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NTSB investigations: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG, NE

15 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG. 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

19662026

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" = 'NE' 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 ('99999')) 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\" = 'NE' 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 ('99999'))
  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" = 'NE' 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 ('99999'))
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 CEN25FA261Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportKolb Firestar · Meadow Grove, NEOn July 19, 2025, about 2050 central daylight time, a Kolb Firestar airplane, N55161, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Meadow Grove, Nebraska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…Jul 20, 2025 · N55161 · Destroyed NTSB CEN23FA220Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportVans RV7 · Gibbon, NEThe pilot’s improper decision to fly the airplane into known adverse weather and icing conditions which resulted in a loss of control.Jun 2, 2023 · N977RV · Destroyed NTSB CEN14CA514Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportStanley Arthur Freeman Zodiac 601XL · Fremont, NEThe pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 14, 2014 · N710DM · Substantial damage NTSB CEN12CA403Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAyres S2R-G10 · Minden, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the wake turbulence from a previous pass.Jun 28, 2012 · N3299Z · Substantial damage NTSB CEN11LA566Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-400 · Nelson, NEFailure of the fuel control unit's spool cap bearing for reasons that could not be determined during extensive postaccident examination, and the pilot’s decision to shut the engine down without sufficient altitude and distance to reach the runway.Aug 11, 2011 · N3659N · Substantial damage NTSB DFW08CA189Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportStinson 108-1 · Alliance, NEThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control on takeoff. Contributing to the accident was a lack of total experience.Jul 12, 2008 · N97484 · Substantial damage NTSB CHI06LA273Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDaub Pawnee Chief · McCook, NEThe failure of a welded joint at a cyclic control cable bracket located on the main rotor mast which made control of the helicopter impossible for the pilot.Sep 28, 2006 · N565CH · Destroyed NTSB CHI06LA071Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportVillarubia RV-6 · Decatur, NEAn inflight collision with the terrain for undetermined reasons.Jan 23, 2006 · N242EV · Substantial damage NTSB CHI05CA153Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportS C Aerostar S A YAK-52 · Columbus, NEThe mechanic's inadequate installation of fuel lines, the obstruction of fuel lines, and the fuel starvation leading to the non-mechanical loss of engine power during approach and the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during the forced landing.Jun 21, 2005 · N962KY · Substantial damage NTSB CHI95LA117Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLewis KR-2 · Ogallala, NEthe owner/builder's improper maintenance (installation). Factors were the carburetor reversed and the mixture control cable not secured.Apr 6, 1995 · N49TF · Substantial damage NTSB MKC77DCJ48Accident · No injuriesClosedSportavia RF4-D · Central City, NEApr 28, 1977 · N7723 · Substantial damage NTSB MKC76FCJ56Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-36 · Imperial, NEJul 29, 1976 · N57594 · Substantial damage NTSB MKC71DCJ07Accident · No injuriesClosedMooney M20C · Sutherland, NEJul 23, 1970 · N78874 · Substantial damage NTSB MKC70FCJ14Accident · No injuriesClosedBeech C35 · Hastings, NEMar 7, 1970 · N667D · Substantial damage NTSB MKC66I0058Incident · No injuriesClosedDouglas DC-3 · Norfolk, NEMay 11, 1966 · N15748 · Minor damage