NTSB investigations
47 cases where NTSB found Wake turbulence.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 2 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '03032025')) 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", '03032025')) 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 WPR26LA165Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 7FC · Bend, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the rotor wash from a nearby helicopter.NTSB CEN25LA132Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12 · Russellville, ARThe failure of the U.S. Army helicopter pilots to yield the right-of-way to the landing airplane, which resulted in the airplane encountering wake turbulence emitted from the three departing U.S. Army helicopters, a subsequent loss of directional control, and…NTSB ANC25LA020Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Kapolei, HIThe flight instructor’s failure to avoid wake turbulence from a heavy airplane departing from a parallel runway, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during initial climb after a touch-and-go landing.NTSB WPR25LA041Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Palm Springs, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.NTSB ANC24LA093Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180B · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.NTSB WPR24LA253Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCanadian Car & Foundry Harvard MK IV · Oshkosh, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.NTSB WPR24LA187Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Garrett, WYThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while conducting low-level altitude operations, following an encounter with wake turbulence.NTSB ERA24LA212Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-20-135 · Georgetown, OHAn inadvertent encounter with the rotor wash of a nearby hovering helicopter during landing, which resulted in a loss of control and a runway excursion.NTSB WPR24LA085Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEvektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA · Santa Ana, CAA loss of airplane control due to wake turbulence resulting from the instructor pilot’s decision to continue the landing into a drifting wake vortex.NTSB ERA23LA353Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Hopkinsville, KYThe pilot’s inadvertent encounter with helicopter wake turbulence during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.NTSB WPR23LA146Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Santa Ana, CAThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.NTSB WPR23LA018Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3F-60 · Herlong, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation during a formation flight, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence, an aerodynamic stall, and collision with terrain.NTSB ERA22LA304Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportArion Lightning · Indiana, PAThe airplane pilot’s inadvertent encounter with rotor wash/turbulence during short final approach, which resulted in a loss of control in flight.NTSB WPR22LA162Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182 · Las Vegas, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient clearance from the jet blast of a departing jet airplane.NTSB WPR22LA072Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Upland, CAThe pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around as it encountered wake turbulence from a slow hover taxiing helicopter.NTSB ERA22LA089Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Knoxville, TNThe pilot’s encounter with a wake vortex from a preceding airplane, which resulted in a roll upset at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the failure of ATC to issue a wake turbulence cautionary advisory.NTSB CEN21FA426Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRans S20 · Wadsworth, OHThe pilot’s decision to depart shortly after a landing helicopter, which resulted in an encounter with the helicopter’s wake turbulence and a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment by his recent use of ethanol.NTSB ANC20CA034Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Kahului, HIThe student pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence while landing behind a heavy jet airplane, which resulted in a loss of roll control and subsequent hard landing.NTSB CEN19LA266Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCanadair CL600 2B16 · Lubbock, TXThe unexpected wake turbulence encounter while climbing in smooth air to cruise, resulting in passenger injuries. Contributing to the accident was the passenger seat belt sign was off.NTSB ANC18LA072Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Anchorage, AKThe pilot's failure to avoid wake turbulence from a crossing heavy airplane.NTSB DCA18CA289Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 737 · Phoenix, AZan inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence.NTSB WPR18FA200Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportDe Havilland DH112 Venom · Sheboygan, WIThe airplane's encounter with wake turbulence from the lead airplane in the formation flight, which resulted in a compressor stall and the airplane's subsequent inability to climb.NTSB ERA18LA002Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · San Juan, PRThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from helicopters during the approach for landing, resulting in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control.NTSB WPR17LA186Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHawker Siddeley Hunter MK.58 · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)The pilot’s loss of airplane control after flying through another airplane's jet wash during an air defense exercise.NTSB GAA17CA333Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSwearingen SA227 TT · Santa Monica, CAThe pilot’s unstabilized approach after encountering wake turbulence, which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB WPR16FA172Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Sparks, NVThe pilot's selection of a landing runway which, given the wind and traffic conditions, was susceptible to high crosswinds and the translation of wake turbulence across its approach path, and the controller's and pilot's failure to ensure separation from the…NTSB GAA16CA372Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell OH 58 · Surprise, AZWhile at a low altitude, the pilot's decision to do an abrupt descending right downwind turn which resulted in flying through his own vortices and an impact with terrain.NTSB DCA16CA182Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 737-932ER · Las Vegas, NVAn encounter with wake turbulence that resulted in a flight attendant injury.NTSB CEN15LA069Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR20 · Fort Collins, COThe student pilot’s failure to comprehend the significance of the wake turbulence that a preceding helicopter would generate during departure, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of Federal…NTSB CEN14CA455Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportEmbraer S A ERJ170-200LR · Hemphill, TXThe airplane's inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence during cruise flight, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.NTSB WPR14CA166Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 18-135 · Kent, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff.NTSB ERA14LA147Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172D · Fairhope, ALThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation from a helicopter during the approach to landing, which resulted in an encounter with the helicopter’s trailing vortices, a loss of airplane control, and impact with terrain.NTSB ERA14CA150Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Salisbury, NCThe flight instructor's decision to continue the landing in close proximity to a landing helicopter, resulting in an encounter with rotor vortices, loss of airplane control, and collision with terrain.NTSB CEN14TA126Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1 · Fort Carson, COThe flight instructor's loss of control after takeoff following a wake turbulence encounter from a preceding helicopter. Contributing to the accident were the flight instructor's misidentification of the helicopter type and a lack of Federal Aviation…NTSB ERA13LA366Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportInterstate S-1B1 · Lititz, PAThe pilot’s failure to control the airplane’s pitch attitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the initial takeoff climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to set the trim in accordance with the pretakeoff checklist and the…NTSB CEN13FA438Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Lake Michigan, WIAn encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of control of the airplane and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the approach controller’s failure to issue a wake turbulence advisory to the pilot.NTSB WPR13LA233Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer G-164D · Butte City, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after an encounter with wake turbulence while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue due to extended hours of wakefulness and high workload.NTSB CEN13TA113Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportCessna 550 · Oklahoma City, OKThe flight crew's decision to fly close behind a heavy airplane, which did not ensure there was adequate distance and time in order to avoid a wake turbulence encounter with the preceding heavy airplane’s wake vortex, which resulted in a loss of airplane…NTSB CEN12CA403Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAyres S2R-G10 · Minden, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the wake turbulence from a previous pass.NTSB ERA12LA267Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Eastover, SCInadequate or loss of through bolt preload tension, which resulted in fretting between the engine halves, the subsequent failure of one cylinder through bolt, the loosening of additional cylinder retaining studs, and the fracture of the crankcase.…NTSB ERA12LA184Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M20TN · Fayetteville, NCThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation behind a large airplane during landing, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and a loss of control.NTSB WPR12FA067Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Phoenix, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation behind a corporate jet, which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and a subsequent loss of control.NTSB WPR10CA431Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHemmer MINI-MAX 1600R · Davis, CAThe airplane’s encounter with the wake turbulence of another aircraft.NTSB WPR10CA132Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLeza Lockwood Air Cam · Everett, WAThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with the rotor downwash from a hovering heavy-lift helicopter.NTSB WPR09IA128Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 172H · Tucson, AZThe flight instructor’s inadequate situational awareness while taxiing that led to an encounter with jet blast.NTSB DFW08TA225Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1 · Pueblo, COThe student pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to an encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding larger aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's failure to intervene.NTSB NYC08TA130Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCessna 180 · Spartanburg, SCThe pilot's encounter with wake turbulence during approach as a result of his inadequate in-flight planning.