Skip to content

NTSB investigations, 2013

10 cases where the defining event was Aircraft structural failure.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

20082026

Where

Latest cases

Query with 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2013 AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '337') ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2013
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '337')
  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 year(c."eventDate") = 2013
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '337')
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 CEN14IA085Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBeech E90 · Eau Claire, WIThe failure of the copilot’s windshield inner layer due to a peel chip that developed as a result of mechanical and thermal expansion stresses.Dec 11, 2013 · N60BA · Minor damage NTSB CEN14LA056Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPearson Jon M Dragonfly · Anahuac, TXThe incorrect installation by the pilot, who was not a certificated mechanic or repairman, of the main rotor head bearing block, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the rotor head.Nov 16, 2013 · N975DF · Destroyed NTSB CEN13LA514Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportChallenger II · Emporia, KSThe right wing’s folding up in flight for reasons that could not be determined because an examination did not reveal any abnormalities with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation.Aug 28, 2013 · UNREG · Substantial damage NTSB ENG13IA027Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 747 · Atlanta, GAFailure of the right inboard foreflap outboard fitting due to fatigue and bearing anomalies on the sequence carriages which resulted in the partial separation of the right inboard foreflap. Contributing to the incident was the failure of maintenance personnel…May 19, 2013 · B18701 · Minor damage NTSB ERA13LA199Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMaxfly Inc/Mckay WM Searey · Polk City, FLThe improper installation of incorrect attachment hardware by maintenance personnel during an undocumented repair, which resulted in an in-flight structural failure and subsequent loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the covering of the…Apr 11, 2013 · N914WM · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13FA213Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchleicher Alexander · Littlefield, TXThe pilot’s improper decision to conduct aerobatic maneuvers in a glider not approved for such maneuvers. Contributing to the accident was the degradation of the adhesive holding the wing together, which should have been detected either during the last annual…Mar 30, 2013 · N12053 · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13FA192Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-76A++ · Grand Lake, LAFracture of the red tail rotor blade spar, which resulted in the separation and departure of the red tail rotor blade from the helicopter and subsequent compromised tail gearbox. The red tail rotor blade was not recovered, thus the cause of the initial…Mar 15, 2013 · N574EH · Destroyed NTSB CEN13LA186Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportFisher Michael E Celebrity · Terrell, TXThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s design stress limits while performing aerobatic maneuvers.Mar 4, 2013 · N70785 · Destroyed NTSB WPR13FA123Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAvions Fairey Tipsy Nipper T-66 · Winters, CAThe airplane's impact with a turkey vulture in cruise flight, which resulted in the structural failure of the right wing and the subsequent loss of control.Feb 14, 2013 · N1959N · Substantial damage NTSB ERA13RA106Accident · 7 fatalClass 5 · ForeignBoeing-Vertol 234 · Pucallpa, Peru, PeruOn January 7, 2013, about 2002 universal coordinated time (1502 local time), a Boeing-Vertol 234, N241CH, operated by Columbia Helicopters Peru, S.A.C., was destroyed during an inflight breakup and subsequent impact with terrain near Pucallpa, Peru. The U.S.…Jan 7, 2013 · N241CH · Destroyed