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 CHI03LA013Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWondrasek Rans S-10 Sakota · Missouri Valley, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain control and adequate airspeed, resulting in the inadvertent stall/spin. A factor was the low altitude.NTSB SEA03LA005Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportIV Lancair IV · Coeur d'Alene, IDThe pilot's inadequate flare and his failure to maintain runway alignment. The pilot's lack of familiarity,downsloping terrain, and trees are contributing factors.NTSB IAD03FA005Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Mount Sterling, KYThe failure of the pilot to follow the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into an antenna tower. A factor was the low ceiling.NTSB FTW03WA014Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationCessna 182F · Tarapoto, PeruNTSB WAS03WA001Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationAgusta 119A · Godensee, AustriaNTSB LAX03FA008Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Julian, CAan in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.NTSB LAX03FA005Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman AA-5A · Phoenix, AZfailure of the lubricating system resulting in a total loss of engine power and an off airport forced landing.NTSB IAD03FA004Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182S · Brownville Jct, METhe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude while flying in mountainous terrain at night. A factor was the night lighting conditions.NTSB NYC03WA036Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationCessna 172M · Belwaarde, SurinameNTSB FTW03WA012Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationBellanca 17-30 · Bogota, ColombiaNTSB ATL03FA002Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech K35 · Jellico, TNThe pilot's incapacitation in flight due to a heart attack resulting in an in-flight loss of control, and collision with terrain. A factor was the pilot acting as a pilot-in-command with a known medical grounding condition.NTSB FTW03FA008Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Lakeview, ARthe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the terrain while maneuvering.NTSB MIA03LA002Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGolden RV6A · Tuskegee, ALthe failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin, and subsequent impact with the terrain.NTSB MIA03LA001Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBowers Velocity SR6E · Valkaria, FLthe failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin, and subsequent impact with the terrain.NTSB IAD03FA001Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper Aerostar 602P · Bradford, PAThe pilot's failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into trees and terrain. A factor was the night, instrument meteorological conditions.NTSB FTW03FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSocata TB-20 · Texarkana, ARThe inadvertamt stall by the student pilot, and the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.NTSB NYC03FA001Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeagle B.206 Basset · West Carrollton, OHThe pilots inadequate preflight inspection, his operation of the airplane with an overdue annual inspection, and his failure to maintain airspeed after the failure of an engine which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor related to the accident was…NTSB CHI03FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18A · Garden City, KSThe inadequate preflight planning/preparation and visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions by the pilot. The clouds, mist, and night conditions were contributing factors.NTSB DEN03FA002Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210M · Laramie, WYthe pilot's improper inflight planning/decision, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance while attempting a low altitude maneuver. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain, the airplane’s low altitude, and the pilot's lack of total instrument…NTSB SEA02FA185Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · Medford, ORTerrain clearance was not maintained during cruise flight. Dark night and mountainous terrain were factors.NTSB NYC02FA200Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20E · West Creek, NJThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect water-contaminated fuel, and his failure to maintain airspeed.NTSB NYC02LA198Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNorth American AT-6D · Circleville, OHThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the course reversal, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.NTSB NYC02FA197Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310L · Virgil, NYThe pilot's decision to continue the flight into IMC after canceling his IFR clearance, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Factors in the accident were rain, low ceilings, and night.NTSB SEA02FA180Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Yellow Pine, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees. A factor was trees south of the departure end of the runway.NTSB NYC02FA196Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Gilford, NHThe flight instructor's failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in an uncontrolled collision with water.NTSB FTW02LA264Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-2 · Edmondson, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the high voltage power lines.NTSB CHI02FA294Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAviat S-2C · Sheridan, INThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and airspeed while performing an aerobatic maneuver. Contributing factors were the pilot-in-command exceeding the aircraft weight and balance, and his inadequate preflight planning/preparation.NTSB NYC02LA195Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPaiement Rans S-12 · Mercer, METhe pilot's improper in-flight decision, and failure to maintain adequate