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NTSB investigations

15 cases where NTSB found Vacuum system.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

20082026

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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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '010237')) 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 c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '010237'))
  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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '010237'))
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 ERA22FA085Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech V35 · Crab Orchard, KYThe noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was…Dec 10, 2021 · N5704V · Substantial damage NTSB ERA20FA021Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA28R · Atlanta, GAThe pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the vacuum pump and its associated instruments.Oct 30, 2019 · N56258 · Destroyed NTSB ERA19FA130Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMooney M20C · Cashiers, NCThe pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the vacuum pump and its associated instruments.Mar 14, 2019 · N6075Q · Destroyed NTSB ERA19LA012Accident · 3 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA34 · Westhampton Beach, NYThe instructor's decision to conduct and continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions with a known flight instrument anomaly, which resulted in spatial disorientation, causing a loss of airplane control and subsequent…Oct 13, 2018 · N593MS · Destroyed NTSB WPR18FA218Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20K · Baker City, ORThe pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the landing approach as a result of his diversion of attention after a series of non-essential aircraft systems became inoperative following the failure of the engine-driven vacuum pump,…Aug 11, 2018 · N231EC · Substantial damage NTSB ERA16FA176Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech V35 · Syosset, NYThe pilot's loss of airplane control while operating in instrument meteorological conditions with only a partial instrument panel due to a failure of the airplane's vacuum pump. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's spatial disorientation and the…May 3, 2016 · N440H · Destroyed NTSB WPR14LA345Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA 28-236 · Salmon, IDMaintenance personnel’s improper surface preparation of the accessory mount pad for the installation of the engine’s dry vacuum pump, which resulted in the loss of engine oil, oil pressure, and engine power during flight. Contributing to the accident was the…Aug 13, 2014 · N2190H · Substantial damage NTSB ERA14FA168Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-44-180 · Brunswick, GAAn inflight failure of the airplane's only operating vacuum pump, which resulted in the loss of attitude information provided by vacuum-driven flight instruments. Also causal was the pilots' failure to maintain control of the airplane while operating in…Mar 24, 2014 · N923RS · Destroyed NTSB ERA13FA088Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-160 · Parkton, NCThe failure of the instrument-rated pilot to maintain control of the airplane while in instrument meteorological conditions after reporting a gyro malfunction. Contributing to the accident was the loss of primary gyro flight instruments due to the failure of…Dec 16, 2012 · N5714W · Substantial damage NTSB WPR13FA037Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Shaver Lake, CAThe pilot's failure to regain airplane control following a sudden rapid descent during cruise, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make the flight with a failed vacuum pump, particularly at high…Nov 11, 2012 · N700EM · Substantial damage NTSB CEN12FA164Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · Albany, TXThe loss of flight instrumentation due to a failed vacuum pump while flying a night without a discernable horizon, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and an in-flight loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing was the continued…Feb 21, 2012 · N7147P · Substantial damage NTSB CEN11LA441Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Flippin, ARThe loss of engine power due to improper maintenance and resultant oil starvation.Jul 1, 2011 · N56417 · Substantial damage NTSB SEA08LA155Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Oakland, CAA loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The oil starvation event was due to the failure of maintenance personnel to tighten the mounting bolts for the newly installed vacuum pump.Jun 30, 2008 · N61736 · Substantial damage NTSB DFW08LA097Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRaytheon B200 · Taylor, TXThe failure of the pilot and mechanic to ensure that the airplane was depressurized prior to actuating the door. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the vacuum system.Apr 10, 2008 · N300FL · Minor damage NTSB DFW08FA056Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAero Commander 500B · Tulsa, OKThe pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation and the pilot exceeding the design/stress limits of the aircraft. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's reported gyro problem, the dark night conditions , and prevailing instrument…Jan 17, 2008 · N712AT · Substantial damage