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 SEA05FA007Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Grand Ronde, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high terrain while maneuvering. A factor contributing to the accident was the high terrain.NTSB MIA05WA007Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationDouglas DC-3C · Medellin, ColombiaNTSB LAX05LA009Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBrackett And Peltz Kit Fox III · Aguila, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall. The nature and scope of the problem reported by the pilot is undetermined.NTSB LAX05LA007Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportDeRosier DR-107 · San Diego, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain while performing low-level aerobatic maneuvers.NTSB CHI05LA004Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMalone Vans RV-6A · Joliet, ILThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight and inadequate fuel consumption calculations, also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the forced landing. A factor was the…NTSB ANC05FA008Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Anchorage, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with water during maneuvering flight. Factors contributing to the accident were fog and low ceilings.NTSB SEA05LA006Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCaldwell Glasair II · Hermiston, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above stall speed while executing a wingover maneuver at the top of a vertical climb, leading to an inadvertent spin, and the pilot's inadequate remedial action in attempting to recover from the spin. Factors…NTSB DCA05RA002Accident · 7 fatalForeign investigationBoeing 747-244BC · Halifax, CanadaNTSB DCA05MA003Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportCanadair CL-600 · Jefferson City, MO(1) the pilots’ unprofessional behavior, deviation from standard operating procedures, and poor airmanship, which resulted in an in-flight emergency from which they were unable to recover, in part because of the pilots’ inadequate training; (2) the pilots’…NTSB DEN05FA011Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182R · Idaho Springs, COthe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain, and his inadequate planning and decision making resulting in VFR flight into IMC. Contributing factors include the pilot's self-induced pressure to arrive at his destination, the low ceiling and the fog.NTSB NYC05FA005Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Madison, CTA loss of engine power due to separation of the propeller due to under-torqued retention bolts.NTSB NYC05FA001Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Germantown, NYThe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which led to VFR flight into IMC and his loss of aircraft control. Factors were night and cloud conditions.NTSB CHI05WA008Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-46-310P · Dijon Longvic, FranceNTSB MIA05WA005Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-38-112 · Rio Negro, ArgentinaNTSB DEN05FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A185E · Luna, NMthe pilot's improper use of the mixture control, his failure to maintain clearance from the trees, and his improper preflight planning resulting in his taking off into a canyon and subsequently impacting the trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the…NTSB DEN05FA002Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSukhoi SU-29 · Santa Fe, NMthe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in the inverted spin, spiral, and subsequent impact with terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the inadvertent stall spin, the spiral, low altitude, and the pilot's delayed attempt to…NTSB CHI04FA290Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B95A · Burlington, WIThe improper maintenance of the fuel servo resulting in a loose adjustment nut and subsequent failure of the fuel injection servo which led to a complete loss of power on the right engine. Other causes were the pilot's failure to obtain or maintain minimum…NTSB NYC04FA220Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Avondale, PAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent loss of engine power.NTSB MIA04LA133Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBritten-Norman BN-2A-27 · Vega Baja, PRThe pilot's improper inflight planning which resulted in an inflight encounter with weather (low ceilings and thunderstorms), his loss of aircraft control, and an inflight collision with the ocean during uncontrolled descent.NTSB ATL04LA195Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Gadsden, ALThe flight instructors failure to maintain clearance and his inadequate visual lookout while flying low over a river resulting in an in-flight collision with a wire.NTSB CHI04FA284Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182Q · Morris, MNThe pilot's inadequate weather evaluation that resulted flight into night instrument meteorological conditions and a subsequent loss of aircraft control. Factors to the accident were the pilot's lack of recent night experience and the low cloud ceiling at…NTSB NYC04LA217Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportFirefly Galaxy 9 · Lewisburg, WVThe pilot's improper decision to attempt to board the balloon while it was ascending.NTSB LAX04FA329Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportBell 206B · Kalaheo, HIThe pilot's decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into an area of turbulent, reduced visibility weather conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of control of the helicopter. Contributing to this accident was…NTSB DFW05WA014Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationGarlick UH-1H · San Felipe, ChileNTSB ATL04WA194Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-28-181 · Nordhorn-Lingen, GermanyNTSB MIA04FA128Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna R182 · Milton, FLThe pilots operation of the airplane with known deficiencies in the equipment based on witness statements describing an excessive rpm drop and rough running engine after starting, during the engine run-up, and after becoming airborne, his failure to abort the…NTSB FTW04FA243Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Bee Caves, TXThe pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector valves, which resulted in a loss of power to the left engine due to fuel exhaustion. After the power loss, the pilot failed to follow checklist procedures and did not secure (feather) the left propeller,…NTSB CHI04WA277Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-28-181 · Wilhelmshausen, GermanyNTSB ATL04FA190Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Euharlee, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate control of the airplane, which resulted in the pilot exceeding the design limits of the airplane and subsequent in-flight separation.NTSB SEA04GA192Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportCessna U206G · Essex, MTThe pilot's misidentification of the airplane's location, which resulted in his improper decision to fly into the wrong drainage, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance while executing a turn to reverse course after he realized his navigational error.…NTSB ANC04FAMS2Accident · 5 fatalMissing aircraftFinal reportde Havilland DHC-2 · Sitka, AKReason for occurrence is undetermined. The airplane is missing.NTSB SEA04FA191Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172D · Mountain Home, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from high terrain while maneuvering. High terrain was a factor.NTSB NYC04WA215Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationRobinson R-44 · Kentallen, Scot, United KingdomNTSB IAD04WA049Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationCessna 182R · Montreux, SwitzerlandNTSB CHI04WA263Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationRobinson R-44 · Appin, ScotlandNTSB LAX04LA322Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWolf Glassair IIS · Mesa, AZa partial loss of power for undetermined reasons, and, the failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing that resulted in a stall and a collision with terrain.NTSB FTW04TA237Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell OH-58C · Beaumont, TX**This probable cause was modified on 2/22/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional details.** The pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude, resulting in collision with the water. A factor was the dark night.NTSB MIA04FA135Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 336 · Magee, MSThe student pilot/ airplane owner's lack of training in night operations, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with trees.NTSB SEA04FA190Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna U206F · Stanley, IDThe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain aircraft control.NTSB CHI04FA257Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182T · Chesterfield, MOThe pilot not maintaining airspeed and the inadvertent stall he encountered during the go-around. A factor was the tree he impacted during his uncontrolled descent.NTSB IAD04LA046Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportScott Rans S-12 · Seneca, NYThe student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed above stall speed, which resulted in an inadvertant stall/spin. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of pilot certification.NTSB CHI04LA256Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportClaxton S-12 · Oconomowoc, WIThe loss of engine power due to the seizure of the pistons and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. The previous damage to the pistons due to earlier seizure occurrences was a factor.NTSB ATL04LA178Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchleicher K6-CR · LaGrange, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Factors were the pilot's impairment due to marijuana and his unreported mental conditions.NTSB IAD04WA047Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationRobinson R44 · Vattlefjall, SwedenNTSB ATL04LA177Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Lake Wales, FLThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and his inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a television tower.NTSB FTW04LA236Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLancair 360 · Orange, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff resulting in an inadvertent stall and loss of aircraft control.NTSB CHI04FA255Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR-22 · Park Falls, WIThe flightcrew's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with water during approach. The low altitude was a factor in the accident.NTSB ATL04LA176Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLemoine Marvin J. Jr. Christian Eagle II · Cleveland, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while conducting aerobatic maneuvers.NTSB WAS04WA015Accident · 6 fatalForeign investigationCessna 210 · Livingstone, ZambiaNTSB FTW04WA244Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-25-235 · Santa Rosa, Ecuador