# Fatal NTSB investigations: Loss of control on ground

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 2 · 54 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA25FA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA309.md): Cessna A185F · Bangor, ME · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Aug 22, 2025 · N714HE · Substantial damage
  > On August 22, 2025, at 1321 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N714HE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bangor, Maine. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was being conducted as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part…
- [NTSB CEN25FA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA197.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Grady, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jun 6, 2025 · N9185F · Substantial damage
  > On June 6, 2025, about 1830 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 airplane, N9185F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Grady, Arkansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…
- [NTSB ANC25FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25FA001.md): Cessna 180 · Big Lake, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Oct 5, 2024 · N4631U · Substantial damage
  > On October 4, 2024, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N4631U, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured, and one passenger sustained serious…
- [NTSB CEN24FA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA346.md): Sonex Sonex · Sulphur Springs, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 10, 2024 · N966DP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB GAA24WA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA24WA274.md): Piper 38 · Córdoba, Spain · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Aug 31, 2024 · EC-KYX · Substantial damage
- [NTSB ERA24LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA316.md): Sheaffer Leroy B Kitfox Model IV · Palmyra, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 19, 2024 · N788KF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel airplane during takeoff from a narrow runway with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA24WA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA24WA141.md): Cessna T210M · Leeds, United Kingdom · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Apr 11, 2024 · N761JU · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CEN23LA423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA423.md): Beech A36 · Broken Bow, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 29, 2023 · N9379Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the runway centerline during landing and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the airport grounds worker during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the absence of a NOTAM for mowing operations at the…
- [NTSB CEN23LA413](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA413.md): Powrachute Airwolf · Erie, CO · Incident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 20, 2023 · N820PP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent manipulation of the throttle, which resulted in the aircraft traveling on the ground and the unsecured pilot being ejected from the aircraft and sustaining fatal injuries.
- [NTSB WPR23FA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA344.md): Seawind 3000 · Bellevue, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 15, 2023 · N57TJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control after encountering a lake swell and skipping during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN23FA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA369.md): Piper J5A · Iola, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 19, 2023 · N35417 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after landing on a grass taxiway with a tailwind, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB WPR23FA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA301.md): Glasair Glastar · Idaho City, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 4, 2023 · N617G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB CEN23FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA183.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Brady, TX · Incident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 14, 2023 · N40506 · Substantial damage
  > The non-certificated pilot’s failure to ensure the collective friction control was adequately engaged during an on-ground engine run, which resulted in the helicopter inadvertently becoming airborne. Contributing to the crash were the pilot’s various physical…
- [NTSB GAA23WA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA23WA148.md): Cessna 185 · Sao Paulo, Brazil · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Apr 30, 2023 · PP-NIK · Substantial damage
- [NTSB GAA23WA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA23WA095.md): Cessna 182 · Belo Horizonte, Brazil · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 4 · Foreign · Mar 11, 2023 · PT-FLK · Substantial damage
- [NTSB ERA23FA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA060.md): Detrick Donald G Detrick DA-2 · Oak Hill, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 15, 2022 · N4307Q · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a tree.
- [NTSB GAA23WA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA23WA002.md): Cessna 172 · Curatone, Italy · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Oct 2, 2022 · I-EDUK · Destroyed
- [NTSB ERA22FA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA386.md): Beech B35 · French Lick, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 28, 2022 · N8741A · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to make a stabilized approach, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
- [NTSB CEN22FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA215.md): Grumman American Avn. G-164 · Whiskerville, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 28, 2022 · N178LB · Destroyed
  > The pilot misjudged the approach during the emergency landing, likely due to the full chemical load, and impacted a ditch, resulting in substantial damage and postimpact fire. Contributing to the pilot’s injuries was the lack of a crash-resistant fuel system…
- [NTSB ERA22FA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA153.md): American AA-1 · Bay Minette, AL · Incident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Mar 11, 2022 · N5774L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control during taxi, which resulted in a taxiway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the incident were the low visibility conditions that existed at the airport around the time of the incident.
- [NTSB GAA21WA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA21WA230.md): Bell 206 · Hope Bay, Canada, Canada · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Sep 14, 2021 · C-GIKX
- [NTSB GAA21WA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA21WA176.md): Beech C90 · Durango, Mexico · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Jul 18, 2021 · N333WW · Destroyed
- [NTSB CEN21FA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA239.md): PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104 · Pearland, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 29, 2021 · N124MS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the presence of a drainage ditch between the runway and taxiway.
- [NTSB CEN21FA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA207.md): Cessna T210M · Oxford, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 2, 2021 · N1215M · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s capability and his decision to attempt to takeoff from a field, which resulted in collision with a power pole/line and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA21LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA004.md): Cessna 182 · Beechhurst, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 4, 2020 · N6506M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s selection of a landing area that provided inadequate distance from obstacles and his subsequent decision to abort the landing with inadequate takeoff distance available, which resulted in a high-speed collision with a concrete bulkhead.…
- [NTSB CEN20LA413](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA413.md): Cosmos Phase 3 · Wayne, OK · Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 19, 2020 · N7024L · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control while taxiing for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
- [NTSB WPR20LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA237.md): Vans Vans RV-8 · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 24, 2020 · N138PM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at too low of an altitude to recover.