clearance, which resulted in a collision with a wire during a low altitude flight.NTSB MIA02FA173Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301T · Yeehaw Junction, FLthe pilot's continued flight into known severe weather, resulting in an in-flight separation of the right wing, vertical stabilizer and the stabilator. Factors in this accident were heavy thunderstorm, and failure of the FAA controllers to provide the pilot…NTSB FTW02FA262Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Chromo, COThe flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance with the mountainous terrain during the cross-country flight. A contributing factor was the dark night light conditions.NTSB CHI02FA292Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-260 · Ankeny, IAThe pilot applied an excessive angle of bank and failed to maintain terrain clearance. An additonal factor was the pilot's attention being diverted.NTSB ATL02FA175Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Milton, FLA sheared mixture cable which resulted in a loss of engine power.NTSB DEN02LA109Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSabian Rans S-12XL · Mexican Hat, UTthe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision making (flying up a canyon with insufficient altitude) which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush, and the pilot's failure to follow the proper emergency procedures for activating his Ballistic Recovery…NTSB MIA02FA170Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeagle B-206 Series 2 · McAlpin, FLthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed to sustain controlled flight, which resulted in an inadvertent stall during a turn from base to final. A contributing factor was the pilot's use of judgment and performance impairing drugs.NTSB LAX02LA291Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPZL-Bielsko SZD-42-2 Jantar · Hemet, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude.NTSB ATL02FA171Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20R · Burnsville, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent into trees and terrain. Factors were wind gusts and terrain-induced turbulence.NTSB ATL02LA170Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMikoyan Gurevich Mig-15 · Whiteville, NCThe pilot continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and experienced spatial disorientation which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with the ground .NTSB LAX02FA288Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M-20E · Carlsbad, CAfailure of the pilots of both airplanes to maintain an adequate visual lookout and to see and avoid each other. A contributing factor was the failure of the controller to detect and resolve the conflict between the airplanes.NTSB SEA02FA175Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna TR182 · Twin Falls, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment and his failure to execute a timely go-around maneuver resutling in the aircraft's impacting a parked fuel truck well clear of the runway safety area. Contributing factors were the strong crosswind/gusty wind…NTSB LAX02FA285Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18A-150 · Tucson, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall spin.NTSB IAD02LA094Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGarlick OH-58AT · Rochester, MAThe pilot's failure to center the sling load prior to commencing forward flight. Also causal, was the pilot's improper decision to attempt a takeoff with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in an engine compressor stall.NTSB DEN02FA106Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B19 · Delta, COthe pilot's failure to properly plan and compensate for the high density altitude conditions, resulting in partial engine power during takeoff, his failure to abort the takeoff, and his failure to maintain aircraft control on initial climb. Contributing…NTSB CHI02FA284Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPilatus PC-12/45 · Westphalia, MOThe pilot's spatial disorientation while turning in a cruise climb in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot's loss of aircraft control, and his failure to recover from a resultant tight descending spiral.NTSB LAX02LA283Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMinkler Venture M20 · Reno, NVthe overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers and elevators due to a pilot induced oscillation at a speed at or above Vne, which exceeded the design stress limits of the structure. Also causal was the intentional alteration by an unknown person or…NTSB FTW02RA259Accident · 6 fatalForeign investigationCessna U206G · Atalaya, PeruNTSB CHI02FA288Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Doland, SDPilot spatial disorientation while flying in dark night conditions, resulting in a loss of aircraft control; and the company's inadequate remedial actions after identifying the pilot's night flying deficiency over areas without lighted references. A factor to…NTSB SEA02FA171Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 175B · Arlington, WAA partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during the initial climb, followed by the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering. Impairing drugs found in the pilot's system at the time of the accident were a factor.NTSB FTW02WA260Accident · 5 fatalForeign investigationCessna 310R · San Salvador, El SalvadorNTSB LAX02FA278Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Grand Canyon, AZthe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an encounter with adverse weather conditions and the loss of control due to a stall. Contributing factors were thunderstorm related turbulence,…NTSB IAD02FA091Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 32R-301T · Byram Township, NJthe improper manufacturing of the crankshaft gear bolt, which resulted in the failure of the bolt due to hydrogen embrittlement, and the subsequent loss of engine power. Also causal was the engine manufacturer's failure to remove the affected bolts from fixed…