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Fatal NTSB investigations

180,658 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,636 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.

NTSB CHI88FA188Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Flushing, MIPilot's physical incapacitation due to a coronary seizure, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control, and a stall/spin into the ground.Aug 3, 1988 · N2956Z · DestroyedNTSB ATL88DLT01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportVan RV-4 · Ashland City, TNAug 3, 1988 · N223RD · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA278Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T-210 · Brea, CAAug 2, 1988 · N79Y · DestroyedNTSB DEN88FA170Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B23 · Cimarron, NMThe pilot to properly preflight his aircraft in accordance with the procedures provided in the operators handbook thus causing the engine to lose power following takeoff due to fuel contamination caused by water.Aug 2, 1988 · N4006T · DestroyedNTSB CHI88FA190Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas 269B · Braceville, ILConducting maneuvering flight the PIC failed to monitor the helicopter systems and allowed the main rotor RPM to decay to the point where it would not produce enough lift to sustain flight.Aug 2, 1988 · N9522F · DestroyedNTSB NYC88FA248Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-39-30 · Margaretville, NYThe acft departed block island, RI en route to stewart international airport, newburgh, new york, the aircraft never arrived and was reported missing August 2, 1988. The aircraft was missing until November 21, 1988 when it was found near Margaretville, NY by…Jul 31, 1988 · N2875A · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA277Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 414A · Big Pine, CAThe pilot intentionally flew over an area of high terrain in which he failed to maintain the proper altitude and he delayed his decision to reverse course. A contributing factor was the pilot's improper in-flight decision.Jul 31, 1988 · N414YV · DestroyedNTSB SEA88FA140Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Liscome Bay, AKWhile in a narrow, tree-lined area just above a small cove, the pilot lost control of the aircraft while maneuvering, in preparation for a landing on a lake. The aircraft struck trees in-flight while in an unusual attitude and then struck the water. Poor…Jul 30, 1988 · N70168 · DestroyedNTSB MKC88DPG02Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportSnow 600-S2C · Almyra, ARTwo ag aircraft were spraying the same field. According to several witnesses, 1671S was heading south and 3660X was heading east. Both aircraft were actively engaged in the spraying operation but did not seem to the witnesses to be coordinating with each…Jul 30, 1988 · N1671S · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB MIA88FA239Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Avon Park, FLThe CFI radioed that he would be conducting a simulated engine-out aprch. 2 plt witnesses, 1 of whom was a CFI, stated that acft was seen on final aprch at about 200 ft with the left prop feathered & the gear & flaps down. They stated that although the acft…Jul 30, 1988 · N3464P · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA274Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportLearjet 23 · Perris, CAThe pilot decided to conduct his flight with known aircraft deficiencies. Induced company pressure to deliver the aircraft to its destination is considered to have been a factor in the accident.Jul 30, 1988 · N745F · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA272Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 177RG · Cedar Grove, CAPilots decision to attempt a flight through a mountainous area at an altitude insufficient to ensure terrain clearance.Jul 30, 1988 · N52504 · DestroyedNTSB CHI88FA179Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Oshkosh, WIJul 29, 1988 · N43GS · No damageNTSB NYC88FA196Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Pocantico Hills, NYThe non-instrument rated private pilot departed in instrument flight conditions against the advice of several people he talked to. Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes after departure the first of four or five mayday calls were heard by bridgeport radio and an…Jul 27, 1988 · N9715W · DestroyedNTSB MKC88MA134Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportLearjet 35A · Morristown, NJThe crew was positioning the aircraft in preparation for a revenue flight and executing a non-directional beacon (NDB) apch to rwy 05. The captain reported that the copilot was flying the acft. However, the capt stated that he took controlof the acft during…Jul 26, 1988 · N442NE · DestroyedNTSB NYC88FA193Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150J · Palmyra, NYCessna N51413 departed Palmyra airpark with full flaps and crashed into a barn about 75 feet past the departure end of runway 35. Afterward, the flap actuator was found in the flap up position. The pilot said that the engine lost 200 to 300 RPM about 300 feet…Jul 25, 1988 · N51413 · DestroyedNTSB MIA88LA236Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-60-700P · Cocoa Beach, FLFlt entered near vertical descent while flying in area of level 1 and 2 thunderstorms just after plt had called requesting permission to deviate around rain showers. A level 5 thunderstorm was present 8 miles west. The acft descended at rates up to 13,800…Jul 25, 1988 · N69RB · DestroyedNTSB ANC88LA151Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna U206F · Lake Minchumina, AKThe plt said he was taxiing the floatplane from a windy/wavy location to a small protected cove for a final preflt. While taxiing, the top cap of the left