Fatal NTSB investigations

90 cases where the sequence of events included Fuel exhaustion.

Cases per year

20082026
Fatal NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 90 cases
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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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '192' 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 CEN26FA228Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportTextron 680A · Laredo, TXOn June 16, 2026, at 2200 central daylight time, a Textron Aviation Inc 680A, N523QS, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Laredo, Texas. The captain received serious injuries, the first officer received minor injuries, one…Jun 17, 2026 · N523QS · 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 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 WPR22FA198Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech 77 · Hemet, CAThe student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a cinderblock wall while performing a go-around.Jun 7, 2022 · N18244 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA082Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Hardy, ARThe non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power due to fuel…Dec 26, 2021 · N5798T · 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 ERA21FA029Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Dunnellon, FLA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing was the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.Oct 25, 2020 · N724BC · 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 ERA20FA119Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAmerican AA 1 · Boynton Beach, FLThe pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following the loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and…Mar 6, 2020 · N5757L · 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 WPR20FA015Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMooney M20J · American Falls, IDThe pilot’s failure to ensure adequate fuel onboard and his subsequent failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering which resulted in an aerodynamic stall following a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the…Oct 25, 2019 · N201BJ · Substantial damageNTSB 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 CEN19FA124Accident · 6 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBeech 58 · Kerrville, TXThe pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning and fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's failure to follow the one-engine inoperative checklist and maintain the airplane's minimum…Apr 22, 2019 · N501CE · 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 WPR15FA200Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportManiscalco Great Lakes · Corona, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/spin at too low an altitude to allow recovery. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper…Jun 28, 2015 · N7LM · DestroyedNTSB 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 ERA14LA424Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSocata TBM 700 · Caribbean Sea, A1The design of the cabin pressurization system, which made it prone to unnecessary shutdown, combined with a checklist design that prioritized troubleshooting over ensuring that the pilot was sufficiently protected from hypoxia. This resulted in a loss of…Sep 5, 2014 · N900KN · DestroyedNTSB 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 damage