Fatal NTSB investigations

70 cases where the defining event was Fuel exhaustion.

Cases per year

20082026
Fatal NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 70 cases
20085
20094
20107
20114
20124
20135
20144
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20165
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20185
20194
20208
20212
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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\" = '192')
  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 ERA25FA069Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportVans RV-12IS · Homosassa, FLOn December 6, 2024, about 2004 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12IS, N702DP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Homosassa, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight…Dec 7, 2024 · N702DP · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25FA008Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportCessna 336 · Savannah, GAOn October 13, 2024, about 2230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 336, N336LV, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and a pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight…Oct 14, 2024 · N336LV · Substantial damageNTSB GAA24WA285Accident · 2 fatalClass 4 · ForeignPiper PA-23-250 · Nassau, BahamasSep 12, 2024 · N555MH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA123Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAyres S2R-G10 · Derner, CAThe pilot’s failure to adequately monitor his fuel supply, resulting in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and the airplane’s impact with terrain.Apr 9, 2024 · N40261 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA037Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna P210N · San Diego, CAA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate flight and fuel planning and his decision to fly in night instrument meteorological conditions despite his lack of recent instrument flight.Nov 16, 2023 · N1400 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA258Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 177 · Hot Springs, ARThe pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning and inflight fuel mismanagement, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing, which resulted in the…Jun 26, 2023 · N3138T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23FA252Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 180 · Harrisburg, PAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent collision with terrain and objects.May 31, 2023 · N3178D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA298Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · St. Jacob, ILThe inadequate maintenance of the airplane fuel system that resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power.Jul 2, 2022 · N5235P · DestroyedNTSB WPR21FA352Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Page, AZThe pilot’s improper fuel planning for a cross-country flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.Sep 22, 2021 · N3906X · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA097Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 170A · Port Angeles, WAThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel planning.Jan 27, 2021 · N9114A · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA020Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAero Commander 100 · Citra, FLThe student pilot’s inadequate preflight planning likely due to impairment from ethanol, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing was his improper decision to depart from an unlit airstrip in dark night conditions.Oct 14, 2020 · N631PF · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA313Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A36 · Jackson, TNThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to alcohol.Sep 11, 2020 · N74HS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA370Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA24 · Bryan, TXA total loss of engine power on takeoff due to fuel starvation.Aug 30, 2020 · N7469P · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA297Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRockwell 500 · Pembroke Park, FLA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion was the fatigue fracture of an electrical wire in the tank unit or fuel transmitter, which likely resulted in an inaccurate fuel quantity indication.Aug 28, 2020 · N900DT · DestroyedNTSB WPR20LA249Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportNorth American Navion · Cedar City, UTA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper fuel planning and failure to see and avoid the communications tower support guy wire.Aug 2, 2020 · N225HJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA197Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer 269C-1 · Ozark, ALA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the flight school’s inadequate maintenance of the helicopter’s fuel quantity and caution systems.May 30, 2020 · N9421P · DestroyedNTSB ERA20FA124Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 177RG · Sterling, MAA total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.Mar 11, 2020 · N1572H · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20FA063Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportVans Vans RV-6 · Cullman, ALThe pilot’s inadequate planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb. Also causal was the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while attempting to return to the runway after…Jan 5, 2020 · N420PW · DestroyedNTSB CEN19FA236Accident · 3 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBeech 95B55 · Chadron, NEThe pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel was on board before departing and his in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Jul 24, 2019 · N8910U · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19FA155Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBellanca 1730 · Henderson, KYThe student pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack at a low altitude, in the airport traffic pattern, following a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing…Apr 23, 2019 · N9693E · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19FA093Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA28 · Summersville, MOThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring.Mar 6, 2019 · N7369W · Substantial damageNTSB WPR19LA063Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA22 · Kingman, AZThe student pilot's failure to secure the fuel caps, which led to the fuel being siphoned overboard, fuel exhaustion, and the total loss of engine power.Jan 13, 2019 · N9227D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19FA005Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28 · Cartersville, GAThe 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.Oct 13, 2018 · N180QT · DestroyedNTSB CEN18FA384Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Festus, MOA 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…Sep 21, 2018 · N7152S · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18FA249Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Pacoima, CAA loss of engine power shortly after takeoff due to fuel exhaustion, and the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack when the flight instructor made an abrupt turn back toward the runway, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an…Sep 4, 2018 · N10789 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18FA236Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna P210N · Detroit, MIA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's failure to divert earlier in the flight to another airport to ensure that the airplane had an