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 LAX01FA144Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchleicher ASW-20 · Williams, CAThe failure of the pilot to attach the elevator control rod to the elevator, resulting in a loss of pitch control and subsequent ground impact. Additional factors were the failure to complete a positive control check and the lack of clear guidance in the…NTSB FTW01FA100Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportFairchild PT-19A · Midland, TXthe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertant stall during initial takeoff climb. A contributing factor was wind gusts.NTSB NYC01WA100Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationCessna 182 · Sulmona, ItalyNTSB FTW01FA098Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172E · Bay City, TXthe pilot's delay in taking remedial action (contacting ATC) after he became lost/disoriented during a night cross country flight, which resulted in a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot's failure to…NTSB SEA01FA070Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182P · Fairfield, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude and/or clearance over trees, resulting in a collision with trees, separation of a wing and uncontrolled collision with terrain. Factors included the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, dark night…NTSB LAX01FA145Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR20 · Sierra Vista, AZthe pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and attempted VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. Factors in the accident included the adverse weather conditions and the dusk lighting conditions.NTSB SEA01WA097Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationAero Commander 500S · Thornton Peak, AustraliaNTSB MIA01FA119Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A-45/T-34A · Claxton, GAThe pilot in command's failure to maintain airspeed while performing an emergency landing after having just taken off with an unsecured fuel cap, which resulted in an inadvertent stall mush, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with trees.NTSB MIA01LA120Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHenry Pelican · Lakeland, FLThe pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff in a downwind condition resulting in an overrun and subsequent collision with a ditch. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to conduct performance planning for the flight.NTSB MIA01FA117Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46-500TP · Vero Beach, FLThe pilot's excessive bank angle and his failure to maintain airspeed while returning to the airport after takeoff due to an unspecified problem resulting in the airplane stalling and colliding with trees during the resultant uncontrolled descent.NTSB DEN01FA082Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSandell Zenith CH 200 · Canon City, COthe pilot in command inadvertently allowing the airplane to stall/spin. Contributing factors were the pilot's total lack of experience in airplane make/model, and high wind conditions.NTSB FTW01FA095Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 190 · Lurton, ARthe pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in spatial disorientation and the ensuing loss of aircraft control while in cruise flight. Contributory factors were the haze and fog weather conditions.NTSB ATL01FA048Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Jasper, GAThe pilot disregarded preflight weather briefing information, and continued visual flight into known instrument weather conditions and collided with trees.NTSB CHI01FA111Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 501 · Ashwaubenon, WIThe pilot not maintaining aircraft control while maneuvering after takeoff and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's diverted attention while maneuvering after takeoff, the pilot's…NTSB ATL01LA046Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportJacques J. Mistrot Skybolt · Smithfield, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during climb out that resulted in the in-flight collision with the ground. A factor was the physical impairment.NTSB LAX01FA134Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Rialto, CAThe pilot's intentional visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper weather evaluation and lack of total experience.NTSB MIA01LA113Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportLarry R. Kinsey Variez O-235 · Pinson, ALThe pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in the airplane colliding with mountainous terrain.NTSB MIA01FA108Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-60-601P · Marco Island, FLThe failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during a rejected landing and the collision with the terrain and mangrove trees. A finding in the investigation was the presence of quinine in the blood and urine during postmortem toxicological…NTSB IAD01FA039Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · Paris, VApilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions.NTSB ANC01WA043Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationCessna 210F · Teslin, CanadaNTSB MIA01FA107Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300 · Concord, NCAn in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.NTSB DCA01MA034Accident · 18 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGrumman Gulfstream III · Aspen, COthe flight crew's operation of the airplane below the minimum descent altitude without an appropriate visual reference for the runway. Contributing to the cause of the accident were the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) unclear wording of the March 27,…NTSB LAX01FA129Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Santa Monica, CAthe pilot's loss of airplane control while maneuvering due to spatial disorientation. Contributing factors were the dark night, the marine cloud layer that restricted the pilot's cruising altitude, and the pilot's lack of familiarity with nighttime flight…NTSB DEN01FA075Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSocata TBM 700 · Englewood, COthe pilot's spatial disorientation, which led to his failure to maintain aircraft control. