Fatal NTSB investigations

56 cases where NTSB found Policy/procedure.

Cases per year

20082026
Fatal NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 56 cases
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20125
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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.\"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\", '040210'))
  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 ANC25MA018Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportTextron 208B · Nome, AKThe National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s inadequate airspeed management due to workload and degraded situation awareness and his improper inputs leading up to and during the aerodynamic…Feb 6, 2025 · N321BA · DestroyedNTSB DCA25MA108Accident · 67 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBombardier CL-600-2C10 · Washington, DCThe Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) placement of a helicopter route in close proximity to a runway approach path; their failure to regularly review and evaluate helicopter routes and available data, and their failure to act on recommendations to…Jan 30, 2025 · N709PS · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB ANC24FA102Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 206 · Chalkyitsik, AKA loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to ensure replacement filters were available for use during refueling operations.Sep 24, 2024 · N8255Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA201Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802 · Arco, IDA midair collision between two airplanes during aerial application operations due to both pilots’ insufficient awareness of their proximity to each other and their failure to see and avoid each other. Contributing to the accident was the operator and both…Jun 20, 2024 · N802TP · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB ERA24FA110Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBombardier CL-600-2B16 · Naples, FLCorrosion of both engines’ variable geometry (VG) system components, which led to their operation in an off-schedule position and resulted in near-simultaneous sub-idle rotating compressor stalls on approach, subsequent loss of thrust in both engines, and an…Feb 9, 2024 · N823KD · DestroyedNTSB WPR24FA083Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportHawker Beechcraft Hawker 900XP · Westwater, UTThe flight crew’s decision to conduct a post-maintenance stall test in an area of icing conditions, which resulted in wing contamination that significantly decreased the airplane’s critical angle of attack. Also causal was the airplane manufacturer’s lack of…Feb 7, 2024 · N900VA · DestroyedNTSB WPR24FA053Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeauchamp Norm Kitfox · Eloy, AZThe separation of a propeller blade during the initial climb due to insufficient blade retention forces. Contributing to the accident was the propeller blade retention design, manufacturing defects that prevented the propeller from achieving adequate grip…Dec 8, 2023 · N66180 · DestroyedNTSB CEN23MA034Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing B17 · Dallas, TXthe air boss’s and air show event organizer’s lack of an adequate, prebriefed aircraft separation plan for the air show performance, relying instead on the air boss’s real-time deconfliction directives and the see-and-avoid strategy for collision avoidance,…Nov 12, 2022 · N7227C · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB DCA22MA193Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDehavilland DHC-3 · Freeland, WAThe in-flight unthreading of the clamp nut from the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator barrel due to a missing lock ring, which resulted in the horizontal stabilizer moving to an extreme trailing-edge-down position rendering the airplane’s pitch…Sep 4, 2022 · N725TH · DestroyedNTSB ERA22FA279Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportBell UH-1B · Amherstdale, WVthe operator’s failure to adequately inspect the former military turbine powered helicopter, which allowed an engine issue to progress and result in a loss of engine power and a subsequent loss of control after the helicopter struck powerlines during a forced…Jun 22, 2022 · N98F · DestroyedNTSB CEN22FA081Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 208 · Fulshear, TXThe limitations of the see-and-avoid concept as a method for self-separation of aircraft, which resulted in an inflight collision. Contributing to the accident was the absence of collision avoidance technology on both aircraft.Dec 21, 2021 · N1116N · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB WPR21FA143Accident · 5 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAirbus Helicopters AS350-B3 · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s failure to adequately respond to an encounter with whiteout conditions, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the (1) operator’s inadequate pilot training program and pilot competency checks,…Mar 28, 2021 · N351SH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC20LA074Accident · 7 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDe Havilland DHC-2 · Soldotna, AKThe failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing to the accident were (1) the PA-12 pilot’s decision to fly with a known severe vision deficiency that had resulted in denial of his most recent application for medical certification…Jul 31, 2020 · N4982U · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB DCA20MA002Accident · 1 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportSaab 2000 · Unalaska, AKThe landing gear manufacturer’s incorrect wiring of the wheel speed transducer harnesses on the left main landing gear during overhaul. The incorrect wiring caused the antiskid system not to function as intended, resulting in the failure of the left outboard…Oct 18, 2019 · N686PA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR19MA177Accident · 11 fatalClass 2 · MajorFinal reportBeech 65-A90 · Mokuleia, HIThe pilot’s aggressive takeoff maneuver, which resulted in an accelerated stall and subsequent loss of control at an altitude that was too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident were (1) the operation of the airplane near its aft center of gravity…Jun 22, 2019 · N256TA · DestroyedNTSB