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Major NTSB investigations

164 cases where the phase of flight was Approach.

Cases per year

19622026

Where

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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.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 = 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 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 CEN19MA312Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · MajorFinal reportConvair 440 · Monclova, OHThe flight crew’s failure to maintain the proper airspeed on final approach, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with trees, and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew’s fatigue due to the overnight flight schedule.Sep 11, 2019 · N24DR · DestroyedNTSB WPR18MA087Accident · 5 fatalClass 3 · MajorFinal reportEurocopter EC130 · Peach Springs, AZA loss of tail rotor effectiveness, the pilot’s subsequent loss of helicopter control, and collision with terrain during an approach to land in gusting, tailwind conditions in an area of potential downdrafts and turbulence.Feb 11, 2018 · N155GC · DestroyedNTSB DCA17IA148Incident · No injuriesClass 1 · IncidentFinal reportAirbus A320-211 · San Francisco, CAThe flight crew's misidentification of taxiway C as the intended landing runway, which resulted from the crewmembers' lack of awareness of the parallel runway closure due to their ineffective review of notice to airmen (NOTAM) information before the flight…Jul 8, 2017 · C-FKCK · No damageNTSB 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 DCA16MA204Accident · 16 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportKubicek BB85 · Lockhart, TXThe pilot's pattern of poor decision-making that led to the initial launch, continued flight in fog and above clouds, and descent near or through clouds that decreased the pilot's ability to see and avoid obstacles. Contributing to the accident were (1) the…Jul 30, 2016 · N2469L · 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 WPR15MA243Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · San Diego, CAThe local controller's (LC) failure to properly identify the aircraft in the pattern and to ensure control instructions provided to the intended Cessna on downwind were being performed before turning Eagle1 into its path for landing. Contributing to the LC's…Aug 16, 2015 · N1285U · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB DCA15MA029Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEmbraer EMB-500 · Gaithersburg, MDthe pilot's conduct of an approach in structural icing conditions without turning on the airplane's wing and horizontal stabilizer deice system, leading to ice accumulation on those surfaces, and without using the appropriate landing performance speeds for…Dec 8, 2014 · N100EQ · 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 DCA13MA133Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAirbus A300 - F4 622R · Birmingham, ALthe flight crew's continuation of an unstabilized approach and their failure to monitor the aircraft's altitude during the approach, which led to an inadvertent descent below the minimum approach altitude and subsequently into terrain. Contributing to the…Aug 14, 2013 · N155UP · DestroyedNTSB 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 ERA13MA139Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 390 · Thomson, GAThe pilot's failure to follow airplane flight manual procedures for an antiskid failure in flight and his failure to immediately retract the lift dump after he elected to attempt a go-around on the runway. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of…Feb 21, 2013 · N777VG · DestroyedNTSB DCA12FA051Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportConvair 440 - NO Series · San Juan, PRthe flight crew's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after shutting down the right engine due to an in-flight fire in one of the right augmentors. The failure to maintain airspeed resulted in either an aerodynamic stall or a loss of directional control.Mar 15, 2012 · N153JR · DestroyedNTSB CEN10MA088Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 35A · Prospect Heights, ILA loss of control for undetermined reasons.Jan 5, 2010 · N720RA · Substantial damageNTSB DCA09MA027Accident · 50 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBombardier DHC-8-402 · Clarence Center, NYThe captain’s inappropriate response to the activation of the stick shaker, which led to an aerodynamic stall from which the airplane did not recover. Contributing to the accident were (1) the flight crew's failure to monitor airspeed in relation to the…Feb 13, 2009 · N200WQ · DestroyedNTSB CEN09MA142Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320 · Lubbock, TXThe flight crew's failure to monitor and maintain a minimum safe airspeed while executing an instrument approach in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. Contributing to the accident were 1) the flight crew's failure to…Jan 27, 2009 · N902FX · Substantial damageNTSB MIA08MA203Accident · 4 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAerospatiale SA365N-1 D · District Heights, MDThe pilot's attempt to regain visual conditions by performing a rapid descent and his failure to arrest the descent at the minimum descent altitude during a nonprecision approach. