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.
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 LAX88FA197Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Pinecrest, CAPilots decision to continue VFR flight through a mountain area after encountering instrument meteorological conditions.NTSB FTW88DQG05Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-25-260 · Stratford, TXWhile maneuvering during an aerial application flt, the pilot allowed the right wing to contact the ground. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident with fatal injuries to the pilot.NTSB FTW88DQA01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportAerotek Pitts S2S · El Paso, TXPilot's failure to complete the aerobatic maneuver in a manner which insured adequate terrain clearance at the termination.NTSB DEN88FA115Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20 · Jamestown, COThe plt told a friend that he was going to conduct a sightseeing flt in the local area. Residents of a small town 2 miles from the acdt site said the acft circled the town at low alt several times at about the time of the accident. There were no witnesses to…NTSB DEN88FA114Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech D-17S · Wheatland, WYThe witnesses said they saw the acft fly a pattern indicative of a base to final approach to rwy 35. The airstrip has a second runway oriented east and west. The wind was blowing from the east at 20 knots. The acft wreckage was found approximately 3/4 miles…NTSB BFO88FA051Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Petersburg, VAThe plt was being accompanied by a 182 during the flt from NC to tangier island. Both acft landed at Petersburg. A passenger in the 182 had become ill. After refueling and spending a short time at Petersburg, both acft departed for tangier island with the…NTSB MKC88FA098Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A-23-19 · Big Island, ARIncapacitation of the pilot due to a medical event which resulted in loss of aircraft control.NTSB DEN88FA111Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210N · Seboyeta, NMThe plt departed el paso, TX, and flew to Douglas, AZ, where three pax boarded. The plt then flew to a ranch near Seboyeta, NM, and landed on a dirt road. After conducting business, the plt and his pax took off for pagosa springs, CO. As the acft turned on a…NTSB ATL88FA186Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 402B · West Columbia, SCThe airplane used about 1/2 of the 8,602 ft rwy for the t/o roll. After t/o it pitched nose-down briefly over the rwy during init climb. The plt radioed that he was having a problem with the elevator which required 'full back pressure' to keep the nose up,…NTSB ATL88FA185Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Raleigh, NCA Piper PA-28R (lead acft, N44018) & a Cessna 172 (#2 acft, N737GU) were departing Raleigh-durham arpt on a formation flt to petersburg, VA. The Cessna plt (wingman) rprtd that drg takeoff & initial climb, the lead acft bgn to accelerate ahead of him. The…NTSB MIA88FA179Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Lake City, FLThe acft, while on a local flight, struck a telephone transmission line on the approach end of runway 1. Witnesses stated that they saw the acft takeoff to the west and make a right turn and go out of sight. Aprx three to five minutes later, they heard the…NTSB CHI88DEC02Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportChappel Ratsrepus 300 · Pontiac, MIDestructive wing/aileron flutter is suspected, but not sufficiently substantiated through research and calculations to be cited as the probable cause of this accident.NTSB ANC88FA063Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 206 · Dillingham, AKA Cessna 206 airplane and an aerospatiale AS350D helicopter collided in midair one-half mile south of the Dillingham airport, Dillingham, AK. Both aircraft had been communicating with the Dillingham flight service station and had received the appropriate…NTSB ATL88MA184Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportLearjet 35A · West Paterson, NJWitnesses rpted a normal takeoff. Radar indicated the acft turned right as cleared and began cruise at 1900 ft, hdg nw at 235 KTS. 65 secs after calling clear of the control zone the acft's radar track ended. The acft was fragmented by theimpact with all flt…NTSB ANC88FA062Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportDe Havilland DHC-2 · Anchorage, AKThe airplane had undergone extensive maintenance which included work on the control column. The upper half of the control column was replaced with a throw-over yoke and the aileron system was rerigged. The pilot-in-command picked up the airplane after it was…NTSB DEN88FA110Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Heber City, UTThe CFI and student plt were on a round-robin cross-country flt. A witness near the accident site said he saw an airplane flying 'up a canyon quite slow and low'. The airplane was reported overdue and found the next day in a 'box canyon' at the 8,500 foot…NTSB LAX88FA190Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38-112 · Green Valley, AZFailure of the