adequate fuel reserve, and the malfunction of the landing gear extension system for…Jun 24, 2018 · N3896P · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18FA088Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172F · Williamsport, INThe pilot's mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and descent and collision with trees.Jan 27, 2018 · N8559U · DestroyedNTSB ERA17FA299Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman AA1 · Portland, TNThe pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Aug 30, 2017 · N8866L · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17FA232Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMorrisey 2150A · Honesdale, PAA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of two psychoactive substances, which led to his impaired decision to attempt to takeoff after engine issues became evident.Jul 6, 2017 · N917JL · Substantial damageNTSB ANC17FA018Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna R172K · Nome, AKThe pilot's improper decision to conduct multiple visual approaches to the destination airport despite the night instrument meteorological conditions; the airplane's low fuel state at that time, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel…Mar 6, 2017 · N736AS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17WA059Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationEmbraer EMB710 · Novo Progresso, BrazilOn November 24, 2016, about 2040 universal coordinated time, an Embraer EMB-710C, Brazilian registration PT-NCJ, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain on approach to an unregistered landing strip in a quarry near Novo Progresso, State of Para,…Nov 24, 2016 · PT-NCJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA236Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Detroit, MIThe pilot’s disregard of the banner-tow operator's policy regarding the maximum allowable flight duration, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Jun 28, 2016 · N6622G · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16LA109Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA28 · Port Jefferson, NYThe flight instructor's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Feb 21, 2016 · N29099 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16FA108Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Marshville, NCThe pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was his failure to have a properly secured shoulder harness at the time of the accident.Feb 19, 2016 · N61WB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16FA083Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Gilmer, TXThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning and inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate traffic pattern altitude and distance from the…Jan 13, 2016 · N737EZ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16FA005Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 38-112 · Jasper, GAThe student pilot's failure to accurately determine the airplane's fuel state, subsequent fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate oversight of the student…Oct 8, 2015 · N4313E · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15FA081Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportGibbs Lancair 320 · Van Nuys, CAThe pilot's improper decision to take off despite low fuel alerts, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which…Jan 9, 2015 · N7ZL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14WA393Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationCessna 340A · Freeport, BahamasAug 18, 2014 · N340MM · DestroyedNTSB ERA14FA260Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman American Avn. AA1B · Chester, SCThe pilot's inadequate inflight fuel monitoring, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the loose fuel cap, which allowed fuel to syphon out in flight.May 23, 2014 · N8890L · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14FA219Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 17 30A · Sweetwater, TXThe pilot’s inadequate inflight fuel management, which led to a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion or starvation.Apr 27, 2014 · N9759E · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14FA162Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Safety Harbor, FLThe pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to cocaine use.Mar 22, 2014 · N8309L · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14FA074Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRaytheon G36 · Panama City, FLThe pilot’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the pilot’s injuries was his failure to use the available shoulder harness.Dec 18, 2013 · N89SN · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14FA035Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech C90 · Springdale, ARA total loss of power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal were the pilot’s reliance on the fuel totalizer rather than the fuel quantity gauges to determine the fuel on board and his improper fuel planning.Nov 1, 2013 · N269JG · DestroyedNTSB CEN13LA428Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCooper, David W. Challenger II · Mill Creek, INThe noncertificated pilot's improper fuel planning, which led to fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain adequate instruction or an endorsement to solo in the accident airplane model, which…Jul 21, 2013 · N1519 · DestroyedNTSB CEN13FA338Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPipistrel Alpha Trainer · Pampa, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the manufacturer providing the incorrect Pilot’s Operating Handbook to the owner, which prevented the pilot from accurately calculating the fuel requirements before the flight. Contributing to the…Jun 11, 2013 · N477PA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA13LA111Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Dover, DEThe pilot's failure to land the airplane at multiple airports that were equipped with adequate instrument approach procedures while operating in low instrument meteorological conditions and his delay in declaring a fuel-related emergency, which resulted in a…Jan 13, 2013 · N4975S · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA054Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna P210N · Conway, ARThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect the lack of fuel and resulted in fuel exhaustion during climb, and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude from…Nov 7, 2012 · N887JA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA12LA541Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportJohnston Douglas S Safari · McVeytown, PAThe pilot's lack of proficiency and certification, which resulted in his failure to enter an autorotation when the engine lost power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent…Sep 1, 2012 · N70415 · Substantial damageNTSB ENG12WA037Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationPilatus PC6 - B2H4 · Muaritan, IndonesiaOn April 25, 2012, at 09:29 UTC time, a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4, PK-VVQ, operated by Susi Air, impacted terrain near Muaritan after the pilot reported a fuel system problem.The accident is being investigated by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety…Apr 25, 2012 · PK-VVQ · Substantial damageNTSB DCA12PA049Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportIsrael Aircraft Industries F21-C2 · Fallon, NVfuel exhaustion following missed approaches due to deficient ATC handling under weather conditions which were significantly lower than forecast. The second missed approach may have been initiated due to limited pilot instrument proficiency. Contributing to…Mar 6, 2012 · N404AX · Destroyed