Fatal NTSB investigations
180,641 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,620 accidents, the rest incidents and other occurrences. Each has NTSB’s narrative and, once the investigation is done, its probable cause; since 2008, its findings and sequence of events.
Cases, newest first
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' 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' 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 DFW08WA205Accident · 5 fatalForeign investigationCessna T210N · Poptun, GuatemalaNTSB CHI06LA175Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A185E · Clear Lake, MNThe pilot's misjudged flare that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. A factor to the accident was the grass runway that the forward landing gear dug into during the hard landing, resulting in the amphibian airplane nosing over.NTSB WAS06WA011Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationCessna 208B · Vilanculos, MozambiqueNTSB NYC06FA162Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310D · Sutton, WVThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during takeoff-initial climb to avoid a stall/mush. A factor associated with the accident was the inadvertent stall/mush.NTSB CHI06FA173Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Walford, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from powerlines. The powerlines were a factor.NTSB NYC06WA166Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-23-250 · Thirkleby, United KingdomNTSB ANC06FA080Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Cooper Landing, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while performing a low level pass, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall.NTSB NYC06LA160Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAerial Productions Intl. Acrojet Special · Ocean City, MDThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall mush and subsequent impact with trees. A factor in the accident was windshear, and the high weight of the airplane.NTSB NYC06FA156Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Philipsburg, PAThe pilot's failure to comply with the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in controlled flight into trees. Factors in the accident were the low cloud ceiling, and dark night conditions.NTSB DFW06WA170Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationCessna U206 · Chiguao, VenezuelaNTSB NYC06FA155Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-34-220T · Tafton, PAThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with a thunderstorm, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control, and a subsequent in-flight breakup.NTSB MIA06FA120Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMitsubishi MU-2B-60 · Fort Pierce, FLthe pilot’s loss of aircraft control during the initial climb which was precipitated by the sudden loss of thrust and increase in drag from the right engine, and the pilot’s failure to adhere to the published emergency procedures regarding the position of the…NTSB LAX06LA213Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T210M · Hayward, CAThe passenger's failure to see and avoid the rotating propeller.NTSB LAX06FA211Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 560 · Upland, CAThe pilot's unstabilized approach to the runway and failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun.NTSB CHI06LA163Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportVarga 2150A · Columbus, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees during the attempted low altitude pass along the river. Contributing factors were the intentional low altitude flight maneuver, the pilot's improper decision to attempt that maneuver, and his…NTSB SEA06FA126Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPilatus PC-12/47 · Big Timber, MTThe flight instructor's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which led to an inadvertent stall.NTSB CHI06LA164Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMiller Zenair Cricket MC-12 · Lee's Summit, MOThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while operating in the traffic pattern after the loss of power in one engine, resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. An additional cause was the loss of engine power in one of the two engines for undetermined reasons.NTSB NYC06FA154Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Newry, METhe flight instructor's failure to maintain altitude/clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in an impact with trees.NTSB MIA06LA118Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415C · Panacea, FLA loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the airplane descending and impacting trees during the approach. A possible contributing factor was the pilot's pre-existing cardiovascular condition.NTSB DFW06LA163Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAyres S2R-T34 · Colt, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the ground during an aerial application flight.NTSB ATL06LA094Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · Wilkesboro, NCThe pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations and improper in-flight planning/decision which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, a forced landing, and collision with terrain.NTSB LAX06FA206Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Payson, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during a low level flyby maneuver. A factor was glare from the sun and shadows created by the mountainous terrain.NTSB CHI06LA157Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGood RV-6A · Peru, ILFailure of the pilot of the second airplane in the formation to maintain clearance with the lead airplane during the overhead recovery maneuver prior to landing.NTSB SEA06FA119Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Agness, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree and subsequent collision with rocky terrain. A contributing factor was the sun glare.NTSB NYC06FA145Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRaytheon