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 FTW87MA133Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna P210R · Arnett, OKThe flt departed baton rouge (btr) for the plts stated dest of alexandria, which was 78 miles on a bearing of 301 deg, at 0836 CDT. After dep the btr local area there was no radio contact with any ATC facility. The transponder continued to transmit a code…NTSB CHI87FA139Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 47G · Dayton, MNAircraft collided with terrain after tailboom structure failed because of internal corrosion. The aircraft was not registered at the time of the accident and the pilot/operator failed to assure that proper or timely preventive maintenance was performed on the…NTSB SEA87FA106Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Shelton, WAThe pilot was properly certificated for the flight; however, due to operator insurance restrictions, all prior commercial flights had required the owner/operator to accompany this pilot, therefore this was the pilot's first commercial flight as sole pilot.…NTSB MIA87LA164Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 402C · Missing Acft, BahamasOn 5/27/87 at about 0915 EDT, the plt departed palm beach intl arpt (pbi) on a flt to marsh harbour, great abaco island, Bahamas. When the Acft did not arrive at the destination, a search was initiated. The Acft was not fnd & was presumed to have been…NTSB SEA87FA102Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportSocata TB10 · Battle Mountain, NVAfter receiving a weather briefing calling for mountains occasionally obscured, occasional moderate icing from 18000 ft & below, and ceilings across north & central Nevada, the noninstrument rated pilot filed a VFR flight plan and departed salt lake city for…NTSB LAX87FA212Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRockwell 114 · Los Gatos, CADrg a preflt wx briefing, the plt was adzd the forecast for oakland (19 mi nnw of his destn) was for a 3000' broken ceiling with occasional 3000' scattered, 5000' broken & a chance of light rain showers. He filed a VFR flt plan & depd. At 1347 PDT, the plt…NTSB SEA87FA100Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Ritzville, WAOccupants of both acft were family members traveling in company for holiday. Takeoff was about one min apart with N44726 in trail. Due higher norm crz performance, N44726 overtook N5711A. Plt of N44726 reduced speed and established position about 1/2 mile to…NTSB ATL87FA147Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12D (H23) · Spartanburg, SCDuring a local pleasure flight above the treetops, the passenger reported that they heard a loud 'pop' over the sound of the engine. The plt told her that they were going down and she noticed the main rotor blades began to turn slower than usual before the…NTSB NYC87DNC10Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportHuffman Quickie Q2 · Peterborough, NHAt 0939 EDT, the acft departed syracuse, NY, on a flt to nashua, NH. Subsequently, it was rprtd missing. A search was initiated, but the acft was not found until it was discovered by a hiker aprx 2 months later. The acft had crashed below a mtn top near…NTSB FTW87FA123Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Porter, OKAcft was observed in a rt bank when it experienced an inflt breakup. Both wings, vert stab and rudder, and the horz stab and trim tab separated prior to impact. Wx was dark night with scattered to broken cloud cover, but VFR. Although a wx rpt 33 NM northwest…NTSB LAX87FA213Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna P206 · Tehachapi, CAAn USAF T-38 aircraft and a Cessna 206 aircraft collided in mid-air during visual flight operations in a military operations area. Radar data revealed that the overtaking T-38 collided with the Cessna 206 from the right. The Cessna was on a local government…NTSB MKC87FA106Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-180 · Sioux City, IAThe PIC had telephoned the fss at huron, s.d. for enr wx to Sioux City, IA, fm Sioux falls, s.d., late the evening of may 20. The fcst indicated IFR flt cond's with intermittent trsms along the rte throughout the fcst period. The PIC dptd Sioux falls, s.d. at…NTSB MKC87DPG01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna A188B · Lake Village, ARAfter completing several spary swaths, the pilot began another turn for another spray swath. A witness stated that during this right turn, the aircraft initiated a left descending turn and crashed into nearby trees and then burned. Examination found no…NTSB CHI87FA132Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportJauch Coot · Franklin Grove, ILThe plt deptd mendota, IL on a local test flt under a 40 hour time in service restriction in an experimental home built airplane. A witness stated that the airplane was circling over his farm and then turned south. He said the eng stalled and the airplane…NTSB SEA87FA098Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · North Las Vegas, NVA mechanic, who was not rated as a plt, took the acft without permission & elected to takeoff at ngt. A witness saw the acft dep at about 0250 PDT. Subsequently, it crashed aprx 3 mi ene of the arpt in an open undeveloped area. The time of the acdnt was not…NTSB