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NTSB investigations, 2012

27 cases where NTSB found Dark.

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Cases per year

20082026

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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 year(c."eventDate") = 2012 AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '03036020')) 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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2012
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '03036020'))
  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 year(c."eventDate") = 2012
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '03036020'))
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 WPR13FA073Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B100 · Libby, MTThe noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering to land in dark night conditions likely due to his geographic disorientation (lost). Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to fly at night with a…Dec 19, 2012 · N499SW · Destroyed NTSB WPR13FA072Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Payson, AZThe airplane’s inadvertent encounter, in night instrument meteorological conditions, with unforecast strong up- and downdrafts and possibly severe airframe icing conditions (which likely included supercooled large droplets that the airplane was not…Dec 19, 2012 · N62959 · Substantial damage NTSB ERA13FA083Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · Lake Park, GAThe noninstrument-rated pilot’s improper decision to depart in dark, night marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control.Dec 11, 2012 · N840DS · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13LA088Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Rochester, MNThe pilot’s spatial disorientation during the instrument approach in night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane descending below decision height and impacting terrain outside the lateral limits of the localizer. Contributing…Dec 3, 2012 · N9853Q · Substantial damage NTSB WPR13LA062Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · Kahului, HIThe noninstrument-rated pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent failure to maintain airplane control while operating over water in dark night conditions with reduced visibility due to rain in the area.Dec 2, 2012 · N3554Y · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13FA085Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 46-350P · Greensburg, INThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in night instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation.Dec 2, 2012 · N92315 · Destroyed NTSB ERA13FA064Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Canton, CTThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while performing a night visual approach to an airport. Contributing to the accident were the dark night and the pilot's lack of recent experience flying at night.Nov 19, 2012 · N8826J · Substantial damage NTSB ERA13FA062Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Savannah, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while operating in night, instrument meteorological conditions, due to spatial disorientation.Nov 18, 2012 · N78304 · 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 ERA13FA026Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS 355 · Erwinna, PAThe pilot’s decision to depart under visual flight rules in dark night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in subsequent spatial disorientation, uncontrolled descent, and impact with trees and terrain.Oct 17, 2012 · C-FXGM · Substantial damage NTSB WPR13FA010Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Marana, AZThe pilot’s flight in dark night conditions with no visual reference and his subsequent spatial disorientation.Oct 15, 2012 · N151SV · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13FA012Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172R · Simpson, LAThe pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering between areas of precipitation during a night cross-country flight.Oct 15, 2012 · N2126R · Substantial damage NTSB ERA13LA019Accident · 3 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Charlotte AmalieThe pilot's attempted visual flight rules (VFR) flight into marginal VFR conditions on a dark night over water and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s controlled flight into water. Contributing to the accident was the…Oct 13, 2012 · N5553Y · Substantial damage NTSB ERA13FA014Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Coolbaugh Township, PAThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions due to self-imposed pressure to complete the trip, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.Oct 10, 2012 · N108MF · Substantial damage NTSB WPR13FA001Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Beatty, NVThe pilot’s inadequate flight planning, subsequent loss of situational awareness, and failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a dark night approach to a closed, unlit runway.Oct 3, 2012 · N7895W · Substantial damage NTSB CEN12LA645Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 177B · Branson, MOThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around in dark night conditions.Sep 20, 2012 · N34722 · Substantial damage NTSB CEN12FA633Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Willard, MOThe pilot's loss of airplane control as a result of spatial disorientation experienced in night instrument meteorological conditions.Sep 15, 2012 · N436KS · Substantial damage NTSB WPR12FA369Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-301T · South Lake Tahoe, CAA partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examinations revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation and the pilots’ decision to continue the departure…Aug 26, 2012 · N588ET · Substantial damage NTSB ERA12FA527Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Abingdon, VAThe pilot's improper decision to make a low-level departure over water in dark night conditions without lights, which resulted in controlled flight into the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's likely spatial disorientation due to a vestibular…Aug 25, 2012 · N407N · Substantial damage NTSB CEN12IA518Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBell 407 · San Antonio, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tower guy wire during the approach to a helipad at night.Aug 5, 2012 · N429PH · Minor damage NTSB WPR12FA230Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · St. George, UTThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an aggressive pitch-up maneuver, which resulted in a low-altitude aerodynamic stall shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from alcohol consumption and an…May 26, 2012 · N953SP · Substantial damage NTSB WPR12FA139Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B36 · Panoche, CAThe pilot’s lack of situational awareness regarding the surrounding terrain while descending during dark night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Mar 15, 2012 · N364AB · Substantial damage NTSB ERA12FA193Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · Key West, FLThe non-night-qualified pilot's improper decision to depart in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in his subsequent spatial disorientation, loss of control, and impact with water.Feb 24, 2012 · N53589 · Substantial damage NTSB ANC12CA023Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182A · Anchorage, AKThe pilot's inadvertent landing on a frozen lake in dark night conditions.Feb 20, 2012 · N6147B · Substantial damage NTSB WPR12FA105Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · North Bend, WAThe pilot's physical impairment due to alcohol, which adversely affected his ability to operate the airplane and to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in dark night conditions.Feb 15, 2012 · N665SP · Substantial damage NTSB ERA12CA185Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172S · Eufaula, ALAn inadvertent collision with a deer during a night landing.Feb 14, 2012 · N6194V · Substantial damage NTSB ERA12FA151Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150G · Quincy, FLThe non-instrument-rated pilot’s spatial disorientation in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his inability to maintain controlled flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to take off in deteriorating…Jan 23, 2012 · N73JK · Substantial damage