NTSB investigations, 2020

156 cases where the phase of flight was Approach.

Cases per year

19622026
NTSB investigations, 2020 per year, 1962–2026: 20,992 cases
196214
196310
1964530
1965502
1966600
1967640
1968597
1969572
1970583
1971550
1972522
1973543
1974541
1975530
1976504
1977586
1978567
1979541
1980508
1981473
1982433
1983445
1984433
1985408
1986382
1987327
1988342
1989324
1990334
1991308
1992291
1993276
1994251
1995301
1996272
1997261
1998238
1999244
2000256
2001230
2002232
2003236
2004216
2005229
2006225
2007258
2008211
2009190
2010176
2011194
2012181
2013189
2014178
2015158
2016160
2017191
2018172
2019163
2020156
2021178
2022204
2023186
2024164
2025186
202690

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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2020
    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 WPR21LA075Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 35 · Santa Ynez, CAThe pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.Dec 28, 2020 · N5474D · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA091Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Pleasant Valley, NYA total loss of engine power due to failure of the magnetos, which were not overhauled in accordance with the manufacturer’s time specifications.Dec 27, 2020 · N8311X · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA089Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGlasflugel Club Libelle 205 · Bunn, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an off-airport landing.Dec 27, 2020 · N205HL · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA100Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportWalton Daniel J Sonex · Pecatonica, ILA total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, and the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following the loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and…Dec 24, 2020 · N610DJ · Substantial damageNTSB DCA21LA058Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus Industrie A320-232 · Houston, TXan encounter with forecasted convective turbulence during approach.Dec 23, 2020 · N463UA · No damageNTSB WPR21LA072Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportNavion Navion A · Livermore, CAThe improper installation of the gascolator fuel inlet line and hose clamp connection, which resulted in the total loss of engine power.Dec 21, 2020 · N4106K · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA083Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRaytheon Hawker · Farmingdale, NYThe flight crew’s delayed decision to initiate a go-around after the approach had become unstabilized, which resulted in a hard landing.Dec 21, 2020 · N412JA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA081Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Tampa, FLA total loss of engine power due to the student pilot inadvertently moving the fuel selector to the OFF position.Dec 18, 2020 · N6978W · DestroyedNTSB ERA21LA070Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA24 · Nashville, TNThe pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during the approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.Dec 12, 2020 · N7639P · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21WA086Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignBell 206 · Mambucaba, BrazilDec 11, 2020 · PP-MSA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA085Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8 · Manvel, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during his attempted landing and his loss of situational awareness that led to him to misidentify a pipeline field for the landing airpark.Dec 10, 2020 · N2238K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA067Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Dillon, MTThe student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.Dec 8, 2020 · N46017 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA080Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Palm Springs, CAThe student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with terrain.Dec 4, 2020 · N737NB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA059Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA38 · Pembroke Pines, FLA total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.Dec 2, 2020 · N2420F · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA068Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · French Lick, INThe pilot’s improper in-flight decision making which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Nov 28, 2020 · N5242W · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA067Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV4 · Telluride, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn from the base leg to final approach, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and entering an inadvertent aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude over mountainous…Nov 26, 2020 · N87LW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA055Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Manville, NJThe pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on approach to the runway, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane colliding with a tree on final approach.Nov 24, 2020 · N23NJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA054Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA32 · Greenville, SCA partial loss of engine power due to the pilot’s delayed application of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing.Nov 24, 2020 · N5566J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA050Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Cynthiana, KYThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper glide path during a visual approach that was conducted at night, resulting in a collision with trees and terrain.Nov 19, 2020 · N6203F · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA042Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRepublic RC3 · Advance, NCThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Nov 16, 2020 · N451E · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA054AccidentClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGeneral Atomics MQ-9 · Sierra Vista, AZThe pilot’s incorrect automated landing profile selection, which resulted in an impact with a runway trench. Contributing to the accident was the pilot receiving instruction's and instructor's failure to spot the incorrect landing profile selection during…Nov 13, 2020 · CBP233 · DestroyedNTSB WPR21FA048Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Los Angeles, CAMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the throttle control hardware during recent maintenance, which resulted in its disconnection and a subsequent loss of engine power on approach for landing.Nov 12, 2020 · N939CP · DestroyedNTSB CEN21LA060Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA22 · Salem, INThe pilot’s failure to avoid an obstacle during his approach to land.Nov 12, 2020 · N3535A · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21FA045Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 177 · Langley, WAThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control while attempting to conduct an emergency landing. Contributing to the accident was a total loss of engine power as a result of…Nov 11, 2020 · N34633 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA041Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20C · Laconia, NHThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an approach in sun glare and hazy conditions.Nov 9, 2020 · N3296F · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA040Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Raleigh, NCThe pilot's loss of helicopter control after entry into vortex ring state, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tailboom, and impact with the ground.Nov 8, 2020 · N123NC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA048Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Greenville, MIThe loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during a low approach over the airport, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.Nov 7, 2020 · N9993W · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21WA050Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCirrus SR22 · Nelspruit, South AfricaNov 6, 2020 · ZS-CNM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA045Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJust SuperSTOL · Edgard, LAThe loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined with the available information.Nov 5, 2020 · N339PW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA035Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman GA7 · Ellicott, NYThe pilot’s continued descent below the minimum descent altitude while conducting an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Nov 1, 2020 · N791GA · DestroyedNTSB WPR21LA032Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Billings, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent glide path while on final approach for reasons that could not be determined from available evidence.Oct 31, 2020 · N124TW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21WA093Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · ForeignCessna 401B · Toussus-le-Noble, FranceOct 30, 2020 · N517HC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA027Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Eurocopter AS350B3 · Silver City, NMThe pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude above terrain while operating in reduced visibility due to snow showers.Oct 27, 2020 · N530H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA030Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 210 · Lubbock, TXThe pilot’s improper decision to fly into icing conditions with an airplane that was not equipped for icing, which led to structural icing and a subsequent loss of airplane control, and the pilot’s impairment from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a cracked…Oct 26, 2020 · N9622T · DestroyedNTSB WPR21LA023Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Carefree, AZThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.Oct 24, 2020 · N7029T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA017Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Puyallup, WAA partial loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing and the flight instructors failure to use carburetor heat.Oct 18, 2020 · N4673R · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA016Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A1 · Moses Lake, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from telephone wires while on final approach for landing which resulted in a collision.Oct 18, 2020 · N9600J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA025Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAero Bristell Bristell LSA · Carlisle, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an attempted go-around in gusty crosswinds.Oct 18, 2020 · N438BL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA024Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R22 · Winder, GAMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the engine cooling fan attachment bolts, leading to vibration of the cooling fan, the overextension of the tension belt actuator, the failure of the drive system vee-belts, and the loss of power to the rotor…Oct 18, 2020 · N566BC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA012Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150 · Bishop, CAA loss of engine power due to the pilot’s inadvertent closure of the mixture control which starved the engine of fuel and resulted in a hard landing and collision with terrain.Oct 11, 2020 · N22963 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA014Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA32R · Kimberling City, MOThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in his inadvertent departure with the tow bar connected to the nose wheel, and the low approach while returning to the airport, which allowed the tow bar to contact trees.Oct 10, 2020 · N3445Q · DestroyedNTSB ENG21WA005IncidentClass 5 · ForeignATR ATR72 · Makassar, IndonesiaOct 3, 2020 · PK-WGT · No damageNTSB CEN21LA002Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182 · Byers, COA partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Oct 3, 2020 · N9901E · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA002Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportZenith CH601 · Burlington, WAThe total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.Oct 1, 2020 · N601SA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20WA426Accident · 3 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCirrus SR22 · Le Chevillotte, FranceSep 28, 2020 · N918SE · DestroyedNTSB CEN20LA421Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A36 · Lago Vista, TXThe pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel system which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack…Sep 28, 2020 · N104RK · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA325Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T210 · Bridgeport, CAAn inadvertent retraction of the flaps during a go-around by the pilot-rated passenger, which caused the airplane to settle onto the runway with the landing gear retracted.Sep 25, 2020 · N300JS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA419Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172S · San Marcos, TXThe F1 pilot’s failure to see and avoid the lower altitude Cessna while on final approach for landing. Contributing to the accident were the restrictions to pilot visibility inherent to low- and high-wing airplanes, and both pilots’ failure to recognize the…Sep 25, 2020 · N108VK · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA336Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · La Grange, NCThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during final approach, which resulted in a collision with trees.Sep 23, 2020 · N5439E · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA332Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGlasair 1RG · Hagerstown, MDThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Sep 23, 2020 · N324DJ · Substantial damage