · DestroyedNTSB GAA17CA279Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Vevay, INThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during an agricultural application flight due to distraction when reading a map.May 10, 2017 · N428JG · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA196Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Forest City, SDThe pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance during takeoff, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.Jul 2, 2015 · N824DK · Substantial damageNTSB ANC12FA083Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-301 · Hoonah, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain while in cruise flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions.Aug 2, 2012 · N8200M · DestroyedNTSB ERA12CA190Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Swainsboro, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glidepath during final approach in night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.Feb 18, 2012 · N47863 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12FA105Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · North Bend, WAThe pilot's physical impairment due to alcohol, which adversely affected his ability to operate the airplane and to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in dark night conditions.Feb 15, 2012 · N665SP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA492Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182S · Meeker, COThe pilot's inadvertent flight into a downdraft, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.Jul 19, 2011 · N314FR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10LA556Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Duluth, MNThe pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent due to spatial disorientation.Sep 17, 2010 · N145DM · DestroyedNTSB ERA10FA471Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182T · Helena, GAThe pilot’s continuance of the GPS approach below the minimum descent altitude while landing in instrument meteorological conditions.Sep 8, 2010 · N804GK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10LA529Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper Aerostar 601P · Baraboo, WIThe pilot's diverted attention during an approach for landing that resulted in an altitude loss and impact with terrain.Aug 18, 2010 · N601PP · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10WA133Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Restauracion, Dominican Republic, Dominican RepublicOn February 4, 2010, about 1940 Atlantic standard time, a Robinson R44II helicopter, N7535F, impacted the side of Mount Jina Mocha, in the city of Restauracion, Dominican Republic, at night, while en route from Port Au Prince, Haiti to Cibao International…Feb 4, 2010 · N7535F · DestroyedNTSB WPR09FA385Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182S · Napa, CAThe instrument-rated pilot’s loss of situational awareness and failure to follow the prescribed instrument departure clearance/procedure, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the terrain.Aug 5, 2009 · N23750 · Substantial damage