NTSB investigations: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

23 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG, 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: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG per year, 2008–2026: 23 cases
20083
20093
20104
20121
20131
20151
20182
20193
20201
20222
20241
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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('99999')
      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 WPR25LA112Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEnstrom 280FX · Waterford, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water while operating at a low altitude.Mar 15, 2025 · N402TA · DestroyedNTSB WPR24LA113Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportKitfox S7 Super Sport · Asotin, WAPilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during low altitude flying.Mar 16, 2024 · N295P · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA312Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportJackson Dennis RV-8 · Scio, ORThe pilot’s decision to perform a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver and his improper execution of the maneuver, which resulted in impact with terrain.Aug 21, 2022 · N184DJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA356Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportArbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 150A · Indianola, IAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering.Jul 30, 2022 · N316EB · Minor damageNTSB CEN20CA311Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 401 · Burlington, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from guy-wires during low-altitude agricultural operations.Jul 27, 2020 · N9190Q · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA018Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportFoxworthy Rick A Sonex · Langley, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path, which resulted in impact with a tree.Oct 11, 2019 · N612RF · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA303Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Rockford, OHThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight.May 31, 2019 · N60518 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA262Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCub Crafters Carbon CUB EX · Grand Junction, COThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a canyon.May 11, 2019 · N56XC · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA573Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHiller UH 12E · Frankfort, KSThe ground crewmember's improper grabbing of the hovering helicopter's skid during an external load hook-up, which resulted in the helicopter descending and the main rotors striking ground equipment.Sep 20, 2018 · N1349A · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18FA261Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGruber Beelzabub · Rochester, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at a low altitude.Sep 14, 2018 · N382T · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15FA154Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRose Thunder Mustang · Helotes, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance from terrain after initiating an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude.Feb 25, 2015 · N7TR · DestroyedNTSB CEN13LA368Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNanchang China CJ-6 · Wolcott, COThe pilots decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude from which he was unable to recover.Jun 23, 2013 · N2726C · Substantial damageNTSB ANC12CA029Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 180 · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during low-level maneuvering.Mar 30, 2012 · N266V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10CA466Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Mecca, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while maneuvering.Sep 21, 2010 · N6053H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA454Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-36-285 · Petersburg, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a signpost during an aerial application flight.Jul 29, 2010 · N57706 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA395Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell OH-58A · Roswell, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires.Jul 10, 2010 · N415NS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10LA266Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAerostar S A YAK-52 · Jensen Beach, FLThe pilot's decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude, which resulted in insufficient clearance from the water to conduct a recovery. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s extended landing gear, which resulted in a degradation of…May 15, 2010 · N6868Y · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09CA432Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBingham Chuck Rotorway 1 · Atlanta, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering in gusting wind conditions.Jul 31, 2009 · N267BC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09LA325Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAero Vodochody L-29 · Tehachapi, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while performing a low altitude maneuver.Jul 4, 2009 · N97869 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09LA269Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportStorch Aviation Australia PTY SS-MK4 · Boulder, UTThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low altitude maneuvering.May 29, 2009 · N2898J · Substantial damageNTSB DFW08LA197Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMarshall James J Cozy MK IV · Midlothian, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wall of the rock quarry.Jul 24, 2008 · N500K · Substantial damageNTSB SEA08LA128Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMoravan Zlin 50LX · Modesto, CAThe pilot failed to maintain clearance from terrain during a low-altitude maneuver at an airshow. Contributing to the accident was the task overload in the increased frequency congestion.May 10, 2008 · N6660K · Substantial damageNTSB DFW08LA108Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWoods Challenger II · Corning, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission lines. A contributing factor was the low altitude selected by the pilot.Apr 20, 2008 · N213TW · Substantial damage