Fatal NTSB investigations
26 cases where NTSB found Empennage structure.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 4 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '010355'))
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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '010355')) 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 ERA24FA217Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech V35 · Franklin, TNThe pilot’s flight into convective weather, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and a subsequent inflight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of accurate weather intensity depiction on the…NTSB CEN24FA160Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA 46-350P · Hartsburg, MOThe pilot’s encounter with convective weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane’s never exceed speed, and the resulting overload failure of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent failure of the…NTSB WPR23FA323Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportHensler Howard Cassutt · West Jordan, UTA loss of control during the initial climb for reasons that could not be determined.NTSB ERA23FA045Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBearhawk Patrol · Hanover Township, PAThe pilot’s decision to unlatch his seatbelt during flight, which allowed him to exit the airplane and impact the tail, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain.NTSB WPR22FA184Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBruce R Prouse M24 Orion Plus · Cape Girardeau, MOThe pilot’s failure to maintain controlled flight, which resulted in a hard left roll, excessive blade flapping and a subsequent in-flight separation of the right horizontal stabilizer.NTSB WPR17FA134Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportJordan John RV7 · Arlington, AZThe inflight overstress separation of the vertical stabilizer and rudder during flight which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain airplane control. Contributing to the accident was an inflight collision with a bird.NTSB WPR17FA117Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Ventura, CAThe pilot's abrupt and substantial pullup maneuver while flying the airplane above the maneuvering speed, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. The reason for the pilot's maneuver could not be determined based on the available evidence.NTSB CEN16LA281Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportVans RV9 · Springfield, OHThe pilot’s decision to fly into known thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.NTSB CEN16LA154Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Kilbourne, LAThe failure of the operator to comply with the terminating action of the airworthiness directive, which resulted in the subsequent failure and separation of the vertical stabilizer due to fatigue.NTSB WPR16FA036Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBarnett Allen S RV7 · Hurricane, UTThe pilot’s aerobatic maneuver leading to airspeeds above the airplane’s never exceed speed, which resulted in rudder flutter and an in-flight breakup.NTSB ERA15FA331Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCornell W F/Sahakian J A JR Giles 202 (G202) · Newburgh, NYSeparation of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers from the fuselage due to a fracture that initiated at the bond between the left horizontal stabilizer and the flange that attached the horizontal stabilizer to the fuselage skin. The failure was likely…NTSB CEN15FA268Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 32 · Cuba, MOThe pilot's continued flight into thunderstorm activity, which resulted in his loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane's design limits, and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reliance on onboard…NTSB CEN14LA508Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBrupbacher Chris CB2000 · Reserve, LAThe failure of the flight control rod bearing due to an undetected preexisting corrosion-induced crack, which resulted in the main rotor blades going to full pitch and the rotor mast folding; this allowed the pusher propeller to strike and sever the tail.NTSB WPR13FA086Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech V35A · Woody, CAAn in-flight encounter with icing conditions during descent, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall followed by an in-flight breakup.NTSB CEN13FA073Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Wells, TXThe pilot’s decision to continue the flight into an area of extreme weather, which led to the in-flight encounter with a thunderstorm and structural failure of the wings and tail.NTSB WPR12MA034Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEurocopter EC 130 B4 · Pukoo, HIThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in marginal weather conditions, which resulted in the impact of the horizontal stabilizer and lower forward portion of the fenestron with ground and/or vegetation and led to…NTSB ERA12FA018Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBerger Michael A Waiex · Washington, GAThe in-flight failure of the aircraft’s Y-tail attachment structure during maneuvering flight due to overload. Contributing to the accident was, the kit manufacturer’s use of 14 CFR Part 23, Appendix A design guidelines intended for a conventional tail…NTSB WPR11MA454Accident · 11 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportNorth American/Aero Classics P-51D · Reno, NVThe reduced stiffness of the elevator trim tab system that allowed aerodynamic flutter to occur at racing speeds. The reduced stiffness was a result of deteriorated locknut inserts that allowed the trim tab attachment screws to become loose and to initiate…NTSB WPR11FA155Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMuse KR2 · Newberry Springs, CAThe airplane’s encounter with severe turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.NTSB ERA09LA502Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportM-Squared Sprint 1000 · Madeira Beach, FLA loss of torque to the gearbox engine-side coupling flange bolts, which resulted in separation of the gearbox and propeller from the engine and the subsequent severing of the airplane's tail structure.NTSB ERA09LA492Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBond Neal O S-9 · Saylorsburg, PAThe pilot’s excessive flight control inputs that resulted in an overload failure of the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer.NTSB ERA09LA392Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNoles Vance L Vans RV7A · Sanderson, FLThe pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with convective activity and thunderstorms. Contributing to the accident was his failure to get an adequate weather briefing.NTSB ERA09FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24 · Red Hill, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to an improper repair to the stabilator, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the stabilator. Contributing to the accident was the descent in turbulence, at airspeeds above the maximum structural…NTSB SEA08FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportDebus J / Mountain S / Bowes E DEBUS-CASST-SNOSHOO · Reno, NVThe movement of the airplane’s modified horizontal stabilizer trim system during an intentional high speed aerobatic maneuver that resulted in exceedence of the design stress limits of the airplane and an in-flight structural failure. Contrubuting to the…NTSB CHI08MA270Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportConvair CV-580 · Columbus, OHThe improper (reverse) rigging of the elevator trim cables by company maintenance personnel, and their subsequent failure to discover the misrigging during required post-maintenance checks. Contributing to the accident was the captain’s inadequate…NTSB LAX08LA160Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportQuad City Ultralight Challenger LSS · Moses Lake, WAThe pilot's inability to maintain control due to an in-flight separation of the vertical fin as a result of the failure of the airplane's builder to properly secure the vertical fin to the fuselage.