Fatal NTSB investigations
20 cases where the sequence of events included Course deviation.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '281' 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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '281' 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 ERA26LA140Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportBeech A36 · Gulf Shores, ALOn March 7, 2026, about 1900 central standard time, a Beechcraft A36, N66519 was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…NTSB ERA25FA120Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportRockwell 112 · Covington, GAOn February 15, 2025, about 2300, a Rockwell 112, N1423J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Covington, Georgia. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations…NTSB CEN24LA144Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Muncie, INThe pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control while maneuvering outside established instrument approach procedures in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the…NTSB ERA24FA053Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech C23 · Midland, VAThe pilot’s decision to descend below the minimum decision altitude of the instrument approach without having the appropriate runway visual references distinctively identified and with the visibility and ceiling below the minimum that was prescribed for the…NTSB ERA23FA219Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Reliance, TNThe pilot’s decision to continue an instrument flight into an area of forecast weather with severe to extreme turbulence associated with a line of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing was the pilot’s operation of the airplane in…NTSB ANC19FA029Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportMaule M6 · Moose Pass, AKThe pilot's geographic disorientation and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering to avoid mountainous terrain, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.NTSB ANC19FA018Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A60 · Santa Rosa, NMThe pilot's loss of airplane control due to his failure to maintain appropriate control inputs and airspeed after shutting down an engine because of a progressive failure of the pressure relief valve in the fuel pump, which resulted in variable fuel pressure…NTSB CEN19FA095Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Galliano, LAThe pilot's loss of control during cruise flight as a result of spatial disorientation while operating the helicopter in close proximity to terrain in marginal meteorological conditions.NTSB CEN17LA250Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNorth American T-28A · Moorhead, MNControlled descent into terrain due to engine issues, the reason for which could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no evidence of malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.NTSB CEN17FA072Accident · 6 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 525 · Cleveland, OHControlled flight into terrain due to pilot spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was pilot fatigue, mode confusion related to the status of the autopilot, and negative learning transfer due to flight guidance panel and attitude indicator…NTSB ERA17FA017Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28 · Austin, PAThe pilot's loss of control while maneuvering in night instrument conditions that included light-to-heavy rain with severe turbulence, updrafts and downdrafts, and hail. Contributing to the accident was the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation, his lack…NTSB CEN16FA373Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Ephraim, WIThe pilot's improper decision to execute a maneuvering approach at low altitude during night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.NTSB WPR16FA158Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 34-200T · Flagstaff, AZA departure flight path that consisted of several unexplained turns during the initial climbout, and terminated in a high-speed descent and ground impact. The reason(s) for the turns and descent could not be determined due to lack of definitive evidence.NTSB WPR16FA059Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 24-260 · Santa Rosa, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an instrument approach in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience in night…NTSB WPR15FA135Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA32R - 301 · Townsend, MTThe pilot's decision to depart on and to continue a visual flight rules flight over mountainous terrain into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent…NTSB 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…NTSB WPR13FA080Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Delano, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in low visibility, dark night conditions.NTSB ERA13LA093Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRussom Roy G Hummel H5 · Calhoun, GAThe pilot’s impairment or incapacitation due to the effects of medication, worsening cardiac disease, or cardiac arrhythmia, which resulted in his loss of control of the airplane.NTSB CEN09FA099Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R · North Canton, OHThe pilot’s inappropriate control inputs as a result of spatial disorientation, which led to an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's decision to conduct flight into known icing conditions, ice accumulation that…NTSB NYC08FA157Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCartwright H Jr/Cottrell M RV-10 · Seale, ALThe pilot-in-command's in-flight loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the weather conditions and the pilot-in-command's lack of flight experience in the accident airplane.