Fatal NTSB investigations

27 cases where the defining event was Fuel related.

Cases per year

20082026
Fatal NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 27 cases
20081
20122
20131
20151
20162
20173
20181
20191
20205
20213
20222
20233
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.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '190')
  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 ERA26FA243Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper PA-28-181 · Bowie, MDOn June 20, 2026, about 2328 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N249WF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bowie, Maryland. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code…Jun 21, 2026 · N249WF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA190Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportDowner 14-19-3 · Forney, TXOn May 16, 2026, about 0010 central daylight time, a Downer 14-19-3 airplane, N7NL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Forney, Texas. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. A second passenger initially survived…May 16, 2026 · N7NL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA342Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech C23 · Greer, SCA partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to the formation of carburetor ice, resulting in reduced climb capability. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during the emergency descent, which…Aug 20, 2023 · N9360S · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23FA258Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172N · San Rafael, CAThe total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot’s failure to activate the carburetor heat in a timely manner during the descent.Jul 9, 2023 · N4922G · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23FA249Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Plymouth, NYA total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.May 28, 2023 · N8775X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA405Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Tomball, TXThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the flight, which allowed for an unintentional movement of the mixture control to the cutoff position that remained unnoticed until the airplane lost engine power due to fuel starvation and descended below the…Sep 1, 2022 · N420SS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22FA226Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172H · Miami, FLA total loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot’s failure to effectively use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.May 14, 2022 · N8845Z · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA022Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Ukiah, CAA power interruption due to water-contaminated fuel, which resulted in the student pilot aborting the takeoff and landing hard. Contributing to the accident were a leak in the left fuel tank that allowed water to enter and damage to the fuel tank that…Oct 28, 2021 · N1870V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21FA237Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech A23 · Pinnacle, NCThe flight instructor’s mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Jun 1, 2021 · N8780M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21FA232Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGulfstream American AA-5A · Crossville, TNA partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a descent and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat following the initial loss of engine power.May 25, 2021 · N26889 · DestroyedNTSB ERA21LA080Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSocata TB10 · Pembroke Pines, FLThe pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat in environmental conditions favorable for serious carburetor ice during a prolonged wait with the engine at a low power setting before takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.…Dec 17, 2020 · N5547Y · DestroyedNTSB ERA21LA071Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAnthony Mattioli AR-1 · San Mateo, FLA loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.Dec 12, 2020 · N11TG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA271Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican AA 5 · Dunnellon, FLA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of improper installation and inspection of the airplane’s fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of certification and knowledge in aircraft maintenance.Aug 1, 2020 · N7192L · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA123Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna TU206 · Auburn, CAThe total loss of engine power after takeoff due to water contamination of the fuel.Apr 18, 2020 · N756TH · DestroyedNTSB WPR20FA065Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna T310 · Roy, UTThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of power to the left engine due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's failure to follow the one-engine inoperative checklist and maintain the…Jan 15, 2020 · N5805M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20FA026Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA32R · Paducah, KYThe pilot’s failure to fully seat the fuel selector in the proper tank position during the descent for landing, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.Nov 1, 2019 · N181AG · DestroyedNTSB CEN19FA009Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportRobinson R22 · Fulton, MOA total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, the pilot's delayed application of carburetor heat, and the pilot's delay in entering an autorotation following the loss of engine power, which resulted in a main rotor stall due to low rotor rpm and an…Oct 17, 2018 · N923SH · DestroyedNTSB ERA18WA047Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCessna T210 · West End, BahamasDec 14, 2017 · N727TJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA18WA014Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationBeech E33A · São José do Rio Preto, BrazilOn September 10, 2017, about 1525 coordinated universal time, a Beechcraft E33-A, Brazilian registration PT-DDB, struck a residence while conducting a go around near São José do Rio Preto State Airport (SBSR), Brazil. The airplane was substantially damaged,…Oct 9, 2017 · PT-DDB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17FA047Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · San Pedro, CAThe pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm following the loss of engine…Jan 5, 2017 · N702JJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16LA258Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA24 · Westwood, MAThe pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in exhaustion of the fuel in the selected fuel tank and a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Jul 16, 2016 · N11MT · Substantial damageNTSB WPR16FA102Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech G35 · Surprise, AZThe mechanic's failure to properly secure the bolt connecting the throttle cable to the carburetor during the installation of the carburetor, which resulted in a loss of engine power.May 7, 2016 · N4401D · Substantial damageNTSB ANC15FA021Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Whittier, AKThe pilot's decision to continue flight into known icing conditions, contrary to the airplane’s limitations, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to icing.Apr 14, 2015 · N9247C · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14FA094Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B36TC · Yellow Pine, IDThe pilot’s continued flight into known light-to-moderate icing conditions over mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to induction icing.Dec 1, 2013 · N36ML · DestroyedNTSB CEN13FA030Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Maryland Heights, MOThe pilot’s failure to activate the carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.Oct 25, 2012 · N55620 · Substantial damageNTSB DCA12FA076Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHawker Hawker Hunter MK.58A · Point Mugu, CAthe pilot's decision to continue the flight with a known fuel imbalance condition that resulted in a loss of lateral control when the imbalance exceeded the known capabilities of the airplane. The fuel imbalance was due to incomplete refueling and an…May 18, 2012 · N329AX · DestroyedNTSB SEA08FA185Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta II · Olalla, WAThe complete loss of engine power due to the accumulation of ice in the carburetor as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat.Aug 17, 2008 · N301MA · Destroyed