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.
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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 MIA88LA073Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · MissingAccording to the operator the acft departed san juan, PR on a cross country flight to la romana. The acft arrived there & dropped the student off & the plt departed at about 1400 ast on his return trip to san juan. The acft did not arrive at it's destination…NTSB FTW88FA039Accident · 15 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA-330J · Eugene IslandThe helicopter, with 2 plts & 13 passengers, was on an IFR flt to a psn in the gulf of Mexico. From that psn, they proceeded under VFR to an off-shore oil drilling rig (EI-190). As the helicopter was arriving from the se, there was a strong wind from the NE.…NTSB SEA88FA032Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Eastsound, WAThe plt depd south from an unattended island arpt at sea level & flew into marginal VFR conds with moderate snowfall. Acquaintances at the arpt rprtd the plt expressed an urgent need to return to snohomish, WA, despite the wx conds. When the acft did not…NTSB LAX88FA071Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A35 · Chino Hills, CAFailure of both pilots to see and avoid each other and thus avert the collision.NTSB FTW88FA038Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Burnet, TXThe pilot arrived in the area of his planned destination and completed the outbound and inbound procedure turns for the NDB runway 17 approach without reported incident. Almost immediately thereafter, the aircraft impacted a large oak tree about 15 feet AGL…NTSB FTW88DRG04Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportMBB 109 · Harlingen, TXThe set of floats which allows a high fuel flow in this carburetor for high power settings used for takeoff, climb, etc., had cracked and swollen to such an extent that they were rubbing against the float chamber walls and float chamber shroud tubes. This…NTSB CHI88FA035Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 58 · Wedron, ILThe airplane struck trees and descended uncontrolled into a river while attempting a night forced landing after running out of fuel during a cargo flight. The airplane was found under water on the fifth day of a search conducted by the cap after two boys…NTSB ATL88FA066Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportFairchild M-62A-3 · Monroe, NCReptdly, the flt purpose was to administer a bfr to the plt/owner of the acft. The first takeoff was aborted. The acft deptd again without an apparent problem. After about 30 minutes, the apt mgr heard and saw the acft in a vertical descent and rotating about…NTSB SEA88FA031Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Lakeport, CAAlthough weather conditions were marginally VFR at his departure point, and the pilot had access to a vehicle which could have been used to drive to his dest, he departed novato, CA, enroute to Lakeport, CA, without obtaining a wx briefing nor filing a flt…NTSB DEN88FA037Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Draper, UTDrg a ngt flt to reposition the acft to its home base, the eng lost pwr as the plt was cruising at about 1000' AGL. He transmitted a 'mayday' call & maneuvered the acft to make a forced lndg on an interstate hiway. While apchg to lnd, the acft struck the top…NTSB MIA88FA063Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-135 · Geneva, ALPrior to the acdnt, a witness saw the acft flying across an open field at a very low alt. Subsequently, it collided with the tops of several pine trees at about 90 to 95 ft AGL, then it crashed to the ground. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was…NTSB ATL88FA060Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Moultrie, GAThe plt was on a personal VFR flt with his wife and son. During the course of the flt, he entered deteriorating weather conditions. He was advised that there were scattered rain showers ahead. He continued on his track and advised apch control that he had…NTSB ATL88FA059Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421A · Hilton Head Isl, SCAcft depted coastal arpt at night with 400 ft partial obscuration in patchy fog. Ground witnesses who heard acft depicted a circling flt path to the right after takeoff. Eng, prop & turbo teardowns demonstrated both engs were operating at high power & no…NTSB ANC88FA020Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 207A · Ambler, AKThe plt of the air taxi cargo flt was operg at night in marginal VFR conds when the acft struck rising terrain. The acft was fnd the next day at aprx 1000 ast, some 15 mi off the intended route. The plt was unconscious & suffering fm hypothermia & other…NTSB DEN88FA128Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 177RG · Afton, WYThe acft was not certified nor equipped for flt into icing conditions. The plt elected to depart even though he was advised by the crew of a C-182 that had just lndd to stay below the clouds because of icing. After tkof the acft cleared an 11000 ft mtn range…NTSB DEN88FA036Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A152 · Benson, AZAbt 20 min after tkof, the acft crashed in VMC conds, aprx 26 mi along the route fm tucson to las cruces. Initial impactoccurred with the l wing hitting the top of a yucca plant as the acft was in a slgt nose down, l wing low attitude. Justbyd this point, the…NTSB