Fatal NTSB investigations

7 cases where the sequence of events included Emergency descent initiated.

Cases per year

20122026
Fatal NTSB investigations per year, 2012–2026: 7 cases
20121
20162
20172
20201
20251

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.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '130' 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"

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 GAA25WA070Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · ForeignCessna 182 · Región del Bio Bio, ChileJan 26, 2025 · CC-KKM · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20WA125Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationCessna R172 · Tarapaca-Amazonas, ColombiaJul 30, 2020 · HK2129 · DestroyedNTSB WPR17FA179Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMichaelian Lancair IV-TP · Rio Linda, CAA loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.Aug 3, 2017 · N420M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17FA071Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportColumbia Aircraft Mfg LC41 550FG · Gurdon, ARThe loss of control in flight for reasons that could not be determined because of the severe impact and postcrash fire damage to the airplane and the lack of information about the airplane emergency that the pilot was experiencing.Jan 5, 2017 · N972JK · DestroyedNTSB WPR16FA153Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31T · McKinleyville, CAAn inflight fire in the floor area near the main bus tie circuit breaker panel that resulted from chafing between an electrical wire and a hydraulic line and/or airplane structure.Jul 29, 2016 · N661TC · DestroyedNTSB WPR16FA072Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Honolulu, HIThe in-flight failure of the engine-to-transmission drive shaft due to improper maintenance, which resulted in low main rotor rpm and a subsequent hard landing to water.Feb 18, 2016 · N80918 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12FA290Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 401 · Chanute, KSThe malfunction of the cabin heater, which resulted in an inflight fire and smoke in the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of understanding concerning the status of the airplane's heater system following and earlier overheat event…May 11, 2012 · N9DM · Substantial damage