B36TC · North Garden, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while turning onto the final approach, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent impact with terrain.NTSB NYC06LA144Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12-D · Mayville, NYThe flight instructor's improper decision to attempt a simulated engine failure at a low altitude and her failure to maintain clearance from trees and wires, while maneuvering. Also causal was the flight instructor's impairment from prescription medication.NTSB CHI06FA154Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301T · Parkville, MOThe pilot's improperly planned approach which resulted in the encounter with wake turbulence while the airplane's airspeed exceeded maneuvering speed. This encounter resulted in the subsequent loss of aircraft control and the in-flight separation of the left…NTSB MIA06FA117Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 65-A90-1 · Tampa, FLThe poor in-flight planning decision by the captain for his failure to establish the airplane on a stabilized approach for a forced landing, resulting in the airplane landing on a taxiway near the departure end of the runway. Contributing to the accident were…NTSB SEA06FA116Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportLciv Lancair IV-P Propjet · Provo, UTThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during a VFR approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water. Contributing factors were the dark night light conditions and the low clouds.NTSB SEA06FA115Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna TU206G · Mullan, IDThe pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance. The pilot's inadequate inflight planning/decision, mountain obscuration, trees and high terrain were factors.NTSB LAX06FA200Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Peoria, AZthe failure of both the flight instructor and student pilot to regain control of the airplane in a timely manner during an intentional spin maneuver, resulting in a collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was the instructor's inadequate supervision…NTSB CHI06FA152Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B36TC · Gregory, MIThe non-mechanical loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during cruise flight and the unsuitable terrain the pilot selected for the forced landing. A factor was the tree that was impacted during the forced landing. An additional factor was the…NTSB LAX06FA197Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech H35 · Reno, NVLoss of engine power during takeoff initial climb for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a house. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.NTSB NYC06LA136Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHowe/Wilmer Lancair 360 · Montgomery, NYA loss of control during approach for undetermined reasons.NTSB NYC06FA137Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 35A · Groton, CTThe crew's failure to properly monitor the airplane's altitude, which resulted in the captain's inadvertent descent of the airplane into water. Contributing to the accident were the foggy weather conditions, and the captain's decision to descend below the…NTSB NYC06FA133Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-236 · Manahawkin, NJThe noninstrument-rated pilot's inadvertent VFR cruise flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control, which resulted in his exeeding the design stress limits of the airplane, and an in-flight separation of the…NTSB LAX06WA188Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationBeech A36 · Bathurst Island, AustraliaNTSB NYC06MA131Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEurocopter EC-135P1 · Washington, DCThe operator's inadequate training program and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter following his inadvertent disabling of the No. 1 and then the No. 2 engine full authority digital engine control system.NTSB DFW06WA148Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationAir Tractor AT-802 · Molinicos, SpainNTSB DFW06WA147Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationSchweizer 269D · Ciudad Juarez, MexicoNTSB DFW06IA145Incident · 1 fatalIncident investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Grand Isle 43AAThe pilot's incapacitation and death due to pre-existing cardiac disease.NTSB CHI06FA141Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 210N · Ft. Thomas, KYThe pilot failed to maintain altitude/clearance with trees while attempting to return to the airport.NTSB NYC06LA127Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer SGS 1-35 · Eighty Four, PAThe pilot's incapacitation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during approach, and subsequent collision with trees.NTSB CHI06LA138Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Berlin Center, OHThe pilot flew at a low altitude and failed to maintain clearance from the wire. A factor was the wire.NTSB LAX06FA186Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T182T · Burney, CAthe pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.NTSB DFW06FA140Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAviat A-1B · Edna, TXThe pilot's ostentatious display while maneuvering at low altitude which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent impact with the water.NTSB NYC06WA132Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationCessna 150M · Raharney, IrelandNTSB DFW06FA136Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Levelland, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were low altitude and the gusting wind.NTSB DFW06LA130Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman G-164A · DeWitt, ARThe failure by both pilots to maintain adequate visual lookout and the Grumman G-164A pilot's impairment caused by the recent use of marijuana.NTSB LAX06LA170Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchlitter Rans S-18 Stinger · Llano, CAan in-flight loss of control and collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.