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 FTW93FA267Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31P · San Antonio, TXFailure by the pilot-in-command to maintain VMC following takeoff. Factors were: partial loss of power to one engine for undetermined reason, and lack of total experience in aircraft type.NTSB CHI93FA378Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAero Commander 690A · Lansing, MIwas the pilot-in-command not maintaining aircraft control during the intermittent operation of the electrically operated attitude gyro. Factor's associated with this accident are an fluctuating (intermittent) electrical system inverter and the…NTSB BFO93LA186Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-260 · Niagara Falls, NYThe pilot's failure to follow starting procedures and his inadequate preflight inspection by not removing the wheel chocks and the passenger not maintaining clearance from the propeller.NTSB ATL93FA162Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · Boone, NCThe pilot's improper preflight planning, his failure to retract the landing gear after departure, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the high density altitude, and the mountainous terrain.NTSB MIA93FA200Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech C35 · Ocklawaha, FLFailure of a propeller blade for an undetermined reason, and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors related to the accident were: low pass performed by the pilot, and his possible impairment from…NTSB LAX93FA369Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 Beta · Wildomar, CAThe failure of the tail rotor blade after being struck by the pilot's knee board, and the failure of the pilot to adequately secure the knee board while in flight.NTSB LAX93LA366Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182H · Flagstaff, AZthe pilot's sudden incapacation due to a fatal heart attack.NTSB FTW93LA263Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWsk Pzl Mielec M-18A Dromader · Frogmore, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the powerline. A factor was the dusk light condition.NTSB SEA93FA205Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 185A · De Borgia, MTThe pilot's poor in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain airspeed above a stall.NTSB LAX93LA375Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB SEA93FA206Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180B · Mullan, IDThe pilot's poor in flight decision, and his inadvertent continuation of a VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors include low ceilings, snow, fog, rain, and mountainous/hilly terrain.NTSB LAX93FA360Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95-A55 · Pine Mountain, CAThe pilot in command did not maintain adequate clearance with the terrain. Factors in this accident were: the dark night, and the poor in flight planning and decision making by the pilot.NTSB MIA93FA198Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportSocata TB 10 · Aguadilla, PRIn flight encounter with a level ii thunderstorm and flight into known advese weather by the pilot in command. Contributing to the accident was failure of the pilot in command to obtain a preflight weather briefing.NTSB BFO93FA178Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMaule M-4-210C · Staunton, VAInadequate preflight by the pilot which resulted in inadequate altitude to clear the embankment during the initial climb. Factors in this accident were a tailwind on takeoff and rising terrain at the departure end of the grass airstrip.NTSB ATL93LA160Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCornwell KR-2 · Covington, TNThe pilot's misjudged obstacle clearance on final approach. Factors were, the dark night, and the pilot's defective distant vision.NTSB SEA93LA200Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A188B · Waterville, WAThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from the powerline.NTSB LAX93FA352Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportScaled Composites 158-8 · Lemmon Valley, NVOil starvation and connecting rod failure in the right engine, and a resultant fuel fed fire.NTSB ANC93FA175Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Fairbanks, AKThe student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Factors were the dark night and the inadequate surveillance of the operation by the club management.NTSB MIA93FA194Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172H · Liberty, MSThe pilot's delayed go-around and failure to retract the flaps in a timely manner. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed which resulted in overshooting the approach, and the existence of power lines…NTSB ANC93LA174Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 206 · Swikshak Bay, AKThe pilot-in-command's failure to attain a proper climb rate.NTSB SEA93LA196Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA-365-N2 · Ogden, UTThe pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude. A factor to the accident was glassy water.NTSB BFO93FA169Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A150 · Greenbelt, MD1) The pilot's poor judgement in buzzing a residential area, 2) his failure to maintain an airspeed above the aerodynamic stalling speed, which led to a stall/spin, and 3) the inability of the pilot to take remedial action and recover from the stall/spin due…NTSB BFO93FA167Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300T · Marshall, VAAn inadequate annual inspection of the airplane and non-compliance with airworthiness directives by company maintenance personnel.NTSB ATL93FA155Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech F35 · Jackson, TNThe improper use of old auto fuel for the refueling of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the deterioration of the octane in the auto fuel being used in the aircraft and the delayed decision by the pilot to choose a suitable area and execute a forced…NTSB MIA93LA191Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHudson Rans S-12 · Leesburg, FLThe pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (vso) while maneuvering resulting in a stall/spin.NTSB ANC93LA171Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Ptarmigan Pass, AKThe pilot inadvertently walked into a turning propeller. Factors in the accident were the soft runway which mired the airplane and the pilot's diverted attention during the attempt to free the airplane.NTSB SEA93FA194Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182D · Lucile, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an aerodynamic stall. The mountainous terrain was a factor.NTSB FTW93LA257Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBeech C-45H · Fentress, TXInadvertent deployment of the skydiver's reserve parachute for undetermined reasons.NTSB FTW93LA252Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMascola Christen Eagle II · Palo Pinto, TXThe pilot's intentional stall at an altitude insufficient to allow a safe recovery.NTSB FTW93FA255Accident · 7 fatalField investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 25D · Pecos, NMWas physical impairment of the pilot in command from alcohol and drugs. A factor was the first officer's lack of experience in the lear jet.NTSB ATL93FA151Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Laurinburg, NCThe pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), failure to maintain control of the aircraft after becoming spatially disoriented, and inadvertently exceeding the design stress limits of the aircraft. Factors related to the accident…NTSB ATL93FA150Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Stone Mountain, GAThe pilot-in-command's improper use of the aircraft stabilator during the takeoff, and his failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertant stall. A factor was the high obstructions (trees) located near the departure end of the runway.NTSB FTW93FA251Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182C · Porter, TXPartial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors in the accident which may have contributed were the distorted and separated muffler components resulting from improper maintenance by an unknown person.NTSB BFO93LA156Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172P · Pembroke, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude while manuevering in mountainous terrain.NTSB FTW93LA272Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCoen Benson B8 · Aurora, COFatigue failure of the center engine mount that altered the thrust and lift vectors.NTSB SEA93FA187Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Cheyenne, WYImproper in-flight planning/decison by the pilot, which resulted in exceeding the design stress limits of the aircraft after encountering adverse weather. The weather conditions were related factors.NTSB ANC93FA167Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18A-150 · Sanona Creek, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain flying speed during a downwind turn for landing. Factors contributing to the accident were: the overweight condition of the airplane, and failure to assure that the airplane complied with all applicable airworthiness…NTSB ANC93FA161Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportDe Havilland DHC-2 · Iliamna, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the inadequate recurrent training of the pilot by the operator/management.NTSB ANC93LA170Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Hulahula River, AKThe pilot in command's attempted VFR flight into IMC conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were the high terrain and the obscuration.NTSB ANC93LA159Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMorgan Steen Skybolt MI-2 · Nome, AKThe pilot delayed in recovering from the aerobatic maneuver.NTSB MIA93WA186Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationChristen Industries Pitts S-2B · Cayenne, French GuianaNTSB MIA93FA184Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportReher, Kent O. RV 6 · Grand Ridge, FLUndetermined.NTSB LAX93FA335Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech D-35 · Alpine, CAThe failure of the pilot to maintain direction control during the initial takeoff climb which placed an obstruction in the airplane's takeoff flight path and a subsequent inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the existing crosswind.NTSB FTW93FA245Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402 · La Barre, LALoss of control for undetermined reasons.NTSB NYC93LA172Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Ashland, NHThe pilot's improper decision to leave the airplane unattended with the engine operating.NTSB MIA93FA182Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T337G · Ormond Beach, FLWater contamination in the fuel, which resulted in loss of power in the front engine as the pilot was attempting flight with a known problem in the rear engine, and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.…NTSB FTW93FA244Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBusby Celebrity · Perry, OKThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed due to alcohol impairment. A factor which contributed to the accident was the pilot performing aerobatics at a altitude inadequate to recover from a stall.NTSB NYC93FA169Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech F35 · Medford, NJThe pilot's failure to select a fuel tank that contained fuel, and perform the emergency procedure to restart the engine, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. Factors are the pilot's lack of total experience and his inadequate…NTSB NYC93FA166Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-260 · Plymouth, MAwas the failure of the pilot to attain proper alignment for the banner pickup which resulted in picking up the banner tow rope on the wing, and an inflight loss of control and uncontrolled contact with the ground.NTSB CHI93LA347Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWells Pitts S-2-S · Bloomington, ILthe pilot in command continued the aerobatic maneuver too long to effect a safe level off.