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 ATL95FA079Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172F · Seneca, SCThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout while maneuvering near utility lines, which resulted in a collision with the wires.NTSB MIA95FA100Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-160 · St. Petersburg, FLThe failure of the pilot to extend wing flaps and maintain airspeed while on approach to land resulting in an inadvertent stall, spin, and uncontrolled descent until collision with a residence and the ground.NTSB LAX95FA157Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-180 · Pollack Pines, CAThe pilot's disregard of a hazardous weather advisory; his decision to fly into known adverse weather conditions; his failure to maintain control of the airplane with an accumulation of airframe ice; and his improper use of the flight controls during recovery…NTSB CHI95LA120Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · St. Clair, MOthe pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to drugs which led to his operating the airplane with a known mechanical deficiency.NTSB ATL95FA078Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-34-200T · Covington, TNThe pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft and subsequent overload failures of the stabilator and wing spars.NTSB BFO95FA045Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Eldersburg, MDThe pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to remove carburetor heat during the go-around and the presence of a tailwind.NTSB LAX95LA154Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAyres S2R-T34 · Stanfield, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout for, and clearance from, obstacles while conducting simulated aerial application operations.NTSB FTW95FA151Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Flower Mound, TXThe pilot's improper wind evaluation, and improper touchdown procedure, resulting in dynamic rollover of the helicopter. Factors were the tailwind, dark night, and the lack of recent experience at night.NTSB CHI95FA114Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMaule M-5-235C · Rush City, MNThe pilot's poor judgment in attempting to land in the existing wind conditions. His lack of experience was a factor.NTSB CHI95DCQ01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPitts S-2B · Ottawa, KSThe pilot not performing proper stall/spin recovery procedures.NTSB SEA95FA072Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAeronca 7AC · Brush Prairie, WAUndetermined.NTSB CHI95LA343Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBeech C23 · Waukegan, ILThe pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorolical conditions.NTSB NYC95FA080Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172P · Naples, NYThe pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were: the night conditions, fog, low ceiling, and hilly terrain.NTSB FTW95FA150Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 177RG · Dalhart, TXThe pilot's VFR flight into IMC conditions and the ensuing spatial disorientation. Factors were the pilot's self-induced pressure to reach his destination, his failure to obtain a weather briefing for the flight, and the weather conditions.NTSB FTW95IA148Incident · 1 fatalIncident investigationFinal reportDouglas DC-9-32 · Abilene, TXIncapacitation of the first officer due to a heart attack.NTSB MIA95FA094Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Venice, FLIntentional VFR flight into IMC by the pilot-in-command, failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control, spatial disorientation, and altitude inadequate for recovery following the in flight loss of control.NTSB FTW95FA147Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna R172E · Gladewater, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above stall speed, resulting in an inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's performance of an abrupt maneuver immediately after takeoff.NTSB LAX95FA144Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310Q · Kahului, Maui, HIthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while flying in a mountainous area at night.NTSB LAX95FA148Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 35-C33 · Toms Place, CAthe pilot's decisions to initially attempt and then continue flight into known forecast and observed adverse weather. Factors in the accident were: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his use of a drug.NTSB LAX95FA141Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Reno, NVthe pilot's failure to comply with published instrument approach procedures by a premature descent below the minimum altitude specified for the approach.NTSB CHI95LA106Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-301 · Meade, KSthe pilot's not obtaining/maintaining clearance with the utility pole. A factor was the utility pole.NTSB MIA95FA089Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Staley, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) while maneuvering during a forced landing, resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent stall), and subsequent in flight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate…NTSB ATL95FA065Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J-3L-65 · Tallassee, ALThe student pilot's failure to see and avoid the utility line while performing unwarranted low altitude maneuvers.NTSB MIA95FA087Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 337F · Vero Beach, FLThe pilot's failure to avoid a thunderstorm. The thunderstorm was a factor.NTSB LAX95LA135Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Winslow, AZThe pilot's poor judgement by intentionally deciding to buzz.NTSB FTW95FA134Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHinshaw, Keith T. BD5TP · Byers, COFailure by the pilot in command to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were: lack of experience in type of aircraft and lack of experience in