NTSB investigations

55 cases where NTSB found Tower/antenna (incl guy wires).

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 55 cases
20083
20094
20112
20123
20137
20143
20151
20165
20176
20185
20192
20205
20212
20224
20242
20261

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 starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '03022017'))
  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 CEN26LA252Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT802 · Whiting, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.Jul 13, 2026 · N808HB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA175Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · England, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.May 1, 2024 · N8515G · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA101Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportLockwood AIR CAM · Ranchitos Las Lomas, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a meteorological evaluation tower.Jan 29, 2024 · N315GW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA071Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20J · Gaithersburg, MDThe pilot’s visual flight below published altitude minimums, which resulted in collision with a powerline tower structure.Nov 27, 2022 · N201RF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T210 · Burleson, TXThe pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel supply, which led to fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.Oct 27, 2022 · N36X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA371Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAyres S2R-T65 · Wyman / Washington, IAThe pilot not maintaining sufficient altitude to clear an obstruction during the aerial application flight.Jul 21, 2022 · N9899 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA204Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172A · Stockbridge, GAThe flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during an unstabilized approach, which resulted in an impact with powerlines and a subsequent loss of controlApr 25, 2022 · N7572T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA043Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182Q · Carlsbad, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain separation from an FM tower guy wire while on an aerial survey flight.Nov 19, 2021 · N91AZ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA318Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Nappanee, INThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the tower during low-level agricultural operations.Jul 6, 2021 · N602RE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA306Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportThrush S2R-H80 · Hawkinsville, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna tower while maneuvering during an agricultural application flight while flying directly toward the sun.Sep 3, 2020 · N30529 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA249Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportNorth American Navion · Cedar City, UTA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper fuel planning and failure to see and avoid the communications tower support guy wire.Aug 2, 2020 · N225HJ · Substantial damageNTSB ANC20CA070Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Homer, AKThe pilot's failure to see and avoid the boat's mast, which resulted in a main rotor blade strike. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning by not having the boat's mast measured.Jul 16, 2020 · N1432D · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20CA210Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportGreat Lakes 2T 1A · St. Mary's, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain proper glide path during final approach which resulted in a collision with airport equipment short of the runway.Jun 8, 2020 · N863K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20FA063Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna TR182 · Billings, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance due to poor decision making in selecting an unsafe altitude during cruise flight.Jan 12, 2020 · N736YU · DestroyedNTSB CEN19LA308Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150 · Whitehall, MIThe pilot’s flight into a water tower while operating below minimum safe altitudes for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.Sep 9, 2019 · N9492U · DestroyedNTSB GAA19CA352Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT402 · Liberal, KSThe pilot's failure to see and avoid a windmill tower while maneuvering at low altitude.Jun 17, 2019 · N5044Y · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Placedo, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower, a known obstruction, during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was glare from the sun which hindered the pilot's ability to see and avoid the antenna tower.Oct 12, 2018 · N6135P · DestroyedNTSB CEN18FA359Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28R · Kaplan, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a charted and illuminated television/radio tower.Aug 31, 2018 · N7430J · DestroyedNTSB GAA18CA366Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R66 · Cordova, AKThe pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in impact with brush and a loss of helicopter control.Jun 19, 2018 · N7040P · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18FA232Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Enid, OKThe pilot's failure to see and avoid a known obstacle (communications tower) during agricultural spraying operations.Jun 19, 2018 · N2063B · DestroyedNTSB WPR18LA076Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBuckeye Industries Dream Machine 582 · Chester, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines.Jan 19, 2018 · N92048 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA491Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Westby, WIThe pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.Aug 14, 2017 · N97UP · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17LA249Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman G 164 · Marydel, DEThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while conducting an aerial application flight.Jul 19, 2017 · N691Y · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA385Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Edna, TXThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid a tower during an agricultural application flight.Jul 2, 2017 · N6135P · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17FA127Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF · Chalmers, INThe pilot's failure to ensure that the needle did not entangle with the tower's vertical lattice as he moved the helicopter rearward, which resulted in the helicopter becoming tethered to the tower and a subsequent loss of control.Mar 14, 2017 · N530KD · DestroyedNTSB GAA17CA170Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMaule M5 · Roxbury, KSThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around.Mar 2, 2017 · N56552 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17FA095Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 177 · Price, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a communications tower guy-wire. