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Fatal NTSB investigations

16 cases where the first occurrence was “On ground/water encounter with terrain/water”.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19822026

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."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" = 320) 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.\"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\" = 320)
  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."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" = 320)
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 ATL07LA110Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T206H · Lovell, METhe pilot's failure to retract the amphibious floatplane's landing gear during a water landing.Aug 4, 2007 · N206MW · Substantial damage NTSB CHI06FA193Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 560 · Cresco, IAThe flight crew's inadequate aeronautical decision-making and poor crew resource management (CRM), including the inadequate use of the on-board sources (such as the flight management system and navigation charts), to get critical information about Ellen…Jul 19, 2006 · N636SE · Substantial damage NTSB NYC03FA162Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportStart & Flug H101 · Rock Hill, NYThe pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing.Jul 19, 2003 · N999JB · Substantial damage NTSB CHI00FA027Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 200 · Chicago, ILOn ground collision with the lake for undetermined reasons.Nov 12, 1999 · N869 · Destroyed NTSB DEN99FA086Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPZL-Mielec M-18B · Altus, OKThe pilot's disregard of takeoff performance data and his failure to jettison the load. Contributing factors were high density altitude, exceeding the aircraft's maximum allowable gross weight, and the berm.May 25, 1999 · N8199W · Substantial damage NTSB SEA98FA170Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Anacortes, WATerrain clearance was not maintained. A low ceiling and the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision were factors.Aug 26, 1998 · N1069M · Substantial damage NTSB NYC93FA079Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerotek Pitts S-2B · North Benton, OHThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate aircraft control due to alcohol impairment.Apr 10, 1993 · N5306N · Destroyed NTSB LAX92LA006Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBentley Mongoose A · Boulder City, NVThe pilot's selection of an inadequate takeoff area which was too short for the prevailing conditions.Oct 5, 1991 · N7143K · Destroyed NTSB SEA90FA149Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Leavenworth, WAThe pilot's misjudgement in preflight planning when departing toward rising terrain. Contributing factors in this accident were his decision to attempt a climb-out with full flaps extended, and the minimal performance data available to him upon which he could…Jul 30, 1990 · N9978D · Destroyed NTSB MIA89FA237Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportEagle DW-1-220 · Oklawaha, FLThe loss of control on the ground during the landing roll for undetermined reasons.Aug 29, 1989 · N8802M · Destroyed NTSB NYC87FA006Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Holyoke, MAThe aircraft was attempting to make a special visual flight rules arrival when it crashed into a rock face slope 2 miles east of the airport while on a easterly heading. The accident occurred over 1 hour after sunset. The pilot did not have an instrument…Oct 3, 1986 · N38688 · Destroyed NTSB MIA86FA095Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Florida City, FLThe acft touched down on the top of a flood control dike approx 12 ft wide. The acft continued for about 1336 ft before the left wheel slid off the dike where the dike makes a slight curve to the right. The left gear was torn from the acft as it left the…Mar 14, 1986 · N49984 · Destroyed NTSB DEN84FA294Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A185F · Fort Peck, MTPlt attempted to takeoff from a calm part of reservoir. The wave heights were estimated to be 4 to 6 feet. The arft struck several waves during the takeoff run. The rt wing tip dragged in the water causing the acft to nose over. The acft came to rest…Sep 20, 1984 · CGZWQ · Substantial damage NTSB DCA83AA013Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportConvair 580-11-A · Brainerd, MNDuring arrival, the acft was landed about 1725 ft beyond the rwy threshold. The touchdown was made with the right wing down & the right main gear about 37 ft from the right edge of the rwy. After touchdown, the acft continued to the right & the right…Jan 10, 1983 · N8444H · Substantial damage NTSB ANC82DA050Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 185F · Near Chinitna B, AKThe aircraft was chartered to salvage gear from a burned hovercraft that was beached about one mile south of Chinitna bay. The pilot reported that the two passengers got the gear ready to load while he held the plane off the beach by hand, trying to keep the…Jun 19, 1982 · N4212Q · Destroyed NTSB LAX82FVA11Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna TR182 · Oakdale, CAThe aircraft was observed to porpoise several times during the takeoff roll, become airborne with the landing gear immediately retracting, then nose down with the propeller striking, the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff and the aircraft climbed to…Jan 30, 1982 · N5173R · Substantial damage