NTSB investigations

36 cases where the probable cause includes Runway/taxi/approach light.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 36 cases
20083
20131
20141
20161
20174
20184
201912
20208
20222

Latest 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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\" AND starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '03022012'))
  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.

NTSB CEN23FA071Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Galliano, LAThe pilot’s failure to ensure the helicopter was clear of obstacles before takeoff from the helideck, which resulted in the helicopter’s right landing skid pivoting about a helideck perimeter light during takeoff and a dynamic rollover. Additionally, the…Dec 29, 2022 · N595RL · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA001Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Burnet, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with an unexpected quartering tailwind.Oct 2, 2022 · N72794 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA013Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA18 · Plymouth, MAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering gusting headwind.Oct 8, 2020 · N8788D · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA323Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182 · Hollywood, FLThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind takeoff, which resulted in a collision with airport lights and a sign.Sep 18, 2020 · N234ME · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA332Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportPiper PA28R · Englewood, COThe flight instructor did not maintain a proper approach path and landing flare during a landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and damaged landing gear. During the subsequent landing with damaged landing gear, the flight instructor lost…Aug 8, 2020 · N4964S · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA195Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Houma, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a ground obstacle during landing.May 21, 2020 · N365CP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA154Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Ft Worth, TXThe student pilot’s failure to maintain a stabilized approach and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to initiate a go-around, which resulted in a runway overrun and impact with runway lights and fences.Apr 22, 2020 · N13005 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20CA100Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA28R · Twin Falls, IDThe pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway approach light.Mar 6, 2020 · N41429 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA114Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportVans RV8 · Harrison, OHThe malfunction of the steerable tailwheel, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent impact with the precision approach path indicator lights system.Mar 4, 2020 · N878DZ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20CA095Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 208 · Baltimore, MDThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the approach lights during an instrument approach.Feb 7, 2020 · N988FX · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA085Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA60 · Salt Lake City, UTThe pilot's failure to follow the taxiway centerline guide and his distraction due to adjusting the radio, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway light after landing and while taxiing to a ramp.Nov 9, 2019 · N914MB · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA560Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportThomas Lee Nieuport 11 · Rose Hill, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with runway lights.Sep 23, 2019 · N1398 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA520Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA32RT · Mackinac Island, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway light.Sep 2, 2019 · N31934 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA524Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 28-180 · Manchester, NHThe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with approach lights.Sep 1, 2019 · N7777W · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA492Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportDouglas DC3C · Kenai, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in gusting crosswind wind conditions, which resulted in landing short of the runway and impact with a ditch and runway light.Aug 1, 2019 · N59314 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA448Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Van Nuys, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a left quartering crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with runway lighting.Jul 23, 2019 · N737DW · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA443Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportValldejuli John A Aerocomp · Jefferson City, MOThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with runway lights, and a nose-over.Jul 20, 2019 · N12ZT · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA404Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA28 · SaipanThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control while exiting the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with taxiway lighting and runway signage.Jul 10, 2019 · N6733F · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA333Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA22 · Riverside, CAThe pilot's failure to the maintain the runway heading during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in impact with runway lighting and a subsequent ground loop during the landing roll.Jun 9, 2019 · N6865B · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA330Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportDiamond DA20 · Terre Haute, INThe student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading and to relinquish the flight controls to the flight instructor when told to do so while landing in gusting, crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with runway lighting.Jun 7, 2019 · N227TJ · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA306Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Denver, COThe pilot's improper control inputs on approach, which resulted in a hard landing near the runway edge, a runway excursion, and impact with runway lighting. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.Jun 2, 2019 · N581SD · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA146Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182 · Livermore, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with runway lights and taxiway signage.Feb 22, 2019 · N8644T · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA052Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA28 · Merced, CAThe pilot's improper glidepath during a landing at night, which resulted in a collision with approach lights.Nov 4, 2018 · N2956B · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA516Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA28 · Point Lookout, MOThe student pilot's inadvertent left brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with runway lights.Aug 25, 2018 · N7635F · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA166Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 421C · Plant City, FLThe pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was an engine anomaly for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, and the pilot's failure to activate the…Jun 11, 2018 · N13RF · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA183Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGlobe GC 1B · Fullerton, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll resulting impact with PAPI lighting.Mar 27, 2018 · N78244 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA081Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 32 · Cheboygan, MIThe pilot’s failure to maintain the airplane’s rate of descent in gusting wind conditions resulting in a hard landing and runway excursion.Dec 5, 2017 · N4887S · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA065Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAveko Sro VL-3C-1 · Northampton, MAThe pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with approach lighting.Nov 24, 2017 · N876MB · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA564Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing PT 13 · Skagit, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from airport lighting during the landing roll.Sep 28, 2017 · N43JM · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA576Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportHunter George RV 6 · Montgomery, NYThe pilot’s loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in impact with visual approach slope indicator lights.Aug 30, 2017 · N6GH · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA008Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeech 35 · Lawrence, KSThe flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an unstabilized approach and collision with runway approach lights.Oct 1, 2016 · N4836J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14MA271Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGulfstream Aerospace G IV · Bedford, MAThe flight crewmembers' failure to perform the flight control check before takeoff, their attempt to take off with the gust lock system engaged, and their delayed execution of a rejected takeoff after they became aware that the controls were locked.…Jun 1, 2014 · N121JM · DestroyedNTSB CEN13CA303Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Livingston, TXThe pilot's delay to not perform a go-around when he lost sight of the runway while on final approach to land at night. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration (tall grass) of the runway edge lights.Apr 14, 2013 · N6784F · Substantial damageNTSB CHI08CA249Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMorane-Saulnier MS-760/B · St Paul, MNRestriction of the elevator controls due to the presence of the seat belt buckled around the co-pilot control stick. An additional cause was the failure of the pilot to verify that the flight controls were unobstructed before flight. Contributing factors were…Aug 9, 2008 · N69X · Substantial damageNTSB CHI08CA170Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportKindig Sonex · Metropolis, ILThe loss of engine power for undermined reasons and the low altitude at the time of engine power loss while turning. An additional cause was the proper touchdown point not attained by the pilot, A contributing factor was the runway lights.Jun 7, 2008 · N184L · Substantial damageNTSB CHI08CA107Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182T · Zionsville, INThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the crosswind landing. Contributing to the accident were the gusting crosswind and the runway light.Apr 20, 2008 · N46EF · Substantial damage