# Major NTSB investigations: In flight collision with terrain/water

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 DEN07MA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07MA134.md): Beech E90B · Ruidoso, NM · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Aug 6, 2007 · N369CD · Destroyed
  > Failure to maintain clearance from terrain due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB NYC06MA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06MA192.md): Embraer 110P1 · Pownal, VT · Accident · 1 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Aug 4, 2006 · N59BA · Destroyed
  > The 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…
- [NTSB SEA05MA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05MA085.md): Lockheed P-3B · Chico, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Apr 21, 2005 · N926AU · Destroyed
  > Terrain clearance was not maintained while maneuvering for undetermined reasons. Mountainous terrain was a factor.
- [NTSB NYC05MA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05MA039.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2 · Oxon Hill, MD · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 11, 2005 · N136LN · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the dark night conditions, limited outside visual references, and the lack of an operable radar altimeter…
- [NTSB IAD05FA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05FA023.md): CASA 212-200-CC · Bamiyan, Afghanistan · Accident · 6 fatal · Class 1 · Field · Final report · Nov 27, 2004 · N960BW · Destroyed
  > the captain's inappropriate decision to fly a nonstandard route and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in the inflight collision with mountainous terrain. Factors were the operator's failure to require its flight crews to file…
- [NTSB IAD05MA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05MA006.md): Beech 200 · Stuart, VA · Accident · 10 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Oct 24, 2004 · N501RH · Destroyed
  > The 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…
- [NTSB DCA04MA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA04MA030.md): Sikorsky S76A++ · Gulf of Mexico · Accident · 10 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Mar 23, 2004 · N579EH · Destroyed
  > the flight crew's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent for undetermined reasons, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB LAX03MA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03MA292.md): Aerospatiale AS350BA · GrandCanyonWest, AZ · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Sep 20, 2003 · N270SH · Destroyed
  > The pilot's disregard of safe flying procedures and misjudgment of the helicopter's proximity to terrain, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a canyon wall. Contributing to the accident was the failure of Sundance Helicopters and the Federal…
- [NTSB DCA01MA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA01MA065.md): Boeing 757 · Shanksville, PA · Accident · 44 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Sep 11, 2001 · N591UA · Destroyed
  > The Safety Board did not determine the probable cause and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Safety Board provided…
- [NTSB DCA01MA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA01MA064.md): Boeing 757-200 · Arlington, VA · Accident · 64 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Sep 11, 2001 · N644AA · Destroyed
  > The Safety Board did not determine the probable cause and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Safety Board provided…
- [NTSB DCA01MA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA01MA034.md): Grumman Gulfstream III · Aspen, CO · Accident · 18 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Mar 30, 2001 · N303GA · Destroyed
  > the 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,…
- [NTSB DCA01MA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA01MA017.md): Beech 200 · Strasburg, CO · Accident · 10 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jan 27, 2001 · N81PF · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s spatial disorientation resulting from his failure to maintain positive manual control of the airplane with the available flight instrumentation. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the loss of a.c. electrical power during instrument…
- [NTSB DCA99MA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA99MA088.md): Piper PA-31-350 · Volcano, HI · Accident · 10 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Sep 26, 1999 · N411WL · Destroyed
  > the pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in an area of cloud-covered mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to properly navigate and his disregard for standard operating…
- [NTSB ANC97MA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97MA161.md): Cessna 208B · Wainwright, AK · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 1997 · N408GV · Destroyed
  > The pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the weather conditions.
- [NTSB DCA94MA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA065.md): Douglas DC-9-31 · Charlotte, NC · Accident · 37 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jul 2, 1994 · N954VJ · Destroyed
  > 1) 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…
- [NTSB DCA94MA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA061.md): Learjet 25D · Chantilly, VA · Accident · 12 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jun 18, 1994 · XABBA · Destroyed
  > The 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.…
- [NTSB DCA94MA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA94MA022.md): Jetstream BA-3100 · Hibbing, MN · Accident · 18 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Dec 2, 1993 · N334PX · Destroyed
  > The 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…
- [NTSB ATL92MA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92MA118.md): Beech C99 · Anniston, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jun 8, 1992 · N118GP · Destroyed
  > The failure of senior management of gp express to provide adequate training and operational support for the startup of the southern operation, which resulted in the assignment of an inadequately prepared captain with a relatively inexperienced first officer…
- [NTSB DCA92MA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA92MA016.md): Beech 1900C · Gabriels, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 3, 1992 · N55000 · Destroyed
  > Failure of the captain to establish a stabilized approach, his inadequate cross-check of instruments, his descent below specified minimum altitude at the final approach fix, and failure of the copilot to monitor the approach. Factors related to the accident…
- [NTSB CHI90MA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90MA244.md): Bell 206B · Elkhorn, WI · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Aug 27, 1990 · N16933 · Destroyed
  > Improper planning/decision by the pilot, and his failure to attain adequate altitude before flying over rising terrain at night. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, fog, haze, rising terrain, and the lack of visual cues that were available to the…