- [NTSB GAA19WA561](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19WA561.md): Mooney M20K · Orio al Serio, Italy · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Sep 21, 2019 · D-EISE · Destroyed
  > The government of Italy has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a MOONEY M20K airplane that occurred on September 21, 2019. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Italy's investigation under the provisions…
- [NTSB ANC19FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19FA035.md): De Havilland Beaver DHC 2 · Seldovia, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jul 19, 2019 · N68083 · Substantial damage
  > The airplane's floats impact with an ocean wave or swell, which exceeded the design load specifications of the flying wire assemblies and resulted in a partial separation of the float assemblies.
- [NTSB ANC19FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19FA019.md): De Havilland DHC 2 · Metlakatla, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · May 20, 2019 · N67667 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate compensation for a quartering tailwind during a water landing, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate operational control of the flight release process,…
- [NTSB WPR19LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA006.md): Vans RV6 · Cape Girardeau, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Oct 9, 2018 · N451JP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, his failure to conduct a go-around, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway departure and nose-over.
- [NTSB ANC18WA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18WA075.md): Piper PA28 · Black Diamond, Canada · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Jul 30, 2018 · C-GVZJ · Substantial damage
  > On July 30, 2018, about 0133 Coordinated Universal Time, a Piper PA-28-161 airplane, C-GVZJ, was departing a cut hay field and collided with hay bales near Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada, under unknown circumstances. Of the two occupants onboard, 1 sustained…
- [NTSB CEN18LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA245.md): Kubicek BB30 · Ashland, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2018 · N717FN · Minor damage
  > The pilot's failure to ensure that he was secure in the balloon's basket after landing, which resulted in him falling and striking his head on the burners when the wind caught the envelope and tipped the basket over. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB CEN18FA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA193.md): Beech P35 · Omaha, NE · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 27, 2018 · N263CE · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of directional control and his failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR17FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA077.md): Challenger II · Oakdale, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 11, 2017 · N2621T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point and his subsequent loss of directional control during landing for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would…
- [NTSB CEN17FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA067.md): Demmer BD-4 · Brookfield, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 4, 2017 · N311SD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff when he was not able to maintain directional control in the strong crosswind conditions.
- [NTSB ERA17LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA042.md): North American Navion · Blairstown, NJ · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 10, 2016 · N8849H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper engine start procedure, which resulted in a loss of control on the ground and collision with a tree.
- [NTSB CEN16LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA263.md): Evolution Trikes Revo · Newark, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 9, 2016 · N9912S · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience.
- [NTSB ERA16LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA210.md): Cameron A-225 · Nunda, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 11, 2016 · N69515 · No damage
  > The ground crewmember's failure to let go of the balloon's basket when the balloon began to ascend. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the balloon after landing, which resulted in an inadvertent takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA14FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA327.md): Cessna 140 · Parma, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2014 · N76850 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was the failure of the aluminum center safety belt bracket.
- [NTSB WPR14FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA195.md): American Eurocopter AS350B3 · Peach Springs, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 18, 2014 · N840PA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to exit the helicopter while it was running and his failure to properly secure the flight controls with the engine operating at flight idle before exiting the helicopter.
- [NTSB WPR13FA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA430.md): Cessna 525A · Santa Monica, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2013 · N194SJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately decrease the airplane’s ground speed or maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with an airport sign and structure and a subsequent postcrash fire.
- [NTSB ERA12FA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA225.md): Cessna 501 · Franklin, NC · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 15, 2012 · N7700T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to achieve a stabilized approach, resulting in a nose-first, bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's activation of only one thrust reverser, resulting in asymmetrical thrust.
- [NTSB CEN11FA597](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA597.md): Nichols Lancair 235 · Heath, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 25, 2011 · N777BN · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to obtain adequate familiarization with the accident airplane type before the accident flight, which resulted in his failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff.
- [NTSB ANC11FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA037.md): Cessna 180 · Chugiak, AK · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 27, 2011 · N4955A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in make and model, his lack of currency in FAA required takeoffs and landings, and his…
- [NTSB WPR10LA462](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA462.md): Cosmos Phase II · El Mirage, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 20, 2010 · N56078 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper preflight and starting procedures, which resulted in an inadvertent takeoff with the gust lock still installed.
- [NTSB WPR10LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA354.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Salt Lake City, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 16, 2010 · N944DW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of directional control while attempting to move the helicopter laterally without first lifting it fully off its landing platform.
- [NTSB ERA10FA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA356.md): Cirrus SR20 · Chapel Hill, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 12, 2010 · N527MJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and subsequent improper go-around procedure, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with a tree.
- [NTSB ERA10FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA020.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Oliver Springs, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 18, 2009 · N7906W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of directional control while landing on a wet turf runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a tree.
- [NTSB CEN09LA538](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA538.md): Brown Joseph B JR RV-6 · Ama, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 23, 2009 · N352JB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/cases.md?fatal=1&page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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" = '230')
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/cases?fatal=1

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