Fatal NTSB investigations

15 cases where the first occurrence was “Propeller failure/malfunction”.

Cases per year

19942026
Fatal NTSB investigations per year, 1994–2026: 15 cases
19943
19954
19961
19972
19992
20001
20031
20061

Latest cases

Query with SQL
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.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    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\" = 131)
  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 NYC06LA097Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Avondale, PASeparation of the propeller blade due to fatigue.Apr 16, 2006 · N15507 · DestroyedNTSB LAX03FA074Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95 · Rancho Cucamong, CAThe fracture and separation of a propeller blade during cruise flight due to fatigue and corrosion pits in the blade pilot bore, and an improper overhaul of the separated propeller by repair station personnel. Factors contributing to the accident were the…Jan 25, 2003 · N2733Y · DestroyedNTSB FTW01LA005Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHolt Thorpe T-18C · Imperial, TXthe failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue, which originated from a corrosion crack. A contributory factor was the pilot/owner's failure to ensure that the propeller was overhauled at the manufacturer's recommended interval.Oct 4, 2000 · N85LH · DestroyedNTSB LAX00LA023Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLuhnau BD-5B · Boulder City, NVThe pilot's failure to secure an electrical wire terminal in the propeller pitch control circuit following a maintenance adjustment, which resulted in the propeller malfunctioning and going to a flat pitch. The flat pitch of the propeller produced a high drag…Oct 22, 1999 · N62765 · Substantial damageNTSB FTW99FA148Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech C18S · Waldron, ARthe separation of a propeller blade in cruise flight as a result of fatigue cracking emanating from surface corrosion pitting.May 24, 1999 · N9729H · DestroyedNTSB LAX97FA291Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHefner Pitts S1S · Van Nuys, CAthe operation of the propeller beyond the design rpm limitations and the resultant gyroscopic loads from aerobatics. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a required instrument panel rpm restriction for the propeller mandated by an airworthiness…Aug 17, 1997 · N10HJ · DestroyedNTSB ANC97FA024Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportde Havilland DHC-4A · Sparrevohn, AKloss of the right engine propeller control oil, which led to an overspeed of the right engine and propeller, and necessitated a shut-down of the right engine; and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate altitude/distance from terrain during visual approach…Jan 30, 1997 · N702SC · DestroyedNTSB CHI96FA278Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportLancair 320 · Fond Du Lac, WIthe fatigue in the propeller flange with soft material and oversized lightening holes. A factor was the pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft due to the exceeded weight and balance which led to a stall/spin.Aug 8, 1996 · N320L · DestroyedNTSB LAX96FA049Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech S35 · Oxnard, CAfailure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during a missed approach, after encountering an undetermined propeller malfunction, which resulted in a stall and collision with the terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, fog, and the…Nov 19, 1995 · N5795K · DestroyedNTSB FTW96FA009Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRupe RV-4 · Longmont, COthe installation of an unapproved metal propeller which led to a fatigue failure of a blade and loss of aircraft control.Oct 7, 1995 · N61TR · DestroyedNTSB LAX95LA314Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Marana, AZthe pilot's poor installation of the propeller which allowed the propeller to become loose, and the pilot's improper emergency procedure by feathering the wrong propeller.Aug 30, 1995 · N7156T · DestroyedNTSB DCA95MA054Accident · 8 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEmbraer EMB-120RT · Carrollton, GAthe in-flight fatigue fracture and separation of a propeller blade resulting in distortion of the left engine nacelle, causing excessive drag, loss of wing lift, and reduced directional control of the airplane. The fracture was caused by a fatigue crack from…Aug 21, 1995 · N256AS · DestroyedNTSB FTW95FA001Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcmurtrie Jurca MJ-10 · Bartlesville, OKAn inadvertent pilot-induced stall at too low an altitude to effect a safe recovery. Factors were the malfunctioning propeller system and the uncommanded feathering of the propeller.Oct 1, 1994 · N379SF · DestroyedNTSB CHI94FA340Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech E95A · Poplar Grove, ILAircraft control not maintained by the pilot when he began his turn from base leg to final approach. Factors associated with this accident were the fatigue failure of a propeller blade, improper maintenance overhaul of the propeller, and a material defect in…Sep 20, 1994 · N9581Y · DestroyedNTSB LAX94LA361Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNorth American P-51D · Reno, NVthe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted forced landing. Factors in the accident were the failure of a propeller blade-feathering oil seal which leaked oil on the windshield, obscuring the pilot's vision.Sep 12, 1994 · N51U · Destroyed