type of operation.NTSB BFO95FA033Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46-310P · Cambridge, MDthe commercial/instrument rated pilot's failure to obtain/maintain adequate altitude/clearance during the initial climb after takeoff. Related factors are the pilot's poor planning/decision making, and the fog.NTSB SEA95LA070Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportQuicksilver MXL2 · Hildale, UTThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while banking the airplane. This led to an unrecoverable aerodynamic stall in close proximity to the ground. Factors contributing to the accident are the pilot exceeding the airplane's weight and balance…NTSB NYC95FA068Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Suffolk, VAThe pilot's inadequate preflight and improper in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Darkness was a factor related to the improper planning/decision-making for the emergency landing.NTSB SEA95FA064Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas 369E · Lakecreek, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the surrounding terrain. A factor was the transmission lines.NTSB FTW95FA130Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · El Prado, NMThe pilot's decision to continue flight into known adverse weather conditions and the ensuing inadvertent stall due to airframe ice. Factors were the weather conditions.NTSB ATL95FA057Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Gainesville, GAThe pilots failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude during the approach. The weather and dark night light condition were factors.NTSB LAX95FA129Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-150 · Oceanside, CAThe pilot's intentional VFR flight into known adverse weather. The low ceiling was a factor.NTSB MIA95FAMS2Accident · 2 fatalMissing aircraftFinal reportCessna 152 · MissingUndetermined. The airplane and occupants have not been located.NTSB FTW95FA125Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95-B55B · Midway, ARThe pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to drugs, his lack of qualification/training, and his resultant inability to maintain control of the airplane.NTSB LAX95LA121Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportThunder and Colt GA42 · Hayward, CAthe pilot's decision to operate the blimp with a known and unresolved deficiency in the electrical system, which led to a loss of the flight controls and the pilot's improper remedial actions after the blimp came to rest on the ground.NTSB LAX95FA120Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 207A · Kotzebue, AKthe pilot's decision to enter a box canyon area at an altitude inadequate to maintain terrain clearance. The pilot's lack of mountain flying experience was a factor in this accident.NTSB BFO95FA028Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210M · Youngstown, OHloss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: the weather conditions (restricted visibility with snow falling), reduced light condition at dusk, and the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.NTSB ATL95FA054Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30B · Franklin, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain flying speed resulting in an aerodynamic stall. A factor was sunglare.NTSB NYC95GA060Accident · 4 fatalFinal reportEurocopter AS-350-B · Cambridge, MA1) The Massachusetts state police (msp) management's failure to provide adequate oversight of its air wing; 2) fuel contamination and obstructed fuel injector nozzles, due to inadequate fuel storage and storage requirements by the msp, resulting in a loss of…NTSB SEA95LA053Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBruce Tifft Varieze · Tiller, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees.NTSB SEA95FA052Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150M · Burley, IDThe failure of the dual student to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.NTSB LAX95WA165Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationBeech BE-55 · Laurieton, AustraliaNTSB DCA95MA020Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-8-63 · Kansas City, MO(1) The loss of directional control by the pilot in command during the takeoff roll, and his decision to continue the takeoff and initiate a rotation below the computed rotation airspeed, resulting in a premature liftoff, further loss of control and collision…NTSB NYC95FA056Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46-310P · Chippewa Falls, WIThe pilot's improper decision to depart into known adverse weather conditions, and the subsequent encounter with freezing drizzle, resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain during an approach to land. Also causal to the accident was the…NTSB FTW95FA116Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-4 · East CameronInadvertent flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain control of the helicopter after becoming spatially disoriented. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's…NTSB DCA95MA019Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Tusayan, AZa loss of power on one engine for an undetermined reason(s), and the pilot's improper decision to return to the departure airport for landing which neccessitated maneuvering over increasingly higher terrain. Factors in the accident were: the high gusting…NTSB LAX95LA108Accident · 3 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182Q · San Francisco, CAan inflight collision with water for undetermined reasons.NTSB LAX95FA104Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Modesto, CAThe pilot lost control of the airplane for an unknown reason.NTSB FTW95FA114Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRockwell 690A · Guthrie, OKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed due to airframe ice, which resulted in a loss of control. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather, his failure to obtain weather information either before or…