ANC19FA019Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportDe Havilland DHC 2 · Metlakatla, AKThe pilot’s inadequate compensation for a quartering tailwind during a water landing, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate operational control of the flight release process,…May 20, 2019 · N67667 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19MA141Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDe Havilland DHC-2 · Ketchikan, AKThe inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which prevented the two pilots from seeing the other airplane before the collision, and the absence of visual and aural alerts from both airplanes’ traffic display systems, while operating in a geographic…May 13, 2019 · N952DB · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB CEN19FA072Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Zaleski, OHThe NTSB determines that the probable cause of this accident was Survival Flight's inadequate management of safety, which normalized pilots' and operations control specialists' noncompliance with risk analysis procedures and resulted in the initiation of the…Jan 29, 2019 · N191SF · DestroyedNTSB CEN18LA309Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCameron A 250 · Hartsel, COThe passengers’ fall from the basket after landing when the basket tipped over.Aug 3, 2018 · N2025J · No damageNTSB ERA18LA199Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Cleveland, TNThe undetected wear of the ignition switch and key, which allowed removal of the key from an intermediate position and subsequently led to an unintended engine start-up. Contributing to the undetected wear of the 42-year-old ignition switch was the lack of…Jul 26, 2018 · N1311S · No damageNTSB ERA18MA099Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAmerican Eurocopter AS350B2 · New York, NYLiberty Helicopters Inc.'s use of a NYONair-provided passenger harness/tether system, which caught on and activated the floor-mounted engine fuel shutoff lever and resulted in the in-flight loss of engine power and the subsequent ditching. Contributing to…Mar 11, 2018 · N350LH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18FA013Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportFlugzeugproduktions-und Vertri EA 300/L · Four Corners, CACollision with terrain after the pilot was unable to regain airplane control during an aerobatic maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the operator's failure to provide effective internal oversight to identify and prohibit exceedance of the airplanes'…Oct 21, 2017 · N414MT · DestroyedNTSB CEN17FA331Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech A36 · Ellabell, GAThe total loss of engine power due to oil starvation to the No. 1 connecting rod, which resulted from the improper torque of the No. 1 cylinder hold-down bolts and through-studs at the time of the cylinder's installation, which resulted in the failure of the…Aug 28, 2017 · N87RY · DestroyedNTSB ANC17FA039Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportCessna U206 · Port Alsworth, AKThe pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was (1) the inadequate preflight…Jul 27, 2017 · N1749R · DestroyedNTSB CEN17MA183Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportLearjet 35A · Teterboro, NJThe pilot-in-command's (PIC) attempt to salvage an unstabilized visual approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the PIC's decision to allow an unapproved second-in-command to act as pilot flying, the…May 15, 2017 · N452DA · DestroyedNTSB ANC17FA021Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Chignik Lake, AKThe pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into an area of mountainous terrain and instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). Contributing to the accident was the company's failure to provide the pilot…May 1, 2017 · N803TH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC17MA001Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportCessna 208B · Togiak, AKThe flight crew's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating visibility and their failure to perform an immediate escape maneuver after entry into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into…Oct 2, 2016 · N208SD · DestroyedNTSB CEN16MA036Accident · 9 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBritish Aerospace HS 125 700A · Akron, OHThe flight crew's mismanagement of the approach and multiple deviations from company standard operating procedures, which placed the airplane in an unsafe situation and led to an unstabilized approach, a descent below minimum descent altitude without visual…Nov 10, 2015 · N237WR · DestroyedNTSB CEN15LA399Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWeatherly 620B · Hancock, WIThe in-flight failure of the left wing lower forward attach point under normal loading conditions due to corrosion and fatigue cracking in the center section hinge brackets. Contributing to the accident was the operator's inadequate maintenance and overweight…Aug 26, 2015 · N2005C · DestroyedNTSB ERA15FA312Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T206H · West Caldwell, NJA loss of engine power due to a malfunction of the turbocharging system likely due to contaminated oil. Also causal were the pilot's decision to continue the takeoff although the airplane was not performing normally and his failure to maintain adequate…Aug 15, 2015 · N63TV · DestroyedNTSB ANC15FA049Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 207A · Juneau, AKThe pilot's decision to initiate and continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of situational awareness and controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the company's failure to follow its…Jul 17, 2015 · N62AK · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15FA125Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBAE Systems MK-67 Hawk · Yuma, AZThe pilot’s initiation of an early rotation during takeoff, which led to an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's use of nose up pitch trim and the operator's policy to use nose-up pitch trim during…Mar 11, 2015 · N506XX · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15FA025Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Frederick, MDThe failure of the helicopter pilots and the airplane pilot to maintain an adequate visual lookout for known traffic in the traffic