# Major NTSB investigations: Takeoff

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB DCA26MA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26MA024.md): Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11F · Louisville, KY · Accident · 14 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Preliminary report · Nov 4, 2025 · N259UP · Destroyed
  > On November 4, 2025, about 1714 eastern standard time (EST), United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 2976, a Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) MD-11F airplane, N259UP, was destroyed after it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff from runway 17R at Louisville Muhammad…
- [NTSB ERA25MA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25MA106.md): Learjet 55 · Philadelphia, PA · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 2 · Major · Preliminary report · Jan 31, 2025 · XA-UCI · Destroyed
  > On January 31, 2025, at 1807 eastern standard time, a Learjet 55 airplane, Mexican registration XA-UCI (call sign MTS056) was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two pilots, two medical crewmembers, and two…
- [NTSB DCA23FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23FA149.md): Boeing 737-79P · Austin, TX · Incident · No injuries · Class 1 · Field · Final report · Feb 4, 2023 · N7827A · 2 aircraft · No damage
  > the local controller’s incorrect assumption that the Southwest Airlines (SWA) airplane would depart from the runway before the Federal Express airplane arrived on the same runway, which resulted in a loss of separation between both airplanes. Contributing to…
- [NTSB DCA23LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA125.md): Boeing 737-900ER · Queens, NY · Incident · No injuries · Class 1 · Limited · Final report · Jan 14, 2023 · N914DU · 2 aircraft · No damage
  > The American Airlines flight 106 (AAL106) crew’s surface navigation error due to distractions caused by their performance of concurrent operational tasks during taxi, which resulted in a loss of situational awareness. Contributing to the incident was the air…
- [NTSB DCA22MA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22MA009.md): Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-87 (MD-87) · Brookshire, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 2 · Major · Final report · Oct 19, 2021 · N987AK · Destroyed
  > The jammed condition of both elevators, which resulted from exposure to localized, dynamic high wind while the airplane was parked and prevented the airplane from rotating during the takeoff roll. Also causal was the failure of Everts Air Cargo, the pilots’…
- [NTSB WPR19MA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19MA177.md): Beech 65-A90 · Mokuleia, HI · Accident · 11 fatal · Class 2 · Major · Final report · Jun 22, 2019 · N256TA · Destroyed
  > The 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…
- [NTSB DCA17FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17FA076.md): Mcdonnell Douglas MD80 · Ypsilanti, MI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 1 · Field · Final report · Mar 8, 2017 · N786TW · Substantial damage
  > the jammed condition of the airplane's right elevator, which resulted from exposure to localized, dynamic wind while the airplane was parked and rendered the airplane unable to rotate during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were (1) the effect of a large…
- [NTSB DCA17FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA17FA021.md): Boeing 767 · Chicago, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 1 · Field · Final report · Oct 28, 2016 · N345AN · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 disk, which severed the main engine fuel feed line and breached the right main wing fuel tank, releasing fuel that resulted in a fire on the right side of the airplane during the takeoff roll. The HPT…
- [NTSB CEN15MA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15MA290.md): Airbus Helicopters AS350B3E · Frisco, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jul 3, 2015 · N390LG · Destroyed
  > Airbus Helicopters' dual-hydraulic AS350 B3e helicopter's (1) preflight hydraulic check, which depleted hydraulic pressure in the tail rotor hydraulic circuit, and (2) lack of salient alerting to the pilot that hydraulic pressure was not restored before…
- [NTSB ERA14MA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14MA271.md): Gulfstream Aerospace G IV · Bedford, MA · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jun 1, 2014 · N121JM · Destroyed
  > The 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.…
- [NTSB DCA14MA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA14MA081.md): Airbus A320 - 214 · Philadelphia, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 2 · Major · Final report · Mar 13, 2014 · N113UW · Substantial damage
  > the captain's decision to reject the takeoff after the airplane had rotated. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to follow standard operating procedures by not verifying that the airplane's flight management computer was properly…
- [NTSB DCA11MA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11MA076.md): Gulfstream GVI · Roswell, NM · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Apr 2, 2011 · N652GD · Substantial damage
  > The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: an aerodynamic stall and subsequent uncommanded roll during a one engine-inoperative takeoff flight test, which were the result of (1) Gulfstream’s failure…
- [NTSB DCA09MA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA09MA021.md): Boeing 737-524 · Denver, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Dec 21, 2008 · N18611 · Substantial damage
  > The captain’s cessation of right rudder input, which was needed to maintain directional control of the airplane, about 4 seconds before the excursion, when the airplane encountered a strong and gusty crosswind that exceeded the captain’s training and…
- [NTSB DCA08MA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA08MA098.md): Learjet LR60 · Columbia, SC · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Sep 20, 2008 · N999LJ · Destroyed