DCA88MA008Accident · 43 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBritish Aerospace BAE-146-200 · San Luis Obispo, CAA recently discharged usair employee boarded psa flt 1771 after having left a goodbye message with friends. He bypassed security and carried abd a borrowed 44 caliber pistol. A note written by this psgr, found in the wreckage, threatened his former supervisor…NTSB NYC88FA051Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310R · Hector, NYThe pilot made a routine IFR position report 12 minutes prior to the accident. Witnesses observed an 'orange ball' before the crash. Evidence at the crash site showed inflight jettison of the pilot's emergency window, positive aerodydnamic overload separation…NTSB MKC88FA023Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Springfield, NEAccording to witnesses on the ground, the aircraft was flying low, under the overcast, when the left wing struck the guy wires of a tv tower and the plane crashed out of control. It was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. Weather stations in the…NTSB ATL88FA055Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Lagrange, GAPlt lost power in cruise, in day, VMC. Made apch to interstate hwy I85. Hit overpass support column at 15 feet AGL. Engine overhauled 51 hours before accident. Overhaul records indicated magneto repair. Annual insp records indicated compliance with AD…NTSB MIA88WA056Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationCessna 402B · Cat Island, BahamasNTSB DEN88FA033Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · San Jose, CASeveral min after takeoff, the plt noted a loss of oil pressure & elected to return to the arpt. As he was returning, the eng began to overspeed, but he controlled the RPM by retarding the throttle. The wind was from 150 deg at 10 KTS. The plt was clrd to…NTSB CHI88DEV01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 150L · Marion, ILPilot in command suffered a fatal heart attack. His wife, a private pilot, attempted to land the aircraft, lost control on landing roll and struck a runway light.NTSB ATL88MA053Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportHawker Siddeley HS-125-400A · Lexington, KYWhile en route at FL 370, the plts declared an emerg, rprtd a fire in the rgt eng & reqd vectors to the nearest suitablearpt. They were vectored twd the Lexington bluegrass arpt & clrd to dscnd. Shortly after declaring an emerg, the plts rprtd they secured…NTSB MIA88FA049Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech K-35 · Crescent City, FLThe pilot experienced a partial engine failure at lift off with 1/2 of the runway remaining in front of him. The pilot then attempted to do a 180 degree teardrop back to the runway, stalled and crashed. Investigation revealed water contamination of the fuel…NTSB LAX88FA060Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46 · Long Beach, CAPilot's failure to land the aircraft after experiencing the pilot's faulty decision was his previous experience with a gear up landing a couple of years before.NTSB BFO88FA009Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182D · South Hill, VAThe plt was on the third leg of a trip between tampa, FL and sussex, NJ. The previous two stops were made because of adverse wx conditions. Before this flight he was advised by fss that VFR flight was not recommended. He filed a VFR flight plan but did not…NTSB ATL88MA048Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech C90 · Beaufort, SCAt 0938, while clbg thru 9000', the plt was clrd to clb to FL 210. Aprx 10 min later, the ATC ctlr noted the acft's mode c rtrn wasn't being displayed on his scope. He tried to adz the plt, but couldn't establish radio contact. The acftbroke up in flt & the…NTSB LAX88FA061Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-11 · San Marcos, CAThe 2 plts took off on an instructional flt which was to be a biennial flt review for the acft owner. During the flt, the plts flew to a dirt strip on a saddleback between 2 mtn peaks near San Marcos. Subsequently, the acft struck a boulder & crashed near the…NTSB FTW88FA033Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95-B55 · Commerce, TXThe purpose of the flight was to satisfy an insurance requirement that the owner receive 10 hours of dual instruction in this aircraft. The dual controls had been removed and the single control was on the left side. The aircraft was observed in a clockwise…NTSB BFO88FA008Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260B · Willis, VAThe acft was on a night IFR flight at 7000 ft MSL in IMC when the plt reported the directional gyro was inoperative. The acft was outbound from the pulaski VOR on V45 headed southeast. The plt further reported the turn&bank and the mag compass were operative.