float was open & the float began filling with water. Subsequently, the float- plane rolled over & sank.Jul 25, 1988 · N401SU · Substantial damageNTSB MIA88FA234Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Daytona Beach, FLThe acft departed spruce creek arpt and aprx 2 minutes later lost power and crashed into trees just west of the volusia county landfill aprx 4 miles northeast of the Daytona Beach regional arpt. Postcrash examination of the engine revealed the drain line on…Jul 24, 1988 · N28140 · DestroyedNTSB MIA88FA232Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRockwell S2R · O'Brien, FLThe purpose of the flt was to spray a soybean field about 1/2 mi n of the airstrip. There are no known witnesses to the crash, but a person in the area heard the eng 'pop', then eng sound ceased; seconds later the sound of impact was heard. The acft struck…Jul 24, 1988 · N4222X · DestroyedNTSB BFO88FA068Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna R182RG · Stevensville, MDThe acft departed bay bridge arpt at aprx 0415 EDT. The passenger, also a plt, was reading back an IFR clearance to ATC when communication ended in the middle of a sentence without any sign of distress. Comparison of ATC and radar tapes indicates that N9997C…Jul 24, 1988 · N9997C · DestroyedNTSB FTW88DRA15Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportAir Command Elite 532 · Baytown, TXAcft was observed to takeoff and turn right crosswind. Drng the crosswind, the RPM increased suddenly. The acft pitched nose downwards, impacted the ground in a vertical descent and burned. The plt/builder had a total of 5 hrs in the new acft. No evidence of…Jul 23, 1988 · N91359 · DestroyedNTSB ATL88FA219Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Winston-Salem, NCN7942N crashed into a building shortly after liftoff from runway 21. The pilot was cleared for a left turnout over runway 33. A witness estimated that the airplane had reached 300 feet when the pilot lost control and crashed. The investigation failed to…Jul 23, 1988 · N7942N · DestroyedNTSB FTW88FA136Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportDouglas DC-6A · Golden Meadow, LAAfter abt 4.3 hrs on an overwater flt, the crew rprtd they had 15 min of fuel remaining. Subsequently, 3 of 4 engs lost pwr fm fuel exhaustion. Drg an emerg lndg, the acft hit a levee & was extensively dmgd. Most of the wreckage came to rest in a dainage…Jul 21, 1988 · N33VX · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA264Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 76 · Portola Valley, CAWhile dining with friends with whom he resided, the pilot told them that he was 'going flying'. At the completion of the flight he would fly over the house before he returned to palo alto airport (pao). The pilot twice circled the residence which is abt 7…Jul 20, 1988 · N2074M · DestroyedNTSB BFO88FA067Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportde Havilland DHC-6-200 · Chantilly, VAThe pilot inadvertently misused the flaps, by failing to set the flaps to the proper setting. The flaps were set full down. This caused the aircraft to pitch up steeply after liftoff. Additionally, the flight control lock was probably installed during some…Jul 20, 1988 · N7267 · DestroyedNTSB NYC88FA185Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 7KCAB · Egg Harbor Twsp, NJThe Bellanca was maneuvering and had hooked up with a banner, when control was lost and it impacted the ground. Witnesses said the aircraft was at full power when it went into a nose high attitude and stalled to the right. After impact with the ground the…Jul 18, 1988 · N86628 · DestroyedNTSB MIA88FA224Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95 · Destin, FLPlt reported arpt in sight and was cleared for visual approach. Witnesses reported seeing acft on left downwind & said it flew into a thundershower. The flt was not heard from again. The acft's wreckage was found in the bay 1 1/4 miles north of the runway.…Jul 17, 1988 · N669Q · DestroyedNTSB SEA88FA131Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportApplebay Zuni 2 · Wellington, NVThe plt (with only 13 hrs flt time in the hi performance sailplane) took off at 1330 PDT. Psn rprts with her gnd crew were normal until 1630, then another plt offered to relay messages. After ctcg her gnd crew, the otr plt tried calling her back at aprx 1645,…Jul 16, 1988 · N14XZ · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA258Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Compton, CAThe student plt was taking his 2 grandchildren & 1 of their friends on a local flt. Ground witnesses observed the airplane lift off and continue in an excessively high angle of attack climb attitude. When the airplane reached abt 150 ft a.g.l. it stalled,…Jul 16, 1988 · N40808 · DestroyedNTSB NYC88FA181Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421 · Taunton, MABfr rchg his destn, the plt adzd apch ctl that his rgt eng was 'blowing some smoke' & losing oil pressure. Vectors were provided for a visual apch, but there were low clouds in the area & vis was restricted due to haze. After reaching the vcnty of the arpt,…Jul 14, 1988 · N825DW · DestroyedNTSB FTW88FA131Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA330J · Gulf-Of-MexicoNone submittedJul 14, 1988 · N47307 · DestroyedNTSB MKC88FA124Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172G · Sarcoxie, MOWitnesses at the acdnt site characterized the wx as having a low ceiling with fog. They rprtd they saw the acft 'appear out of clouds' in a steep descent. The acft then began to 'pull up;' however, during recovery from the dive, the acft struck trees &…Jul 13, 1988 · N4288L · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA251Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Compton, CAStudent pilots failure to adequately