NTSB investigations, AK
30 cases where the sequence of events included Low altitude operation/event.
Cases per year
| 2009 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'AK' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '220' 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.
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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AK' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '220' 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
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB ANC26LA055Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openPiper PA-18 105 · Petersville, AKNTSB ANC26LA037Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportTundrair King · Palmer, AKOn May 5, 2026, about 1950 Alaska daylight time (AKDT), an experimental Tundrair King airplane, N62TK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…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.NTSB ANC25LA083Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A-1B · Chisana, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.NTSB ANC25LA023Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Cantwell, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low-altitude maneuver which resulted in inadvertent ground contact and a nose over.NTSB ANC24LA083Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA22 · Aleknagik, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.NTSB ANC24LA015Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna R172K · Trapper Creek, AKThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall; loss of airplane control; and impact with terrain.NTSB ANC23FA004Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Chickaloon, AKThe pilot's decision to fly at low altitude, which resulted in a collision with a cable.NTSB ANC22LA022Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206F · Newhalen, AKThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot experiencing a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.NTSB ANC20CA049Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 185 · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s decision to attempt to " water ski" atop a remote river in a wheel-equipped airplane, resulting in a loss of control and a nose over.NTSB ANC20CA018Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Palmer, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.NTSB ANC17LA040Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Solomon, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above water, and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in an inadvertent descent and collision with water.NTSB ANC17FA035Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAeronca 15AC · Big Lake, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during low-altitude flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision and impact with terrain.NTSB GAA17CA388Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 207 · Hope, AKThe pilot’s inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.NTSB ANC17LA016Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA18 · Sterling, AKThe pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.NTSB ANC17FA009Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot’s decision to operate the airplane at an altitude too low to allow for recovery from an intentional aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of knowledge of the stall performance characteristics of the airplane modified…NTSB ANC15LA073Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Fort Glenn, AKThe separation of the tail rotor gearbox from the tailboom attachment point due to overstress loads imposed by a tail rotor blade imbalance as the result of impact with an undetermined object during low-level flight operations.NTSB ANC15FA066Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Kasilof, AKThe total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on postaccident examination and testing.NTSB ANC15FA050Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna U206G · Trapper Creek, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while intentionally maneuvering close to the ground.NTSB ANC15FA032Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 207 · Bethel, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude, which resulted in collision with the terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from carbon monoxide exposure in flight. The source of the carbon monoxide could not be determined because the…NTSB ANC14FA068Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportRyan Navion A · Coldfoot, AKThe pilot’s improper inflight planning and improper decision to deliberately operate the airplane at low altitude in close proximity to obstructions and rising terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s improper preflight planning and the Federal…NTSB ANC12CA067Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 207A · Kotlik, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from terrain during cruise flight at low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water. A contributing factor was the pilot’s diverted attention to adjust the engine power.NTSB ANC12CA029Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 180 · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during low-level maneuvering.NTSB ANC11CA021Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Chicken Lake, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain.NTSB ANC10CA096Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Chicken, AKThe pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in terrain and weather conditions conducive to turbulence and downdrafts.NTSB ANC10LA065Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Palmer, AKThe pilot's decision to make a low-altitude pass over a remote airstrip toward rising terrain in weather conducive to downdrafts.NTSB ANC10CA060Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172N · Palmer, AKThe pilot's decision to fly towards rising terrain that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane.NTSB ANC10LA053Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Unalaska, AKThe pilot's inappropriate low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with terrain.NTSB ANC10FA038Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18-135 · Willow, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree due to the effects of impairment from alcohol consumption.NTSB ANC10FA004Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A185E · Healy, AKThe pilot's decision to maneuver at a low altitude over rising terrain in conditions conducive to turbulence/downdrafts, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain.