NTSB investigations: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series

18 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Pratt & Whitney R-985 series, where the defining event was Low altitude operation/event. 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

20082026
NTSB investigations: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series per year, 2008–2026: 18 cases
20081
20091
20101
20113
20132
20141
20161
20192
20231
20241
20254

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 ('52008')
      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\" = '220'))
  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 ANC25LA085Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDehavilland DHC-2 MK 1 · Soldotna, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.Aug 9, 2025 · N232KT · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA286Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWeatherly 620B · Rushmore, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during low-level maneuvering.Jul 23, 2025 · N2032J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA231Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Lockport, LAThe pilot’s inadequate planning for the high density altitude conditions which resulted in reduced airplane performance, climb capability, and subsequent forced landing.Jul 1, 2025 · N8834H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA165Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWeatherly 620B · Lewiston, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude.May 30, 2025 · N90393 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA257Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Sedgwick, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during the spray pass.Jul 8, 2024 · N6500K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA120Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Vernalis, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.Mar 3, 2023 · N48492 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA033Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWeatherly 620 · Fabens, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power wires while maneuvering at a low altitude.Oct 17, 2019 · N9033T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19LA263Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportWeatherly 620 · Russellville, ALThe pilot's failure to see and avoid powerlines during low-altitude agricultural spraying flight operations.Sep 2, 2019 · N90104 · DestroyedNTSB WPR16FA169Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBoeing A75N1(PT17) · Madras, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the runway during a low-level aerobatic maneuver. Contributing to the accident was a high density altitude and the pilot's failure to plan/adequately compensate for high density altitude conditions.Aug 27, 2016 · N999PP · DestroyedNTSB WPR14FA182Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBoeing E75 · Fairfield, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the runway during a low-level aerobatic maneuver due to his impairment by an over-the-counter antihistamine. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries were the pilot's lack of fire protective clothing,…May 4, 2014 · N68828 · DestroyedNTSB ERA14LA011Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing B75N1 · Tampa, FLThe parachutist’s low altitude departure from the right wing before the planned altitude and his delayed opening of his parachute canopy, which resulted in impact with a tree and then the ground before the parachute fully opened.Oct 19, 2013 · N65355 · No damageNTSB CEN13LA322Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Covington, OKThe airplane’s failure to climb after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the engine and airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.Jun 6, 2013 · N6754Q · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA565Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWeatherly 201C · Bronson, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.Aug 10, 2011 · N9054W · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA444Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBoeing B75N1 · Wetmore, COThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.Jul 3, 2011 · N4473N · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11CA260Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A · Belhaven, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance above crops while performing an aerial application flight.Apr 23, 2011 · N8896H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10CA289Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Courtland, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during low-altitude maneuvers.Jun 13, 2010 · N6726Q · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10TA006Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBeech E18S · Jones Creek, TXThe pilot's failure to see and avoid the radio tower.Oct 3, 2009 · N797SB · Substantial damageNTSB LAX08CA223Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrumman Acft Eng G-164B · Patterson, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while maneuvering.Jul 10, 2008 · N6792Q · Substantial damage