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 CHI00FA227Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182A · Sauk City, WIVFR flight into IMC encountered by the pilot and exceeding the design limits of the aircraf. A factor was flight to a destination alternate not performed by the pilot.NTSB DEN00FA141Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20K · Cheyenne, WYthe airplane's in-flight collision with hilly terrain for undetermined reasons.NTSB CHI00LA226Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHalsmer Crazy 8 · Lafayette, INAircraft control not being maintained by the pilot during the forced landing. Factors to the accident were the engine failure due to an overtemperature, the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft, and the trees.NTSB NYC00FA210Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20E · Lunenburg, MAThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in exhaustion of the fuel supply.NTSB NYC00FA209Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 210D · Ashland, VAThe failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Factors were the dark night, low ceiling and fog.NTSB SEA00FA142Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna TU-206G · Pistol Creek, IDA loss of engine power due to the fracture of the #2 cylinder intake valve stem and the puncturing of the #2 piston dome by the intake valve head. Factors include no suitable landing site within the maneuvering abilities of the aircraft, and coniferous trees…NTSB DCA00RA078Accident · 113 fatalForeign investigationAerospatiale Concorde Version 101 · Paris-Gonesse, FranceNTSB ATL00FA069Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS350B · Sumner, GAThe pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control of the helicopter. Contributing factors was the dark night.NTSB MIA00LA228Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportQuicksilver MXL II Sport · Clyo, GAThe failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft due to impairment by use of drugs, and the resultant uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with the terrain.NTSB CHI00FA214Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23 · Dodge Center, MNThe pilot not maintaining airplane control in his turn back in the direction of the airport and the pilot not performing an emergency landing straight ahead. Factors were the water and debris contamination found in the fuel screens and carburetor bowl and the…NTSB LAX00MA273Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS 355F1 · Kahului, Maui, HIThe pilot's inadequate decision by which he continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Also causal was his failure to maintain terrain clearance resulting in a collision with mountainous terrain. A contributing factor was…NTSB ANC00FA093Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Thorne Bay, AKThe pilot-in-command's inadvertent stalling of the airplane.NTSB MIA00RA224Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationDouglas DC-3 · Nassau, BahamasNTSB NYC00MA201Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGrumman G-159 · Linneus, METhe pilot-in-command's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed, which resulted in a loss of control. Factors in this accident were clouds, and a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, while in cruise flight above the airplane's single engine…NTSB FTW00LA214Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBurton/Boyton Celerity · Horseshoe Bend, ARThe loss of control while maneuvering for an undetermined reason.NTSB SEA00LA136Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415-D · Hamilton, MTThe excessive rate at which the student pilot allowed the aircraft to descend into the runway surface while attempting to land. Factors include the pilot's lack of experience in airplanes.NTSB IAD00RA064Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationHughes 369D · Nuuk, GreenlandNTSB FTW00LA212Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-401 · Panhandle, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall.NTSB DEN00FA136Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman American AA-5 · Moab, UTThe pilot in command exercising poor judgment and exceeding the aircraft's turning capability. Contributing factors were the pilots' attention being diverted, flying into a known blind canyon, high temperature, and high density altitude.NTSB CHI00LA212Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHess RH-1 Falcon · New Castle, INaircraft control not attained by the pilot.NTSB MIA00FA221Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 58 · Hernando, MSThe arcing of an electrical wire behind the instrument panel and the associated cracking of fuel and oil lines. Also causal was the pilot's inappropriate remedial action not in accordance with the emergency checklist.NTSB DCA00WA076Accident · 60 fatalForeign investigationBoeing 737-200 · Patna, IndiaNTSB CHI00LA206Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMead Kolb Firestar II · Gwinn, MIthe pilot not obtaining/maintaining altitude/clearance. Factors were the tree and the high density altitude.NTSB FTW00LA210Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman-Schweizer G-164B · Ville Platte, LAThe loss of control for an undetermined reason.NTSB CHI00FA200Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 35 · Columbus, NEthe failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the power line. Factors were the sunglare and the wire.NTSB MIA00FA217Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150M · Holly Springs, MSThe failure of the pilot to maintain control while maneuvering the aircraft due to impairment as a result of use of illegal drugs, and the subsequent collision with the terrain during an uncontrolled descent.NTSB FTW00FA208Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Houston, TXthe loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during maneuvering. Contributing factors were the dark night light conditions and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.NTSB SEA00FA133Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150E · Ashton, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while making a low pass over an outdoor gathering of individuals. Factors include the intentional low pass, a tree located in a shadow generated by the sun's low position at dusk, hilly terrain, and the…NTSB FTW00FA201Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210J · Athens, TXthe pilot's inadvertent stall during initial takeoff climb.NTSB SEA00WA130Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-24-260 · Chilko Lake, CanadaNTSB FTW00RA196Accident · 19 fatalForeign investigationBritish Aerospace Jetstream 3201 · Chulum Juarez, MexicoNTSB DCA00WA067Accident · 13 fatalForeign investigationCurtis-Wright C-46 · Villavicencio, ColombiaNTSB SEA00FA132Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180F · Gold Bar, WAThe non-instrument rated pilot's attempted VFR flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors were mountainous terrain and cloud, low ceiling and obscuration conditions.NTSB SEA00FA127Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 175 · Molalla, ORFailure to maintain clearance from mountainous/hilly terrain.NTSB MIA00FA208Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 402C · Vieques, PRThe airplanes entry into an uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons from which it crashed into the ocean.NTSB DEN00FA127Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 195 · Aspen, COthe pilot's poor in-flight decision to fly up a valley with rapidly rising terrain, which resulted in the airplane colliding with the terrain due to its climb performance being exceeded. A contributing factors was the high, rapidly rising, mountainous terrain.NTSB CHI00FA186Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Capron, ILThe pilot attempting an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude and the pilot not maintaining clearance from the terrain. A factor to the accident was the pilot disregarding the federal aviation regulations concerning the minimum altitudes required for aerobatic…NTSB CHI00FA185Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Duluth, MNloss of control in flight for undetermined reason(s).NTSB MIA00WA211Accident · 5 fatalForeign investigationCessna 310N · Rio Lujan, ArgentinaNTSB CHI00FA184Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Quincy, ILThe pilots failure to maintain control of the aircraft and his continued flight into adverse weather. Factors were the fog, and the crops.NTSB MIA00LA202Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A188B · Inverness, MSThe failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed while reversing course during an aerial application flight resulting in the aircraft stalling, descending, impacting a tree, and crashing to the ground.NTSB MIA00FA201Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Murfreesboro, TNthe flight instructor's failure to maintain an airspeed above the aircraft's stall speed, which resulted in a stall/mush, and an inflight loss of control while maneuvering to return to a landing area during an emergency, resulting in an uncontrolled descent…NTSB ANC00FA082Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · Whittier, AKSuicide.NTSB NYC00FA183Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportChampion 7GCAA · Lakewood, NJThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in an inadvertent stall. Factors were the entanglement of the tow rope with the rudder horn, restricted rudder movement, the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of operation, and no stall warning…NTSB DEN00LA122Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRowley P-40F · Peyton, COthe pilot's inadequate decision to turn back (low altitude) towards the runway for a forced landing. A contributing factor was the total loss of engine power due to a reduction gear failure.NTSB NYC00LA184Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHartzell Rans S-12 · Strattanville, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during low level maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.NTSB CHI00FA180Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Brownton, MNIn flight collision with the terrain for undetermined reason.NTSB CHI00LA179Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNorton Volksplane VP-1 · Waconia, MNthe inadvertent stall by the pilot. The low attitude at the time of the stall was a contributing factor.NTSB ANC00FA081Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 337C · Marshall, AKThe pilot's attempted takeoff with known deficiencies in equipment (an inoperable rear engine) and an inadvertent stall. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's improper retraction of the landing gear, his over confidence in the airplane's…NTSB CHI00LA178Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWeatherly 201C · Tolna, NDthe wing spar fatigue and wing separation while maneuvering. A factor was that the fatigue was not detected by the mechanic during the last annual inspection.