Fatal NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series, VA

8 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Lycoming IO-540 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

19852026

Fatal NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series, VA per year, 1985–2026: 8 cases
1985	1
1997	2
1999	1
2000	1
2008	1
2018	1
2023	1

Where

Open the map

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" = 'VA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585')) 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\" = 'VA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585'))
  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" = 'VA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585'))
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 ERA23FA108Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Dayton, VAThe pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while descending over mountainous terrain at night.Jan 11, 2023 · N43156 · Destroyed NTSB ERA18FA187Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Williamsburg, VAThe pilot's failure to safely operate the helicopter due to his impaired cognitive and physical abilities, which resulted in a loss of control.Jul 8, 2018 · N616HS · Destroyed NTSB ERA09FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24 · Red Hill, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to an improper repair to the stabilator, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the stabilator. Contributing to the accident was the descent in turbulence, at airspeeds above the maximum structural…Oct 24, 2008 · N8820P · Destroyed NTSB IAD00LA021Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWood Seawind 3000 · Cumberland Gap, VAThe pilot's continued flight from visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions.Feb 11, 2000 · N94WB · Substantial damage NTSB NYC99LA063Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA 32R-301 · Dulles, VAThe FBO employee's diverted attention, resulting in an inadvertent encounter with a rotating propeller.Feb 21, 1999 · N3559U · No damage NTSB IAD98FA015Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSocata TB-20 Trinidad · Roanoke, VALoss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A related factor was the low ceiling.Dec 10, 1997 · N3041J · Destroyed NTSB NYC97FA080Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-60-601P · Waterford, VAfailure of the pilot to follow the published instrument (IFR) approach procedure, by failing to maintain the minimum altitude for that segment of the approach.Apr 28, 1997 · N885JC · Destroyed NTSB ATL85FA101Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182R · Burkes Garden, VAThe plt departed manassas without a current wx briefing or filing a flt plan. Plt had also left maps and a list of checkpoints at home. His route of flt was into an area of low ceilings and visibility. The acft crashed into a mountain at the 3850 ft level.…Feb 19, 1985 · N2370E · Destroyed