…NTSB ATL88FA046Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Oliver Springs, TNThe plt had deptd from a small airport nr kingston, TN mid afternoon and had landed at another about 30 nmi to the NE. He remained on the ground 30-45 min departing between 1530-1545. According to info gathered, the aircraft was observed to fly over the oak…NTSB ANC88FA021Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot and his two passengers were returning from a hunting trip when the airplane crashed 7 miles from the Fairbanks international airport. The airplane struck the ground in a vertical attitude at a high rate of speed. Evidence at the scene suggests that…NTSB NYC88FA045Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210N · Skaneateles, NYPrior to departure from holland, mi the pilot received a briefing which included flight precautions for IFR conditions over his entire route of flight and occasional light to moderate rime and/or mixed icing in clouds below 18,000 feet. The pilot elected to…NTSB DEN88FA030Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech J35 · Knolls, UTThe last comm with the flt was when the plt contacted elko radio and requested the salt lake city wx. He reported that he was at 11500 ft and VFR on top. The specialist on duty was unable to provide the wx info due to a computer sys outage but recommended…NTSB FTW88FA032Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech H35 · Port Mansfield, TXThe plt rcvd svrl wx briefings bfr tkof & was adzd of convective activity along the initial route of flt north of the arpt. The planned dep route was twd the wx. While discussing altn routing possibilities, the plt indcd he would ask ATC for deviation arnd…NTSB MIA88FA044Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Palm Coast, FLThe student plt was flying the acft on a solo instructional flt in the north practice area & was assigned to practice landings, takeoffs, stalls & slow flt. Witnesses stated they observed the acft flying at a very low altitude just before it collided with a…NTSB ATL88FA044Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Commercial Pt, OHThe acft crashed on a wheat field during a night instrument training flt. The plt had declared a vacuum system failure about 40 minutes after take-off but he declined ATC assistance for a no-gyro approach to columbus. Two minutes after the radio call radar…NTSB ATL88FA043Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Blanchester, OHThe aircraft departed before dawn from a private sod airstrip owned by the pilot, and collided with trees shortly thereafter. The pilot's wife said that the airstrip was not foggy when her husband took off, but the witness reported that the fog at the…NTSB DCA88MA005Accident · 18 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 1900C · Homer, AKDrg arr, the acft (ryan flt 103) crashed short of rwy 3. The fuselage stayed intact drg impact, but the belly structure was compressed & vertical deceleration forces exceeded the design capability of the seats. Rescue psnl had difficulty shutting off the…NTSB SEA88FA021Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 210E · Port Townsend, WAThe aircraft flew into the side of maynard mountain, the point of a coastal land mass, while on a night VFR flight in IMC wx conditions. Radar data showed the aircraft on a straight course at cruise airspeed.NTSB LAX88FA052Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210L · Camp Verde, AZNTSB MKC88FA019Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R · Fayetteville, ARThe airplane was cleared to land while on downwind. Tower saw lights and said airplane appeared to be flying around hill north of airport. Investigation revealed airplane had turned left and impacted trees below the top of the hill.NTSB MKC88FA018Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310Q · Augusta, KSThe airplane departed to the south and made a left turn. Approximately 1/4 of a mile east of the airport, the airplane impacted straight down with gear down and flaps at 15 degrees. No preimpact problems were found with airframe or powerplants. No indication…NTSB MIA88FA042Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Okeelanta, FLThe acft crashed into a wildlife management area in a steep nose down attitude with about 20 degs flaps extended. The stated purpose of the flt was to spot deer & a suitable area in which to hunt. Torsional damage to the airframe suggested that the acft was…NTSB BFO88FA007Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Warrenton, VAThe acft was observed to be flying straight and level when the sounds of the eng were heard to increase. The only witness saw the acft nose over and dive into the ground. Radar tracking of the acft flt path confirms this. Investigation revealed that the this…NTSB MKC88FA021Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Mena, AROn the day of this accident, there was a well-publicized weather system affecting the weather along the pilot's route: warm moist gulf air was moving northward toward a cold front that extended from Mexico to Canada. Residents in the area said the region had…NTSB LAX88FA047Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Bakersfield, CAThe recently rated private pilot and his passenger were flying low and waving to people on the ground. As the aircraft neared electrical service lines across its flight path ground witnesses observed it to enter an abrupt climb, roll left and dive into the…NTSB LAX88FA045Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 441 · Mexicali, MexicoA Cessna 441 operated by the uscs collided with terrain while on a authorized night tactical flight. The copilot did not meet the currency standards as required by uscs and was not qualified in the acft. The flight originated during the daylight hours and…NTSB CHI88MA026Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 200 · Jefferson, WIWhile cruising abv frzg lvl at 12,000', the flt was clrd to dscnd & maint 9000'. Abt 1-1/2 min ltr, the flt declared a mayday (emergency). Radio & radar ctc were lost & the acft crashed in a nr vertical dscnt. Radar data showed that after starting a dscnt,…