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot’s limited recent instrument…Sep 28, 2008 · N92MD · Substantial damageNTSB DEN08MA116Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Flagstaff, AZBoth helicopter pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of N407GA’s pilot to follow flight arrival route guidelines, and the failure of N407MJ’s pilot to follow…Jun 29, 2008 · N407GA · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB SEA08MA136Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS-350-D · Avalon, CALoss of engine power during approach for landing due to a fatigue fracture of a power turbine blade.May 24, 2008 · N67GE · DestroyedNTSB NYC08MA090Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportRaytheon C90A · Mount Airy, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper decision to descend below the minimum descent altitude, and failure to follow the published missed approach…Feb 1, 2008 · N57WR · Substantial damageNTSB 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 NYC06MA131Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEurocopter EC-135P1 · Washington, DCThe operator's inadequate training program and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter following his inadvertent disabling of the No. 1 and then the No. 2 engine full authority digital engine control system.May 30, 2006 · N601FH · DestroyedNTSB NYC06MA005Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportAugusta 109E · Smethport, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors in the accident were, night instrument meteorological conditions, pilot workload, and improper air traffic control procedures by the approach controller.Oct 8, 2005 · N7YL · DestroyedNTSB DCA05MA037Accident · 8 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportCessna 560 · Pueblo, COthe flight crew's failure to effectively monitor and maintain airspeed and comply with procedures for deice boot activation on the approach, which caused an aerodynamic stall from which they did not recover. Contributing to the accident was the Federal…Feb 16, 2005 · N500AT · DestroyedNTSB DCA05MA011Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGulfstream Aerospace G-III · Houston, TXthe flight crew's failure to adequately monitor and cross check the flight instruments during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to select the instrument landing system frequency in a timely manner and to adhere to…Nov 22, 2004 · N85VT · DestroyedNTSB IAD05MA006Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBeech 200 · Stuart, VAThe flight crew's failure to properly execute the published instrument approach procedure, including the published missed approach procedure, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the flight crew's…Oct 24, 2004 · N501RH · DestroyedNTSB DCA05MA004Accident · 13 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBritish Aerospace Jetstream 32 · Kirksville, MOthe pilots' failure to follow established procedures and properly conduct a nonprecision instrument approach at night in IMC, including their descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) before required visual cues were available (which continued…Oct 20, 2004 · N875JX · DestroyedNTSB DCA04MA068Accident · 1 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportConvair Div. of Gen. Dynamics CV-340 (580) · Florence, KYfuel starvation resulting from the captain's decision not to follow approved fuel crossfeed procedures. Contributing to the accident were the captain's inadequate preflight planning, his subsequent distraction during the flight, and his lateinitiation of the…Aug 13, 2004 · N586P · DestroyedNTSB DEN04MA015Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Cody, WYthe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors include the pilot's failure to divert to an alternate airport, an inadvertent stall, and the snow and icing conditions.Oct 29, 2003 · N791FE · Substantial damageNTSB FTW03MA160Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-300 · Amarillo, TXthe flight crew's failure to align the airplane's ground track with the runway centerline before touchdown and the flight crew's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's…May 25, 2003 · N343SW · Substantial damageNTSB DCA03MA008Accident · 8 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBeech King Air 100 · Eveleth, MNThe flight crew's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to an aerodynamic stall from which they did not recover.Oct 25, 2002 · N41BE · DestroyedNTSB DCA02MA054Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 727-232 · Tallahassee, FLThe captain's and first officer's failure to establish and maintain a proper glidepath during the night visual approach to landing. Contributing to the accident was a combination of the captain's and first officer's fatigue, the captain's and first officer's…Jul 26, 2002 · N497FE · DestroyedNTSB DCA02MA042Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-11F · Subic Bay, PhilippinesThe failure of the lower outboard nut and bolt assembly of the left inboard flap's outboard hinge that resulted from stress corrosion cracking and fatigue. Factors contributing to the accident were the inadequate materials specification of the bolt, and…Jun 2, 2002 · N601FE · Substantial damageNTSB DCA01MA034Accident · 18 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGrumman Gulfstream III · Aspen, COthe flight crew's operation of the airplane below the minimum descent altitude without an appropriate visual reference for the runway. Contributing to the cause of the accident were the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) unclear wording of the March 27,…Mar 30, 2001 · N303GA · DestroyedNTSB DCA00MA052Accident · 19 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBritish Aerospace J-3101 · Bear Creek Town, PAThe flight