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct a long distance transition flight at a low altitude.Jan 31, 2017 · N2810X · DestroyedNTSB ERA17LA014Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 525 · Pawtucket, RIThe flight crew's failure to maintain an appropriate approach speed and obtain an appropriate touchdown point on the runway, which resulted in a runway overrun.Oct 13, 2016 · N518AR · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA462Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT · Hondo, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an antenna atop a tower while maneuvering at a low altitude and the airplane’s subsequent impact with terrain during an attempted off-airport landing.Sep 5, 2016 · N31627 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA326Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportThrush S2R T660 · Ruthton, MNThe pilot's failure to see and avoid the tower guy-wire during an agricultural spraying operation.Aug 19, 2016 · N40499 · DestroyedNTSB WPR16FA120Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRockwell S2R · De Smet, IDThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from guy wires during an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reduced ability to see the guy wires due to sun glare.Jun 6, 2016 · N4191X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA181Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · West, TXThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid cellular tower guy wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate at low altitude.May 14, 2016 · N1546Z · DestroyedNTSB GAA15CA251Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 402A · Fort Pierre, SDThe pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance, which resulted in the airplane striking guy-wires during aerial application operations.Sep 4, 2015 · N321DA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14CA427Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 401B · Cimarron, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna guy wire during an aerial application pass.Aug 13, 2014 · N9071Z · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14CA296Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 47G 2A · Merced, CAThe pilot's failure to adequately monitor the environment to maintain clearance from the power pole guide wire during low level maneuvering.Jul 18, 2014 · N47DT · 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 ANC14CA010Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Soldotna, AKThe operation of the airplane by the uncertificated student pilot, his failure to recognize conditions conducive to structural icing, and subsequent decision to depart in conditions conducive to structural icing, resulting in a severe icing encounter and…Dec 4, 2013 · N88342 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14CA040Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeech E 55 · Blountville, TNThe pilot's delayed reaction and loss of directional control while performing a simulated engine failure during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the CFI's delayed reaction to the loss of directional control.Nov 5, 2013 · N1908L · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14LA008Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Heli 369 · Paducah, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power transmission line tower while maneuvering to pick up a rope in gusting wind conditions.Oct 6, 2013 · N530KF · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14LA005Accident · 4 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 340A · Paulden, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear a radio tower while maneuvering at low altitude and his decision to make a high-speed, low pass over the gun club.Oct 4, 2013 · N312GC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13FA465Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-400 · Balko, OKThe pilot's failure maintain clearance from a meteorological tower while en route at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.Aug 5, 2013 · N3159B · DestroyedNTSB CEN13LA425Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-400 · Steward, ILThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the guy wires during an aerial application maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify potential obstructions in the area before beginning low-altitude maneuvers.Jul 19, 2013 · N155HF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA163Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPZL Mielec M-18A · Jennings, LAThe pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with guy wires during an aerial application flight.Feb 15, 2013 · N4305D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13FA009Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Crowley, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the broadcast tower guy-wires.Oct 10, 2012 · N333DR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12CA546Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · Hanley Falls, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a guy wire during an agricultural application pass.Aug 14, 2012 · N1021D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA236Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAyres S2R-T15 · Lakin, KSThe pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.Apr 9, 2012 · N64DX · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA375Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Willcox, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the recent installation of the unmarked tower.Aug 8, 2011 · N5123L · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA094Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRockwell International S-2R · Oakley, CAAn in-flight collision with an unmarked meteorological evaluation tower (MET) during an aerial application flight due to the pilot's failure to see and avoid the obstacle. Contributing to the accident was the lack of visual conspicuity of the MET and the lack…Jan 10, 2011 · N4977X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10TA006Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBeech E18S · Jones Creek, TXThe pilot's failure to see and avoid the radio tower.Oct 3, 2009 · N797SB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09FA417Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Boonsboro, MDThe pilot’s improper decision to depart on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight at night in adverse weather conditions in close proximity to rising mountainous terrain in a helicopter that was only certified to be operated under VFR and his subsequent failure…Jul 24, 2009 · N7189W · Substantial damage