NTSB investigations
29 cases where the defining event was Aircraft wake turb encounter.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '361') 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."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '361') 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 DCA26WA089Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737-800 · (Birmingham, United KingdomNTSB GAA25WA279Occurrence · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBeech 1900 · Aix-les-Milles, FranceNTSB CEN25LA132Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12 · Russellville, ARThe failure of the U.S. Army helicopter pilots to yield the right-of-way to the landing airplane, which resulted in the airplane encountering wake turbulence emitted from the three departing U.S. Army helicopters, a subsequent loss of directional control, and…NTSB ANC25LA020Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Kapolei, HIThe flight instructor’s failure to avoid wake turbulence from a heavy airplane departing from a parallel runway, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during initial climb after a touch-and-go landing.NTSB WPR25LA041Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Palm Springs, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.NTSB ANC24LA093Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180B · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.NTSB ERA24LA212Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-20-135 · Georgetown, OHAn inadvertent encounter with the rotor wash of a nearby hovering helicopter during landing, which resulted in a loss of control and a runway excursion.NTSB WPR24LA085Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEvektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA · Santa Ana, CAA loss of airplane control due to wake turbulence resulting from the instructor pilot’s decision to continue the landing into a drifting wake vortex.NTSB ERA23LA353Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Hopkinsville, KYThe pilot’s inadvertent encounter with helicopter wake turbulence during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.NTSB WPR23LA277Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEvolution Revolt · Casper, WYThe pilot’s loss of directional control during landing after encountering wake turbulence.NTSB WPR23LA146Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Santa Ana, CAThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.NTSB ERA22LA304Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportArion Lightning · Indiana, PAThe airplane pilot’s inadvertent encounter with rotor wash/turbulence during short final approach, which resulted in a loss of control in flight.NTSB ERA22LA089Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Knoxville, TNThe pilot’s encounter with a wake vortex from a preceding airplane, which resulted in a roll upset at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the failure of ATC to issue a wake turbulence cautionary advisory.NTSB CEN21FA426Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRans S20 · Wadsworth, OHThe pilot’s decision to depart shortly after a landing helicopter, which resulted in an encounter with the helicopter’s wake turbulence and a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment by his recent use of ethanol.NTSB DCA18CA289Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 737 · Phoenix, AZan inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence.NTSB ERA18LA002Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · San Juan, PRThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from helicopters during the approach for landing, resulting in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control.NTSB DCA17WA094Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationCanadair CL604 · Arabian Sea, A1The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Canadair CL-604, which occurred on January 7, 2017. The NTSB has appointed a U.S Accredited Representative to assist under the provisions of…NTSB WPR16FA172Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Sparks, NVThe pilot's selection of a landing runway which, given the wind and traffic conditions, was susceptible to high crosswinds and the translation of wake turbulence across its approach path, and the controller's and pilot's failure to ensure separation from the…NTSB WPR16FA086Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAirborne XT 912 · Hawthorne, CAThe weight shift control aircraft encounter with a wake vortex from a preceding airplane, which resulted in a roll upset at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the accident pilot's failure to recognize the potential for a wake…NTSB CEN14CA455Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportEmbraer S A ERJ170-200LR · Hemphill, TXThe airplane's inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.NTSB ERA14LA147Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172D · Fairhope, ALThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation from a helicopter during the approach to landing, which resulted in an encounter with the helicopter’s trailing vortices, a loss of airplane control, and impact with terrain.NTSB ERA14CA150Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Salisbury, NCThe flight instructor's decision to continue the landing in close proximity to a landing helicopter, resulting in an encounter with rotor vortices, loss of airplane control, and collision with terrain.NTSB CEN13FA438Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Lake Michigan, WIAn encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of control of the airplane and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the approach controller’s failure to issue a wake turbulence advisory to the pilot.NTSB ANC13LA067Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180A · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s loss of directional control of the airplane during a wheel landing.NTSB CEN13TA113Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportCessna 550 · Oklahoma City, OKThe flight crew's decision to fly close behind a heavy airplane, which did not ensure there was adequate distance and time in order to avoid a wake turbulence encounter with the preceding heavy airplane’s wake vortex, which resulted in a loss of airplane…NTSB WPR12FA067Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Phoenix, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a corporate jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and a subsequent loss of control.NTSB CEN09CA544Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Aspen, COThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a preceding large business jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence.NTSB DFW08TA225Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1 · Pueblo, COThe student pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to an encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding larger aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's failure to intervene.NTSB NYC08TA130Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCessna 180 · Spartanburg, SCThe pilot's encounter with wake turbulence during approach as a result of his inadequate in-flight planning.