Fatal NTSB investigations
17 cases where the sequence of events included Glider tow event.
Cases per year
| 2009 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 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.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '510' 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" = '510' 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 CEN26LA231Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportBailey-Moyes Dragonfly · Whitewater, WIOn June 22, 2026, about 1915 central daylight time, a Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly, N3849A, was involved in an accident near Whitewater, Wisconsin. The pilot of the Dragonfly was not injured. The pilot of the hang glider in tow was fatally injured. The tow…NTSB ERA26FA214Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper PA-25-235 · Saratoga Springs, NYOn May 26, 2026, about 1347 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N8656L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Saratoga Springs, New York. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code…NTSB CEN25FA248Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper PA-25 · Hot Springs, SDOn July 12, 2025, about 1322 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25, N8186K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hot Springs, South Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…NTSB GAA23WA182Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignRobin DR400 · Lienz, AustriaNTSB ERA18FA128Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportS.Z.D. SZD 48 Jantar STD 2 · LaBelle, FLThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.NTSB WPR14FA181Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAero Tek Zuni · Aguila, AZThe pilot's inability to maintain control of the glider after the tow cable separated prematurely due to an incomplete engagement of the cable in the control tow release system due to a missing spring.NTSB WPR13FA300Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAllstar PZL Glider SZD-54-2 Perkoz · Jacumba, CAThe premature release of the towline from the glider and the glider’s subsequent right banking turn at low altitude for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident airframe examination did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or…NTSB CEN12LA605Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBurkhart Grob G 103 Twin II · El Paso, TXThe pilot‘s failure to maintain glider control while attempting to take off using a ground winch, which resulted in an inadvertent stall low to the ground. Contributing to the accident was the ground winch, which was unable to produce enough speed for a…NTSB CEN12FA378Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportIar Brasov IS-28B2 · Wallis, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an emergency situation, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s acute coronary event, which resulted from his severe…NTSB WPR12FA010Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportDG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S · Cle Elum, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and control after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.NTSB CEN11LA585Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAero Commander Callair A-9B · Marshall, MIThe towplane pilot's loss of control during an aerotow operation due to the glider pilot's inability to maintain a proper position behind the towplane while encountering turbulence on initial climb.NTSB ERA11FA413Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMoyes Dragonfly · Ridgely, MDAn in-flight loss of control for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations.NTSB ERA11FA401Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSlingsby Capstan Type 49B · Hollywood, MDThe glider pilot’s improper response to the “check spoilers” signal from the tow pilot. Contributing to the accident was the glider pilot’s failure to confirm that the spoilers were closed and locked before takeoff, and the glider copilot’s improper crew…NTSB ERA11LA234Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLet L 33 Solo · New Castle, VAPilot incapacitation shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.NTSB CEN10FA115Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Boulder, COThe failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other resulting in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the lack of perceived visual relative motion of the Piper and the Cirrus to the pilot of each airplane, the terrain background, and the…NTSB WPR09LA449Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer SGS 1-34 · Lake Elsinore, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider after the tow line released during the initial climb.NTSB CEN09LA353Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBurkhart Grob G103C Twin III Acro · Gregory, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the turn to return for landing, which resulted an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the ground winch tow cable shortly after takeoff.