NTSB investigations, CA

14 cases where the phase of flight was Pushback/towing.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations, CA per year, 1982–2026: 14 cases
19821
19831
19851
19921
19941
19961
19991
20031
20071
20082
20101
20112

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH phase_names(main, name) AS (VALUES (100, 'Prior to flight'), (150, 'Standing'), (200, 'Pushback/towing'), (250, 'Taxi'), (300, 'Takeoff'), (350, 'Initial climb'), (400, 'Enroute'), (450, 'Maneuvering'), (500, 'Approach'), (550, 'Landing'), (600, 'Emergency descent'), (650, 'Uncontrolled descent'), (700, 'Post-impact'), (750, 'After landing'), (800, 'Other'), (990, 'Unknown')),
    crosswalk(code, main, name) AS (VALUES (500, 150, 'Standing'), (501, 150, 'Standing - pre-flight'), (502, 150, 'Standing - starting engine(s)'), (503, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) operating'), (504, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) not operating'), (505, 150, 'Standing - idling rotors'), (510, 250, 'Taxi'), (511, 200, 'Taxi - pushback/tow'), (512, 250, 'Taxi - to takeoff'), (513, 250, 'Taxi - from landing'), (514, 250, 'Taxi - aerial'), (520, 300, 'Takeoff'), (521, 300, 'Takeoff - roll/run'), (522, 350, 'Takeoff - initial climb'), (523, 300, 'Takeoff - aborted'), (530, 400, 'Climb'), (531, 400, 'Climb - to cruise'), (540, 400, 'Cruise'), (541, 400, 'Cruise - normal'), (542, 400, 'Maneuvering - holding (IFR)'), (550, 400, 'Descent'), (551, 400, 'Descent - normal'), (552, 600, 'Descent - emergency'), (553, 650, 'Descent - uncontrolled'), (560, 500, 'Approach'), (561, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - downwind'), (562, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base turn'), (563, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base leg/base to final'), (564, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - final approach'), (565, 500, 'Go-around (VFR)'), (566, 500, 'Approach - IAF to FAF/outer marker (IFR)'), (567, 500, 'Approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)'), (568, 500, 'Circling (IFR)'), (569, 500, 'Missed approach (IFR)'), (570, 550, 'Landing'), (571, 550, 'Landing - flare/touchdown'), (572, 550, 'Landing - roll'), (573, 550, 'Landing - aborted'), (574, 550, 'Emergency landing'), (575, 550, 'Emergency landing after takeoff'), (576, 600, 'Emergency descent/landing'), (580, 450, 'Maneuvering'), (581, 450, 'Maneuvering - aerial application'), (582, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction'), (583, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)'), (590, 450, 'Hover'), (591, 450, 'Hover - in ground effect'), (592, 450, 'Hover - out of ground effect'), (600, 800, 'Other'), (610, 990, 'Unknown')),
    current_codes AS (
      SELECT e.case_mkey, TRY_CAST(e.\"tier1Number\" AS INTEGER) AS code,
        row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY e.case_mkey ORDER BY coalesce(e.\"isDefiningEvent\", false) DESC, e.position) AS n
      FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e
      WHERE e.aircrafts_position = 1 AND e.\"tier1Number\" GLOB '[1-9][0-9]*'
        AND (e.\"isDefiningEvent\" OR e.case_mkey IN (SELECT \"mKey\" FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' WHERE \"isPre1982\"))
    ),
    phases AS (
      SELECT case_mkey, 'current' AS scheme, code, CASE WHEN code >= 990 THEN 990 ELSE code // 50 * 50 END AS main
      FROM current_codes WHERE n = 1
      UNION ALL
      SELECT o.case_mkey, 'older', o.\"phaseOfFlightCode\", w.main
      FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o JOIN crosswalk w ON w.code = o.\"phaseOfFlightCode\"
      WHERE o.aircrafts_position = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.case_mkey NOT IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM current_codes)
    ),
    case_phases AS (
      SELECT p.*, c.\"eventDate\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal' AS fatal, a.aircraft_model_code
      FROM phases p JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = p.case_mkey
      LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = p.case_mkey AND a.position = 1
      WHERE c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '1962-01-01' AND p.main IN (SELECT main FROM phase_names)
    )
  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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'CA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 200)