student pilot to accomplish the proper stall recovery procedures allowing the stall to develop into a spin. Contributing to this accident was the lack of training in spin recovery.NTSB LAX88FA187Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182A · Grand Canyon, AZPilots selection of an inappropriate cruise altitude which did not ensure adequte terrain clearance on the leg of the flight from page to Grand Canyon, Arizona. A factor in the accident was the pilot's flight schedule on the day of the accident which may have…NTSB FTW88FA104Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172P · Le Flore, OKThe acft was being used to fly over a wooded area & spot cattle for psnl on the ground. After spotting cattle for about 2 hrs, the plt was flying at low alt when the acft suddenly rolled into a steep bank, then the nose dropped & the acft crashed in a steep…NTSB ANC88FA059Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Skwentna, AKThe on-demand air taxi flight with the pilot and two passengers struck the rock face of a mountain at the 8600 foot level. According to witnesses at the time of the accident the weather conditions were poor and visibility was less than one-half mile. The…NTSB MKC88FA089Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAero Commander 690A · Little Rock, ARThe plt had just rtrnd fm vacation in the Bahamas bfr starting a flt fm Little Rock to atlanta with an intermediate stopat memphis. This itinerary was flwd by a rtrn flt to Little Rock via a reverse routing. Witnesses rprtd the plt said he had only 2 hrs of…NTSB DEN88FA109Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210N · Albuquerque, NMNTSB FTW88DRD03Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 188 · Winnsboro, LAThe private pilot was practicing aerial application maneuvers with between 20 to 40 gallons of water in the spray tanks. A witness indicated that 'as the airplane started down for the pass it clearly went into a flat spin in which it made almost 2 full…NTSB SEA88LA094Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 7GCAA · Sutcliffe, NVThe aircraft was observed to execute several low passes over witnesses along the shoreline of a lake. During one of the passes and while tracking northwest, the pilot dropped a package of life preservers from an estimated altitude of 75 feet AGL and while…NTSB SEA88FA095Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Ocean Shores, WAThe student pilot departed on his fifth solo flight from the airport where he had been accustomed to originating his instructional flights. After several touch and go landings he proceeded to a nearby airport and conducted at least one more touch and go.…NTSB LAX88FA180Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCurtiss-Wright Travel AIR 2000 · Fairfield, CAPilot's failure to maintain an airspeed at which the aircraft is controllable and entering a stall.NTSB ATL88FA174Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20F · Middlesboro, KYWitnesses rprted the eng did not sound like it was providing full power drg takeoff & that abt 3/4 of the 3600' rwy was used for the takeoff roll. After lift-off, the acft climbed at a shallow angle to abt 250 to 300 ft AGL. It then entereda shallow left…NTSB DEN88FA107Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportStinson 108-2 · Mosca, COAfter purchasing acft, plt and plt-rated friend (both airline plts) were joined by plt's wife and departed falcon field, mesa, AZ, en route to MN. The trio stopped in alamosa, CO, for night. They departed alamosa (elevation 7608 ft MSL) the next morning and…NTSB LAX88FA331Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B-35 · Ocotillo, CAInflight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.NTSB MKC88FA086Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Mansfield, MOA witness saw the acft flying at low alt as it passed in front of her car at dusk in a northeasterly drctn. She rprtd the acft contd down a valley toward power lines that spanned an open field. She saw the acft pull up rapidly, become entangled in the power…NTSB ATL88FA168Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Ozark, ALThree months prior to the accident a mechanic repaired the left magneto. He reinstalled it and timed it with the right magneto. Both magnetos were found to have advanced timing. Internal examination showed discrepancies which would lead to electrical…NTSB MKC88DCQ02Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-25-150 · Chase, KSWitnesses stated they saw the acft spraying a hayfield. They observed the acft strike a powerline as it was making a turn. The pilot stated that his wing clipped the powerline and that the acft went into a flat spin from which he couldn't recover.NTSB LAX88FA192Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 35 · Santa Paula, CAPilot's failure to maintain an airspeed at which the aircraft is controllable and above the stall speed.NTSB LAX88FA176Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Guatay, CAFailure of the pilot to maintian VFR while flying in mountainous terrain.NTSB DEN88FA106Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 47G-3B1 · Cortez, COThe plt said that he