  > The operator’s inadequate maintenance of the airplane’s tires, which resulted in multiple tire failures during takeoff roll due to severe underinflation, and the captain’s execution of a rejected takeoff (RTO) after V1, which was inconsistent with her…
- [NTSB CHI06FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06FA210.md): de Havilland DHC-6-100 · Sullivan, MO · Accident · 6 fatal · Class 1 · Field · Final report · Jul 29, 2006 · N203E · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed following a loss of power in the right engine due to the fracturing of compressor turbine blades for undetermined reasons. Contributing to some parachutists' injuries was the lack of a more effective restraint system…
- [NTSB DCA05MA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA05MA031.md): Bombardier CL-600-1A11 · Teterboro, NJ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Feb 2, 2005 · N370V · Substantial damage
  > the pilots' failure to ensure the airplane was loaded within weight and balance limits and their attempt to takeoff with the center of gravity well forward of the forward takeoff limit, which prevented the airplane from rotating at the intended rotation…
- [NTSB DEN05MA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05MA029.md): Canadair CL-600-2A12 · Montrose, CO · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Nov 28, 2004 · N873G · Destroyed
  > the flight crew's failure to ensure that the airplane’s wings were free of ice or snow contamination that accumulated while the airplane was on the ground, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with upper wing contamination that induced the subsequent stall…
- [NTSB DCA03MA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA03MA022.md): Beech 1900D · Charlotte, NC · Accident · 21 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jan 8, 2003 · N233YV · Destroyed
  > the airplane's loss of pitch control during take-off. The loss of pitch control resulted from the incorrect rigging of the elevator system compounded by the airplane's aft center of gravity, which was substaintially aft of the certified aft limit.…
- [NTSB DCA02MA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA02MA026.md): Canadair CL-600-2B19 · Dulles Airport, VA · Accident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report · Mar 9, 2002 · N622BR · Substantial damage
  > the airplane's collision with two wild turkeys.
- [NTSB DCA97MA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA97MA059.md): Douglas DC-8-61 · Miami, FL · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Aug 7, 1997 · N27UA · Destroyed
  > The airplane being misloaded to produce a more aft center of gravity and a correspondingly incorrect stabilizer trim setting that precipitated an extreme pitch-up at rotation, was (1) the failure of Fine Air to exercise operational control over the cargo…
- [NTSB CHI97MA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97MA017.md): Gulfstream G-IV · Wheeling, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Oct 30, 1996 · N23AC · Destroyed
  > failure of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll in a gusty crosswind, his failure to abort the takeoff, and failure of the copilot to adequately monitor and/or take sufficient remedial action to…
- [NTSB DCA96MA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA96MA068.md): McDonnell Douglas MD-88 · Pensacola, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jul 6, 1996 · N927DA · Substantial damage
  > the fracture of the left engine's front compressor fan hub, which resulted from the failure of Delta Air Lines' fluorescent penetrant inspection process to detect a detectable fatigue crack initiating from an area of altered microstructure that was created…
- [NTSB DCA96MA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA96MA029.md): Boeing 747-136 · Jamaica, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Dec 20, 1995 · N605FF · Substantial damage
  > the captain's failure to reject the takeoff in a timely manner when excessive nosewheel steering tiller inputs resulted in a loss of directional control on a slippery runway. Inadequate Boeing 747 slippery runway operating procedures developed by Tower Air,…
- [NTSB ATL95MA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95MA106.md): Douglas DC-9-32 · Atlanta, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jun 8, 1995 · N908VJ · Substantial damage
  > failure of Turk Hava Yollari maintenance and inspection personnel to perform a proper inspection of a 7th stage high compressor disc, thus allowing the detectable crack to grow to a length at which the disc ruptured, under normal operating conditions,…
- [NTSB DCA95MA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA95MA020.md): Douglas DC-8-63 · Kansas City, MO · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Feb 17, 1995 · N782AL · Destroyed
  > (1) The loss of directional control by the pilot in command during the takeoff roll, and his decision to continue the takeoff and initiate a rotation below the computed rotation airspeed, resulting in a premature liftoff, further loss of control and collision…
- [NTSB CHI95MA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95MA044.md): Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 · Bridgeton, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Nov 23, 1994 · N954U · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The Cessna 441 pilot's mistaken belief that his assigned departure runway was runway 30R, which resulted in his undetected entrance onto runway 30R, which was being used by the MD-82 for its departure. Contributing to the accident was the lack of Automatic…
- [NTSB DCA94MA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA038.md): Mcdonnell Douglas MD-82 · Flushing, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Mar 2, 1994 · N18835 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the flightcrew to comply with checklist procedures to turn on an operable pitot/static heat system, resulting in ice and/or snow blockage of the pitot tubes that produced erroneous airspeed indications, and the flightcrew's untimely response to…
