Skip to content

NTSB investigations: Continental C85 series, ME

27 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Continental C85 series. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19642026

Where

Latest cases

Query with 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'ME' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "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\" = 'ME' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008'))
  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.

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" = 'ME' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('17008'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB ERA25LA304Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 140 · Rangeley, METhe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.Aug 8, 2025 · N89351 · Substantial damage NTSB ERA10LA453Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Rockland, METhe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Aug 29, 2010 · N2493N · Destroyed NTSB MIA07LA124Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDennis M. Durgin Junior Ace · Dover-Foxcroft, METhe failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed following total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, resulting in a stall/mush, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with trees.Jul 21, 2007 · N9778N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC03LA055Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Fryeburg, MEAn in-flight encounter with carburetor ice, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during a simulated engine failure.Feb 16, 2003 · N76897 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC00LA168Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Turner, METhe pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing. A factor in this accident was the high grass along the runway edge which disguised an embankment.Jun 17, 2000 · N2063N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC96LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Houlton, MEthe pilot's failure to select the fullest fuel tank prior to takeoff which resulted in fuel starvation during the initial takeoff climb.Apr 25, 1996 · N2001N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC95LA036Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3C · Waldoboro, METhe pilot's premature lift off which resulted in insufficient climb performance and collision with trees.Nov 25, 1994 · N98542 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC94LA088Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAeronca 11AC · Berwick, METhe pilot's inadequate preflight which fail to detect proper operation of the elevator which resulted in the loss of control inflight. A factor is inadequate maintenance which consisted of misrigging of the elevator flight controls.May 21, 1994 · N3167E · Destroyed NTSB NYC90LA058Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12D · Roxbury, MEPilot factor in that he failed to plan the approach for gusty wind conditions and impacted trees short of the runway.Jan 28, 1990 · N44068 · Destroyed NTSB NYC88LA208Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415C · Auburn-Lewiston, METhe student pilot of an Ercoupe 415C hand-propped the aircraft with no one at the controls and the tail not tied down. The engine started and the Ercoupe struck a parked, unoccupied, tied down Cessna 170.Aug 3, 1988 · N169WS · Substantial damage NTSB NYC88LA171Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415C · Steep Falls, METhe Ercoupe 415C took off to practice touch and go's with a student pilot in the left seat and on the controls. In the right seat was a private pilot who was listed as a pilot rated passenger. Both occupants were co-owners of the aircraft. The student pilot…Jun 18, 1988 · N94037 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC84LA258Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J58 · Gilead, METhe acft was forced to land according to the plt, after a downdraft at low alt & airspeed created a trap. The plt said that he & a friend were looking for a fishing spot, when he realized that he could not make it over the top of rising terrain ahead & could…Jul 29, 1984 · N38402 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC83FA172Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65S · Abbot Village, METhe acft was observed to depart a pond to the south & climb over trees when the eng lost power. The acft started a rightbank as if to return to the pond & stalled into the trees. One witness heard the eng restart just before the crash. The last annual…Jul 11, 1983 · N42847 · Destroyed NTSB NYC81FNC17Accident · Minor injuriesClosedAeronca 7BCM · Dexter, MEAug 2, 1981 · N85419 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC79DNC37Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 120 · Kents Hill, MEJul 20, 1979 · N3138N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC76FNC39Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 120 · Wiscasset, MEApr 14, 1976 · N89925 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC76DNC11Accident · No injuriesClosedAeronca 11AC · Chebeague Is, MEAug 19, 1975 · N86175 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC74DNC49Accident · No injuriesClosedAeronca 7DC · Winterport, MEJun 23, 1974 · N84775 · Destroyed NTSB NYC71DNC31Accident · No injuriesClosedAeronca 7DC · Berwick, MEJun 7, 1971 · N82439 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC71FNC21Accident · Minor injuriesClosedCessna 120 · Old Town, MEApr 11, 1971 · N3138N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC69F0376Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 140 · Biddeford, MEApr 6, 1969 · N2140N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC69D0380Accident · No injuriesClosedLuscombe 8E · Dexter, MEMar 23, 1969 · N2618K · Substantial damage NTSB NYC68D0356Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 140 · Milo, MEJan 20, 1968 · N89261 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC67D0180Accident · No injuriesClosedErco 415-C · Sanford, MEJul 10, 1966 · N99158 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC66F0520Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 120 · Waldo, MEFeb 19, 1966 · N2773N · Substantial damage NTSB NYC66D0028Accident · No injuriesClosedTaylorcraft BC-12D · Rumford, MEMay 30, 1965 · N43292 · Substantial damage NTSB UNK64X3975Accident · No injuriesClosedAeronca 7AC · West Newfield, MESep 13, 1964 · N84837 · Substantial damage