pattern, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident were the airplane pilot's descent below the…Oct 23, 2014 · N122ES · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14LA424Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSocata TBM 700 · Caribbean Sea, A1The design of the cabin pressurization system, which made it prone to unnecessary shutdown, combined with a checklist design that prioritized troubleshooting over ensuring that the pilot was sufficiently protected from hypoxia. This resulted in a loss of…Sep 5, 2014 · N900KN · DestroyedNTSB 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 ERA14FA168Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-44-180 · Brunswick, GAAn inflight failure of the airplane's only operating vacuum pump, which resulted in the loss of attitude information provided by vacuum-driven flight instruments. Also causal was the pilots' failure to maintain control of the airplane while operating in…Mar 24, 2014 · N923RS · DestroyedNTSB ANC14MA008Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Saint Marys, AKThe pilot's decision to initiate a visual flight rules approach into an area of instrument meteorological conditions at night and the flight coordinators' release of the flight without discussing the risks with the pilot, which resulted in the pilot…Nov 30, 2013 · N12373 · Substantial damageNTSB DCA13MA120Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 777-200ER · San Francisco, CAThe flight crew's mismanagement of the airplane's descent during the visual approach, the pilot flying's unintended deactivation of automatic airspeed control, the flight crew's inadequate monitoring of airspeed, and the flight crew's delayed execution of a…Jul 6, 2013 · HL7742 · DestroyedNTSB DCA13MA081Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-400 BCF · Bagram, AfghanistanNational Airlines' inadequate procedures for restraining special cargo loads, which resulted in the loadmaster's improper restraint of the cargo, which moved aft and damaged hydraulic systems Nos. 1 and 2 and horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism components,…Apr 29, 2013 · N949CA · DestroyedNTSB CEN13FA075Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369 · Childress, TXThe improper maintenance of the helicopter fuel system that resulted in erroneous fuel gauge indications and the pilot’s inadequate fuel management, both of which resulted in fuel exhaustion during a long-line hover. Also causal was the lack of company…Nov 27, 2012 · N28MP · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13LA045Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32 · ObyanA partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and the pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during…Nov 18, 2012 · N4267R · Substantial damageNTSB ERA12FA423Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31P · Dalton, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control following loss of power in the right engine for reasons that could not be determined because of fire and impact damage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed feathering of the right propeller…Jun 30, 2012 · N33CG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12FA321Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206-L4 · (Gulf of Mexico)The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while landing on an obstructed helipad, which resulted in a collision and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the helipad owner to mark the helipad closed and the failure…May 28, 2012 · N7077F · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12FA290Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 401 · Chanute, KSThe malfunction of the cabin heater, which resulted in an inflight fire and smoke in the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of understanding concerning the status of the airplane's heater system following and earlier overheat event…May 11, 2012 · N9DM · Substantial damageNTSB DCA12MA020Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEurocopter France AS350B2 · Las Vegas, NVSundance Helicopters’ inadequate maintenance of the helicopter, including (1) the improper reuse of a degraded self-locking nut, (2) the improper or lack of installation of a split pin, and (3) inadequate postmaintenance inspections, which resulted in the…Dec 8, 2011 · N37SH · DestroyedNTSB ERA10GA320Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportCessna T210L · Lock Haven, PAThe total loss of engine power resulting from the fatigue failure of the engine's number 2 cylinder exhaust valve. The fatigue failure was due to valve guide wear that led to excessive clearance between the valve and valve guide. Contributing to the accident…Jun 21, 2010 · N30266 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10FA283Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchweizer 269C-1 · Boxborough, MAThe FAA inspector's rapid reduction of power which resulted in a loss of engine power and his decision to initiate a turn during the autorotation without sufficient altitude to clear obstacles. Contributing to the accident was the FAA’s lack of comprehensive…May 26, 2010 · N73SJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09LA469Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRaytheon 58 · Teterboro, NJThe complete loss of thrust due to the second-in-command’s (SIC) inadvertent feathering of both propellers during a high-speed, low-altitude approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-in-command’s inadequate monitoring of the SIC’s performance.…Aug 21, 2009 · N167TB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09MA447Accident · 9 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Hoboken, NJ(1) the inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which made it difficult for the airplane pilot to see the helicopter until the final seconds before the collision, and (2) the Teterboro Airport local controller’s nonpertinent telephone conversation,…Aug 8, 2009 · N71MC · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09PA348Accident · 2 fatalClass 1Final reportAgusta A109E · Santa Fe, NMThe pilot's decision to take off from a remote, mountainous landing site in dark (moonless) night, windy, instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were an organizational culture that prioritized mission execution over aviation safety…Jun 10, 2009 · N606SP · Destroyed