  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 DCA11CA073Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 757-222 · San Fransico, CAThe ramp personnel's failure to visually verify the position of the jetway before beginning the airplane pushback.Jun 12, 2011 · N571UA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA300Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing 757-222 · Los Angeles, CAThe ground crewmembers’ failure to follow proper procedures for removing a stuck or jammed tow bar, which resulted in a ground crew injury.May 31, 2011 · N526UA · Minor damageNTSB WPR10FA199Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-3H4 · Los Angeles, CAThe tug operator’s failure to comply with company procedures when parking an unoccupied baggage tug, and the failure of the tug’s seat switch to disengage the electric motor when weight was removed from the driver’s seat.Apr 10, 2010 · N624SW · Substantial damageNTSB DCA09FA022Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 · Los Angeles Intl Airport, CAThe first officer's unannounced advancement of the left engine throttle, which led to a sustained application of high thrust that caused the airplane to impact the tug.Dec 26, 2008 · N9617R · Substantial damageNTSB SEA08LA061Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBombardier CL-600-2C10 · San Francisco, CAThe company tug operator's failure to maintain clearance with another aircraft during the pushback process. Also causal was the ground controller's failure to alert the pilot of the other aircraft and tug operator of this airplane of the simultaneous pushback…Jan 14, 2008 · N705SK · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB LAX07LA189Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing 757-24APF · Burbank, CAThe tow tractor driver's and mechanic's diverted attention resulting in the airplane rolling over the mechanic's foot. Also causal was the mechanic's failure to maintain clearance from the nose landing gear.Apr 24, 2007 · N402UP · No damageNTSB LAX04LA007Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing 777-22B · San Francisco, CAthe failure of the taxiing Boeing 777's flight crew to maintain clearance from a Boeing 777 that was being pushed back from the gate. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the local ramp controller to caution either aircrew of a possible movement…Oct 7, 2003 · N222UA · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB LAX99LA302Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-322 · Los Angeles, CAThe lavatory service driver's failure to follow established company procedures and directives. A factor in the accident was the airline's use of a one person pushback procedure.Sep 12, 1999 · N388UA · Substantial damageNTSB LAX96LA222Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-322 · San Francisco, CAinadequate visual lookout by the United Airlines tug driver during the pushback operation. Contributing factors were: the driver's reduced ability to observe the American B-767 due to the nighttime condition, and United Airlines management's failure to ensure…Jun 7, 1996 · N371UA · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB LAX94LA357Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCanadair CL600 · Burbank, CAthe ground crew's failure to follow company procedures. The failure of the operator to provide headsets to communicate with the flightcrew and the poor lighting conditions were factors in this accident.Sep 8, 1994 · N403SW · Substantial damageNTSB LAX92LA336Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-200 · San Francisco, CAThe improper installation of the towbar. Contributing to the accident was a disconnected tow bar during push back.Aug 6, 1992 · N9010U · No damageNTSB LAX86IA021Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 727-200 · Oakland, CAOn October 24, 1985, an American airlines 727 collided with a parked united airlines 727 during a power back operation at Oakland, CA. IMC existed at the time with visibility limited to 0 ft due to fog. The aa ac sustained minor damage to its left wing and…Oct 24, 1985 · N6815A · Minor damageNTSB LAX84IA040Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 767 · San Francisco, CADuring pushback the right wingtip of the Boeing 767 struck the rudder of a Douglas DC-9 parked at the adjacent gate. The B-767 was being pushed back by two mechanics, one on thetug & one under the left wing.Nov 2, 1983 · N605TW · Minor damageNTSB LAX82FA195Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportDouglas DC10-10 · San Francisco, CADuring the initial pushback from the gate prior to eng start a loud noise was heard & the acft nose slowly settled onto the tug that was performing the pushback. The captain ordered the acft evacuated using the emergency slides. The upper jaw of the towbar…May 27, 1982 · N1833U · Substantial damage