crew’s failure to ensure an adequate fuel supply for the flight, which led to the stoppage of the right engine due to fuel exhaustion and the intermittent stoppage of the left engine due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident were the…May 21, 2000 · N16EJ · DestroyedNTSB CHI00MA066Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportMoravan Z242L · Zion, ILClearance not maintained by the pilot of the other airplane. A factor relating to the accident was the airport control tower's local controller's failure to provide effective sequencing.Feb 8, 2000 · N5ZA · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB DCA98MA023Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 727-223 · Chicago, ILthe failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper pitch attitude for a successful landing or go-around. Contributing to the accident were the divergent pitch oscillations of the airplane, which occurred during the final approach and were the result of an…Feb 9, 1998 · N845AA · Substantial damageNTSB FTW98MA096Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 25B · Houston, TXThe flight crew's continued descent of the airplane below the glideslope and through the published decision height without visual contact with the runway environment. Also, when the captain encountered difficulty tracking the localizer course, his improper…Jan 13, 1998 · N627WS · DestroyedNTSB DCA97MA058Accident · 228 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-300 · Nimitz Hillthe captain's failure to adequately brief and execute the nonprecision approach and the first officer's and flight engineer's failure to effectively monitor and cross-check the captain's execution of the approach. Contributing to these failures were the…Aug 6, 1997 · H7468 · DestroyedNTSB DCA97MA017Accident · 29 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEmbraer EMB-120RT · Monroe, MIThe Federal Aviation Adminstration's (FAA) failure to establish adequate aircraft certification standards for flight in icing conditions, the FAA's failure to ensure that at Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial/FAA-approved procedure for the accident airplane's deice…Jan 9, 1997 · N265CA · DestroyedNTSB NYC97MA005Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-88 · Flushing, NYThe Safety Board's full report is available at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. NTSB Report AAR-97/03. the inability of the captain, because of his use of monovision contact lenses, to overcome his misperception of the airplane's position relative to the…Oct 19, 1996 · N914DL · Substantial damageNTSB DCA96MA008Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-83 · East Granby, CTthe flightcrew's failure to maintain the required minimum descent altitude until the required visual references identifiable with the runway were in sight. Contributing factors were the failure of the BDL approach controller to furnish the flightcrew with a…Nov 12, 1995 · N566AA · Substantial damageNTSB DCA95MA006Accident · 15 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBritish Aerospace Jetstream 3201 · Morrisville, NC1) the captain's improper assumption that an engine had failed, and 2) the captain's subsequent failure to follow approved procedures for engine failure, single-engine approach and go-around, and stall recovery. Contributing to the cause of the accident was…Dec 13, 1994 · N918AE · DestroyedNTSB DCA94MA076Accident · 132 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing B-737-300 · Aliquippa, PAA loss of control of the airplane resulting from the movement of the rudder surface to its blowdown limit. The rudder surface most likely deflected in a direction opposite to that commanded by the pilots as a result of a jam of the main rudder power control…Sep 8, 1994 · N513AU · DestroyedNTSB DCA94MA065Accident · 37 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-9-31 · Charlotte, NC1) The flightcrew's decision to continue an approach into severe convective activity that was conducive to a microburst; 2) the flightcrew's failure to recognize a windshear situation in a timely manner; 3)the flightcrew's failure to establish and maintain…Jul 2, 1994 · N954VJ · DestroyedNTSB DCA94MA061Accident · 12 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportLearjet 25D · Chantilly, VAThe poor decisionmaking, poor airmanship, and relative inexperience of the captain in initiating and continuing an unstabilized instrument approach that led to a descent below the authorized altitude without visual contact with the runway environment.…Jun 18, 1994 · XABBA · DestroyedNTSB DCA94MA027Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportJetstream 4101 · Columbus, OH(1) An aerodynamic stall that occurred when the flightcrew allowed the airspeed to decay to stall speed following a very poorly planned and executed approach characterized by an absence of procedural discipline; (2) Improper pilot response to the stall…Jan 8, 1994 · N304UE · DestroyedNTSB DCA94MA022Accident · 18 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportJetstream BA-3100 · Hibbing, MNThe captain's actions that led to a breakdown in crew coordination and the loss of altitude awareness by the flightcrew during an unstabilized approach in night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were: the failure of the…Dec 2, 1993 · N334PX · DestroyedNTSB CHI94MA032Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 421B · Greensburg, INan inadvertent stall by the pilot in command. Factors associated with the accident are the icing conditions and low ceilings.Nov 6, 1993 · N41010 · Destroyed