Fatal NTSB investigations, VT

18 cases where the phase of flight was Approach.

Cases per year

19642026
Fatal NTSB investigations, VT per year, 1964–2026: 18 cases
19641
19721
19762
19771
19781
19791
19801
19841
19851
19901
19951
20051
20062
20092
20181

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\" = 'VT' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 500)
  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 ERA18FA232Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA22 · Island Pond, VTThe pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.Aug 25, 2018 · N6936B · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10FA029Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172P · Bennington, VTThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a night approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s non-standard traffic pattern over higher terrain.Oct 25, 2009 · N55479 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09LA323Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportYork Ronald J Rotorway 162F · Berlin, VTA loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons.Jun 5, 2009 · N162RY · DestroyedNTSB NYC07FA038Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSmith, Ted Aerostar 601P · West Dover, VTA loss of control during approach for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a collision with trees.Dec 2, 2006 · N9797Q · DestroyedNTSB NYC06MA192Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEmbraer 110P1 · Pownal, VTThe pilot's misinterpretation of the airplane's position relative to the final approach fix, which resulted in the displacement of the descent profile by 6 nautical miles and the subsequent controlled flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident…Aug 4, 2006 · N59BA · DestroyedNTSB NYC06FA034Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Burlington, VTThe pilot's failure to follow the published instrument flight procedure, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors in the accident were the local air traffic controller's inadequate monitoring of the MSAW system, and his delayed…Nov 22, 2005 · N26399 · Substantial damageNTSB BFO95FA058Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Highgate, VTthe failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other. A factor was the Cessna 172H pilot's impairment due to medication.Jun 10, 1995 · N10913 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB NYC90FA054Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310R · Burlington, VTFor an unknown reason, the aircraft entered a descent and crashed in a lake.Jan 16, 1990 · N5115J · DestroyedNTSB NYC85FA152Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchempp-Hirth VENTUS-B · Waitsfield, VTThis glider was involved in a soaring championship course. About 52 minutes after starting the course witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering for a landing on an open field. While in a steep bank the aircraft stalled and impacted the ground.Jun 19, 1985 · N240WT · DestroyedNTSB NYC84FA294Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 414 · Wallingford, VTThe plt was executing second attempt for a instrument apch, lda rwy 19, following a missed apch on the first attempt. The plt last reported over the iaf, 9 mis north of the arpt. The acft collided with a mountain at a elevation of 1700 ftand 5 mis south of…Aug 24, 1984 · N18SM · DestroyedNTSB NYC80FA049Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 210H · Lyndonville, VTJul 2, 1980 · N2229R · DestroyedNTSB NYC79FA029Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Springfield, VTMar 10, 1979 · N27530 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC78FA040Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Montpelier, VTApr 7, 1978 · N8559Y · DestroyedNTSB NYC78FA001Accident · 4 fatalClosedMooney M20J · Morristown, VTOct 26, 1977 · N201GT · Substantial damageNTSB NYC77FA015Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Sherburne, VTNov 23, 1976 · N5376Q · DestroyedNTSB NYC76AN077Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172K · Burlington, VTFeb 11, 1976 · N79285 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC73AN083Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 411 · Winooski, VTDec 15, 1972 · N111DS · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3525Accident · 1 fatalClosedSchweizer 1-26 · Moretown, VTAug 21, 1964 · N3832A · Substantial damage