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to intentionally fly into known adverse weather that consisted of low ceilings, obscuration, and ice fog.NTSB SEA01WA073Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-28-181 · KagawaPrefectur, JapanNTSB NYC01FA089Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182Q · Dixon, KYThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.NTSB MIA01WA138Accident · 20 fatalForeign investigationde Havilland DHC-6-300 · Saint Barthelem, GuadeloupeNTSB DEN01FA074Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportVangilder Christen Eagle II · Ogden, UTthe flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's lack of familiarity with the airplane.NTSB SEA01FA064Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Greenwater, WAFailure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.NTSB IAD01FA038Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-RT201 · Manassas, VAThe pilot's spatial disorientation due to a night visual illusion. A factor was the dark night condition.NTSB FTW01LA081Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky SK-76A · Ec 270the passenger's inadvertent encounter with the rotating main rotor blades.NTSB DEN01FA070Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Jackson Hole, WYthe pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain during cruise flight. Factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning in that he failed to familiarize himself with the…NTSB DEN01FA066Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210L · Howard, COthe pilot's continuation of a VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were his failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing, and his failure to obtain any in-flight…NTSB CHI01FA100Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Erhard, MNThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's encounter with known adverse weather conditions, the low ceiling, the pilot disregarding the weather observation information obtained prior to the flight, and…NTSB LAX01FA113Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Essex, CARupture of the fuel injection flow divider diaphragm due to improper manufacture of the raw material stock from which the diaphragm was fabricated. The diaphragm tear resulted in complete engine power loss, which required the pilot to descend into an…NTSB LAX01FA112Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportNorth American Navion · Santa Ysabel, CAthe pilot's continued VFR flight into IFR conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.NTSB SEA01FA060Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna U206G · Mica, WAThe pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors were fog, low ceilings, drizzle/mist, rising terrain, and the non-availability of a functioning transponder.NTSB LAX01LA110Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportJones RV-6A · Inyokern, CAthe in-flight collision with mountainous terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power resulting from the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, continued flight into icing weather conditions, his delay in carburetor heat use, and his delay…NTSB NYC01WA082Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationAero Commander 500S · Kross, IcelandNTSB MIA01LA089Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300T · Gulfport, MSthe pilot's attempted flight into known adverse weather, resulting in an in flight loss of control, exceedance of design limits of the aircraft, and wing separation prior to collision with water.NTSB DCA01RA024Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationBoeing 737-400 · Bangkok, ThailandNTSB DEN01FA058Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 412SP · Grand Junction, COthe pilot's failure to maintain rotor speed during an intentional autorotation, which resulted in a loss of control.NTSB DEN01FA056Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech V35B · Green River, UTthe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control as a result of incapacitation (from hypoxia) due to the in-flight decision to fly at altitudes where oxygen is required, without oxygen available.NTSB MIA01WA087Accident · 7 fatalForeign investigationCessna 206 · Higuerote, VenezuelaNTSB MIA01LA084Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing Helicopters Div. 369D · Inverness, MSThe lineman's failure to use the designed attachment point for securing his safety harness to the helicopter, resulting in overload and failure of the component he did attach to. A factor in the accident was the lineman's failure to follow exact sequential…NTSB LAX01FA103Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46-350P · Paso Robles, CAThe pilot/owner/operator's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff initial climb resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the dark night light condition.NTSB CHI01FA093Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172H · Centralia, ILThe student pilot allowed the airspeed to get too low and inadvertently stalled the airplane, and the CFI delayed in taking remedial action.NTSB MIA01LA082Accident · 4 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBeech 36 · Tybee Island, GAThe flights entry into a descending right turn for undetermined reasons resulting in the flight crashing into the ocean.NTSB DEN01FA064Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech V35 · Wendover, UTThe pilot flying at an altitude insufficient to clear surrounding terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot becoming lost/disoriented, his subsequent spatial disorientation, and dark night conditions.NTSB CHI01FA113Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95-B55 · Norris, SDThe pilot encountering instrument meteorological conditions and his subsequent loss of control of the airplane.