- [NTSB DCA90MA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA90MA030.md): Boeing 737-2X6C · Unalakleet, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jun 2, 1990 · N670MA · Destroyed
  > Deficiencies in flightcrew coordination, their failure to adequately prepare for and properly execute the unk LOC rwy 14 nonprecision approach and their subsequent premature descent.
- [NTSB MKC90MA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90MA049.md): Grumman G1159 · Little Rock, AR · Accident · 7 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 19, 1990 · N46TE · Destroyed
  > Failure of the pilot-in-command to follow IFR procedures (maintain an ILS glide path or initiate a missed approach) during an IFR arrival to the airport. Factors related to the accident were: unfavorable weather conditions, an erroneous wind indication from…
- [NTSB DCA90MA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA90MA010.md): Britten-Norman BN-2 · Block Island, RI · Accident · 8 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Nov 28, 1989 · N127JL · Destroyed
  > The aircraft crashed for an undetermined reason, during an overwater flight on a dark (moonless) night under a cloud layer. A SIGMET was in effect warning of moderate to occasionally severe turbulence below 6000 feet and the potential of low level wind shear.
- [NTSB DCA89MA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA89MA058.md): Beech H18 · Waipio Valley, HI · Accident · 11 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jun 11, 1989 · N34AP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to maneuver with insufficient altitude over or in a a canyon area. Factors related to the accident were: the terrain conditions and scenic air tour's lack of specific direction to its pilots concerning safety…
- [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 ATL88MA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88MA184.md): Learjet 35A · West Paterson, NJ · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · May 24, 1988 · N500RW · Destroyed
  > Witnesses rpted a normal takeoff. Radar indicated the acft turned right as cleared and began cruise at 1900 ft, hdg nw at 235 KTS. 65 secs after calling clear of the control zone the acft's radar track ended. The acft was fragmented by theimpact with all flt…
- [NTSB DCA88MA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88MA017.md): Fairchild SA-227AC · Bayfield, CO · Accident · 9 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 20, 1988 · N68TC · Destroyed
  > The aircraft was operating as Continental express flight 2286. During the approach in IFR conditions, the aircraft went below the minimum descent altitude then struck the terrain at 7180 feet MSL. Exam of the aircraft did not disclose any pre-impact failures…
- [NTSB FTW88MA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88MA047.md): Gates Learjet 36A · Monroe, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 8, 1988 · N79SF · Destroyed
  > The crew was executing the ILS approach and had turned back inbound on the procedure turn to the outer marker when the co-pilot stated they were 5.9 DME in a calm voice with no indication of a problem. Impact with the ground occurred at about 5.9 DME,…
- [NTSB DEN87MA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87MA168.md): Beech D18S · Lakeside, MT · Accident · 10 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 1987 · N132E · Destroyed
  > The plt borrowed the acft to fly a musical group to kalispell for a pvt engagement at Lakeside, MT, which was aprx 15 mi south of the arpt. That evening, the group boarded the acft for the return flt. After takeoff, the acft was seen flying at low alt in the…
- [NTSB DCA87MA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA026.md): Boeing 707-351C · Kansas City, MO · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Apr 14, 1987 · N144SP · Destroyed
  > Drg arr, buffalo airways flt 721 was vectored for an ILS rwy 1 apch. Except for deviations to avoid tstms, dscnt to the terminal area was routine. At 2151:01, the flt was adzd it was 5 mi fm the outer marker (om), was given a final vector to intercept the ILS…
- [NTSB LAX87MA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87MA018.md): Cessna 172N · Altadena, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Oct 17, 1986 · N1048F · Destroyed
  > While rtrng to santa monica (smo) fm a x-country, the plts diverted to van nuys when the rwy at smo was closed due to a disabled acft. After the rwy was reopened, they filed an IFR flt pln to cont at 5000' & tkof at ngt. Drg dep, the AR-3 ctlr provided radar…
- [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 CHI86MA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86MA025.md): Cessna 441 · Derry, PA · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Nov 11, 1985 · N59MD · Destroyed
  > Drg arrival, the plt was advised the destn wx was: estd 500' overcast, vis 1 mi with fog, arpt blo mins. The plt electedto make an NDB rwy 23 apch, but said he would divert if a missed apch was made. He was provided radar vectors & was clrdfor the apch. At…
- [NTSB SEA86MA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86MA018.md): Gates Learjet 24D · Juneau, AK · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Oct 23, 1985 · N456JA · Destroyed
  > Drg arrival to pick up a med-evac patient, the flt was clrd for an LDA-1 rwy 8 apch via the asort transition. Thus, the plt should have contd se on J-541 twd the ssr VORTAC & intercepted the localizer (LOC) at asort; then track inbnd on theloc (062 deg),…
- [NTSB DCA85AA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA037.md): Beech B99 · Grottoes, VA · Accident · 14 fatal · Final report · Sep 23, 1985 · N339HA · Destroyed
  > Acft arr fm the NE, crossed ovr the arpt in IMC conds & contd twd the sw to the initial apch fix (iaf) for an ILS rwy 4 apch. The iaf was ovr the outer marker (om), 4.2 mi sw of the arpt. As the acft deptd the iaf, it contd outbnd twd the sw on an imprecise…
- [NTSB NYC84MA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84MA102.md): Piper PA-31 · Cumberland, MD · Accident · 3 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Mar 5, 1984 · N6629L · Destroyed
  > Approx 16 min prior to the accident the plt was cleared for the localizer DME approach. The acft collided with the mountainous terrain on a hdg of about 220 degrees at approx 8.5 DME on a bearing of 051 degrees from the arpt. As indicated on the loc/dme rwy…
- [NTSB FTW84MA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84MA069.md): Cessna 210N · El Paso, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Nov 22, 1983 · N4742P · Destroyed
  > N4742P departed El Paso, TX, on an IFR flight plan with a clearance to climb to 10,000 feet. No climb restrictions were included in the clearance. Departure control service was provided by albuquerque ARTCC since El Paso tower had shut downfor the night. The…

## The whole list in SQL

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

```sql
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 o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 230)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?major=1&occurrence=230

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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.