had just taken off and reached an alt of about 300 ft when his collective control went 'limp'. The helicopter entered a descent, partially controlled by the plt using throttle and cyclic control inputs. The helicopter touched down in soft…NTSB ATL88LA166Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J5C · Gulf Shores, ALA witness reported that the airplane encountered a 'downdraft' while attempting to pick up a banner. The main ldg gear caught the banner pick-up line and carried the banner aloft. The witness radioed the plt to advise him of the situation, but received no…NTSB ANC88LA053Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Kotzebue, AKThe aircraft crashed five miles south of the city along the beach line. FAA inspectors, the Alaska state troopers accident report and several witnesses revealed that the pilot stated prior to the flight that he intended to commit suicide. The plt had a fight…NTSB ANC88FA052Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Larson Bay, AKA float equipped Piper PA-18-150 and float equipped Cessna 185F, were involved in a midair collision at an altitude of approximately 800 feet MSL over Larson Bay, AK. At the time of the midair collision both aircraft were being used as fish spotters for…NTSB LAX88DVA04Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportSchumann KR-2 · Merced, CAThe pilot was flight testing a new airplane that he had constructed. He had completed two touch and go landings. During a third approach, witnesses observed the airplane approaching the runway at a very high airspeed. The airplane touched down on the runway…NTSB NYC88FA133Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Long Island Cty, NYThe Bell 206B was on a sightseeing flight around the Island of manhattan when it experienced a low rotor RPM situation. The pilot said he could not recover rotor RPM and made a forced landing in the east river. The pilot and three passengers exited the…NTSB CHI88FA102Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Merrimac, WIThe pilot had just taken off from a private strip and immediately entered a high angle of bank turn to the left at low altitude. A witness, who was an experienced aerobatic pilot, estimated the angle of bank to approach 90 degrees. The nose was seen to pitch…NTSB FTW88DRA11Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna L-19E · Conroe, TXThe airplane was observed by witnesses making a chandelle-like maneuver from takeoff. At the top, the nose and right wing dropped for approximately 180 degrees of turn. The wings were almost level when the airplane hit the runway. The airplane burned after…NTSB NYC88FA131Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Thomasville, PADue to the pilot's improper preflight planning, he attempted to takeoff with his aircraft weight above the maximum gross weight in a high unfavorable 90 degree crosswind, failed to maintain directional control, and collided with trees.NTSB DCA88MA054Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-297 · Maui, HIThe Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-89/03. To obtain a copy of this report, or to view the executive summary online, please see the Web site at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm Flt…NTSB CHI88FA101Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Lonsdale, MNThe student pilot was on his first solo flight outside the airport traffic area and was practicing maneuvers prescribed by his flight instructor including slow flight and stall type maneuvers. The aircraft experienced a loss of control, followed by an…NTSB ANC88FA051Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech C55 · Tyonek, AKThe two pilots were operating the aircraft under the authority of a ferry permit which allowed flt only during day VFR conditions and with a single pilot. They requested and received just the weather at the destination airport, which was VMC. En route the flt…NTSB SEA88FA084Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMaule M5-210C · Bend, ORPlt filed VFR after advised VFR not recommended. Witness observed acft on course for dest at low alt over hiway. Witness EST ceiling at 100 feet, visibility poor in mod snow. Acft observed to execute sharp left turn amd impact rising terrain. Corrective…NTSB BFO88DIG02Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportLamb Shoestring S-102 · Gaithersburg, MDThe pilot inproperly performing aerobatics without sufficient altitude to complete a recovery.NTSB SEA88FA083Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310G · Las Vegas, NVDuring initial climb at 100 ft after takeoff, the pilot announced he had lost an engine. Witnesses observed the aircraft enter a nose high attitude, roll to the right and descend in a vertical nose down attitude until impact with the ground. The aircraft…NTSB LAX88DUA01Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportHernandez Thorp T-18 · Palos Verdes, CAThe pilot was demonstrating the acft for the passenger for a possible sale. They were part of a flight of two over the pacific ocean. The owner of the aircraft being demonstrated was in the second aircraft. The pilot of the demo acft radioed to the second…