- [NTSB CHI91MA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91MA224.md): Learjet 23 · Detroit, MI · Accident · 3 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jul 23, 1991 · N959SC · Destroyed
  > Improper preflight by the pilot, his failure to abort the takeoff while there was sufficient runway remaining, and his failure to assure that the aircraft attained sufficient airspeed for lift-off and climb. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's…
- [NTSB DCA89MA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA89MA074.md): Boeing 737-400 · Flushing, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Sep 21, 1989 · N416US · Destroyed
  > The captain's failure to exercise his command authority in a timely manner to reject the takeoff or take sufficient control to continue the takeoff, which was initiated with a mistrimmed rudder. Also causal was the captain's failure to detect the mistrimmed…
- [NTSB DEN89MA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89MA130.md): Bell 206L-3 · Big Timber, MT · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jun 2, 1989 · N76KM · Destroyed
  > Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the terrain. Contributing factors were: dark night, pilot's visual perception, inadequate initial training of the pilot…
- [NTSB ATL89MA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89MA072.md): Hawker Siddeley HS.748 Series 2A · Tipp City, OH · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 12, 1989 · CGDOV · Destroyed
  > Improper IFR procedure by the first officer (copilot) during takeoff, his lack of instrument scan (improper use of flight/navigation instruments), his failure to maintain a positive rate of climb or to identify the resultant descent, and the captain's…
- [NTSB FTW87MA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87MA135.md): MBB BO-105CBS · Bay City, MI · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 1987 · N550H · Destroyed
  > Acft was involved in EMS static demonstration at beaver township fire dept, near Bay City. Following demonstration, shortly after takeoff, the pilot attempted a steep downwind turn at low altitude. Reported winds at the time of the accident were 250 degrees…
- [NTSB DEN86MA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86MA241.md): Cessna 441 · Lander, WY · Accident · 7 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Aug 29, 1986 · N2727A · Destroyed
  > On 5/1/86, the plt had an acoustic tumor removed fm his rgt ear which included the removal of the 8th nerve (balance nerve). His attending physician suggested aprx a 1 yr period of recuperation due to equilibrium problems associated with this type of surgery.…
- [NTSB CHI86MA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86MA142.md): Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31 · Chicago, IL · Incident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report · May 17, 1986 · N973VJ · 2 aircraft · Minor damage
  > U.S. Air flight 373 passed over American airlines flight 695 at the intersection of runways 32R and 4L while both aircraft were taking off. Both aircraft had been cleared for takeoff by the local controller at o'hare tower. The aircraft came within twenty…
- [NTSB FTW86MA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86MA030.md): Boeing 737-2H4 · Dallas, TX · Incident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 3, 1986 · N86SW · Minor damage
  > This incident occurred when the no. 2 engine experienced an aft engine mount cone bolt failure and the subsequent failure of the secondary support link (stainless steel cable). The failure of both aft engine support assemblies during the takeoff roll allowed…
- [NTSB DCA84AA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA013.md): McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF · Anchorage, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Dec 23, 1983 · H7339 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed
  > A Piper PA-31, N35206, (south central air flt 59) was cleared to taxi to rwy 6L. The wx at that time was foggy with about 1/8 mi vsiibility, but the RVR was improving & the arpt was expected soon to be acceptable for takeoffs. The PA-31 crew taxied & waited…
- [NTSB DCA83AA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA005.md): Cessna 551 · Mountain View, MO · Accident · 3 fatal · Final report · Nov 18, 1982 · N2CA · Destroyed
  > The plt called from home at 0909 for an IFR clearance which became valid until 0930. He said he needed 15 min to get to the arpt. The call ended at 0914. The chief plt preflighted the acft while the plt was enroute to the arpt. The plt arrived between 0920 &…
- [NTSB CHI80AA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80AA024.md): Falcon 10 · Chicago, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jan 30, 1980 · N253K · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA76AM007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76AM007-79657.md): Dehavilland DH114 · San Juan, PR · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · Jul 11, 1975 · N570PR · Substantial damage
- [NTSB DCA71AZ012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA71AZ012.md): Douglas DC-8 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · 47 fatal · Closed · Nov 27, 1970 · N4909C · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK70A0028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70A0028.md): Douglas DC-8 · Stockton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Oct 16, 1969 · N8634 · Destroyed

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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.board_report_url IS NOT NULL OR c."investigationClass" = 'Class 1' OR c."caseType" = 'Major - Launch')
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 300)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300/cases?major=1

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OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.