remove moisture from the fuel system during his preflight inspection which led to a loss of engine power during a critical phase of flight.Jul 13, 1988 · N6926B · DestroyedNTSB DEN88FA212Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Kanosh, UTPlt obtained wx briefing and filed VFR flt plan from burley, ID, to chandler, AZ, with enroute refueling stop at fillmore, UT. Plt landed on dirt road at fillmore and taxiied acft to roadside truck stop. Acft serviced with auto gas. Acft departed fillmore but…Jul 13, 1988 · N3541Z · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA252Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A35 · Lompoc, CAPilot's improper use of the fuel system and his failure to maintain control of his aircraft. Contributing factors were the pilot's intentional operation of an aircraft with known deficiencies in equipment, his improper emergency procedure and his lack of…Jul 12, 1988 · N27EB · DestroyedNTSB NYC88LA149Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Fryeburg, MEAccording to witnesses, the pilot had been drinking and two friends drove him to the airport and watched as he departed. They noted that the aircraft was climbing steeply after liftoff and then observed the aircraft's rotating beacon as the aircraft spiraled…Jul 11, 1988 · N84493 · DestroyedNTSB FTW88FA132Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38-112 · Electra, TXThe private pilot's logbook indicated he had a checkout on steep turns and spins two months prior to the accident. He also logged four landings during the same one-half hour flight. A witness saw the airplane complete a three turn spin and saw it start to…Jul 10, 1988 · N2459K · DestroyedNTSB CHI88FA162Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Holland, MIPilot's inadequate aircraft handling during the approach to landing and landing flare phase of flight. The pilot's failure to recognize and avoid a situation from which it was impossible-due to the weight of the aircraft, the amount of power available from…Jul 10, 1988 · N80943 · DestroyedNTSB ATL88DKG09Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 188 · Garfield, GAFollowing minor engine maintenance, the plt/mechanic made the test flight. The engine cowling was not installed prior to the flt. Witnesses reported that the acft wheels touched the water of a nearby pond followed by a sharp pull-up into the plt's customary…Jul 10, 1988 · N3525Q · DestroyedNTSB ANC88LA085Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMaule M6-235 · Egegik, AKAfter touchdown on the beach, the aircraft struck a three-wheeled scooter (atv). The atv was substantially damaged and the driver of the atv, an eleven year old boy, died a few days later. The atv passenger, a eight year old girl, received minor injuries.…Jul 9, 1988 · N5647Y · Substantial damageNTSB MKC88FA119Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 320 · Atwood, KSThe PIC had deptd the denver metro area carrying pax to vacation in Indiana. No flt plan was filed and there was no record of a preflt wx brief. The flt progrsd without any known difficulty until reaching the colorodo/kansas border. The PIC rqstd and rcvd wx…Jul 7, 1988 · N320DB · DestroyedNTSB CHI88FA160Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Middletown, INAttempted operation of the accident airplane by the PIC when he was under the influence of alcohol.Jul 7, 1988 · N6187D · DestroyedNTSB MIA88FA214Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Clearwater, FLThe private pilot experienced a rough running engine on takeoff roll and continued the takeoff. After liftoff the engine failed and he crashed into a residence. The engine fuel control and fuel divider block were found to have water, rust and sand in them.…Jul 5, 1988 · N399AC · DestroyedNTSB MIA88FA213Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportFranklin Drifter XP-503 · Lake Wales, FLThe owner rprtd the plt flew the acft at a company picnic without authorization. Company psnl saw the experimental, amateur built acft takeoff from the company strip, then maneuver for a low pass over the area at about 150 to 200 ft AGL. Some estimated the…Jul 4, 1988 · N65DF · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA246Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Verdi, NVFailure of the pilot to gain sufficient altitude prior to negotiating mountainous terrain with forecast high winds. Contributing to this accident was the weather phenomena known as 'mountain wave' which created downdrafts that exceeded the aircraft's climb…Jul 4, 1988 · N49787 · DestroyedNTSB LAX88FA245Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 320D · Mammoth Lakes, CAThe pilot executed a left (south) crosswind departure towards higher terrain after departing runway 27; the plt was following a slower single engine airplane that had preceded his departure. Ground witnesses reported that as the airplane approached the higher…Jul 4, 1988 · N9HS · DestroyedNTSB CHI88FA147Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150G · Plymouth, OHJul 4, 1988 · N2865S · DestroyedNTSB ANC88FA083Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Whittier, AKThe flight departed six mile lake on elmendorf air force base and was destined for coghill lake. The airplane was found at the 2500 foot level of a mountain on the north side of burns glacier. The airplane heading was 324 degrees. The heading to go through…Jul 4, 1988 · N185BT · Substantial damageNTSB ANC88DAG05Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-18A · Mcgrath, AKThe airplane crashed approximately 94 miles east of the city of Mcgrath, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the Piper PA-18 airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane impacted ground in a near vertical attitude near the end of a…Jul 4, 1988 · N1556P · Substantial damage