DEN87FA130Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31T-620II · Cody, WYN2336X was on a business flt to Cody, WY. The pilot executed a missed approach on the first attempt of the vor-a approach. A pilot who landed at Cody minutes before the accident said the visibility had decreased to 3/4 of a mi when N2336X made the first…NTSB MIA87FA160Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchweizer G-164A · Dundee, MSWhile spraying a rice field, the acft was flying across svrl small dirt banks that had been furrowed for water ctl. Drg a swath run, it struck 3 furrowed banks that were close together, flipped over as it crashed, then burned. Witnessesrprtd the eng was…NTSB ATL87LA143Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBeech B100 · Birmingham, ALThe lineman walked into the prop arc of the operating rt engine and was fatally injured after disconnecting a ground power unit (gpu) cable from the rt engine nacelle. The lineman initially approached the nacelle from the rear, but walked forward into the…NTSB ATL87FA142Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T337G · Oxford, OHThe pilot was advised against attempting a visual flight with rain and thunderstorm activity along the intended route of flight. Approach control instructed him to maintain visual conditions and not to enter the clouds. The pilot lost control of the aircraft…NTSB BFO87FA037Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150M · Elkton, MDThe acft was flying at low altitude over an area of open fields when according to witnesses the acft abruptly pitched down and descended to the ground. Some witnesses stated they heard the engine operating throughout the descent while ohter witnesses reported…NTSB CHI87FA129Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A150K · Scotts, MIThe airplane had been circling a residence at tree top level when a witness saw the nose drop and the acft descend steeply toward the terrain. The airplane struck a power line before ground impact.NTSB CHI87DER07Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportAir Command Unknown · Dodge Center, MNBefore flt the pilot had stated that his uncertified and unregisterd gyroplane had a 'lot of bugs to work out'. After t.o. and five min of airwork the acft entered a steep 90 degree banked turn and then began to tumble. Shortly after the main rotor separated.…NTSB MIA87LA161Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Missing, FLThe acft failed to arrive at its destination on a flight from miami, FL to aruba, netherland antilles via andros is, great inagua & port au prince. According to a flt plan filed by the plt the acft carried enough fuel for 8 hours & 30 minutes of flt, along…NTSB CHI87DER06Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell 47G-2A · New Prague, MNAfter about a 5 min flight, the helicopter collided with the ground during a downwind turn on an agricultural turnaround. Impact was on a heading of 210 degrees. Wind was from 326 degrees at 14 KTS, gusts to 22 KTS. No evidence was found of powerplant, flight…NTSB NYC87FA146Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Sayre, PADrg initial climb after takeoff, smoke was observed in the cockpit. When the smoke became hvy, the plt decided to land. He attempted a forced landing on rising terrain in foggy conds. Subsequently, the acft crashed into the side of the hill & began burning.…NTSB DCA87MA031Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportLearjet 35A · West Mifflin, PAThe coplt (dual student) was to get a prof check on the 1st leg of the flt with a simulated single eng pwr loss on tkof. According to witnesses, the tkof was normal until lift-off aprx 3200' down the rwy; but after lift-off, the acft clbd only about 50' &…NTSB LAX87DUM03Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportChance Vought F4U-7 · Chula Vista, CAThe pilot of the F4U was giving the passenger a ride in appreciation of her volunteer work she contributed to an airshow conducted at brown field in san diego, California. Ground witnesses observed the F4U enter an inverted dive from an altitude of about 1500…NTSB DEN87FA121Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportNorth American T-28D · Tatum, NMAccording to friends of the plt, the acft left roswell, new Mexico, with 2 people aboard after an airshow with a destination of lovington, NM. Witnesses observed the acft flying in the distance and then observed a big cloud of dust rising from the ground. The…NTSB ATL87FA136Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J4A · Collierville, TNIt was reptd that the plt was taking his pax up for a LCL photographic flt at the req of the pax. Witnesses reptd that the acft remained over the apt for two or three circuits and then deptd the area in the dir of Collierville. Witnesses near the crash site…NTSB ATL87FA135Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 35 · Avon, OHAcft was seen heading east on a downwind for the private airstrip where it was based. It was turned onto the base leg and as a turn was begun for the final approach course for rwy 27 it stalled, spun, and collided with the ground. The acft wreckage was found…NTSB MKC87FA103Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportChampion 7EC · Delia, KSWitnesses stated that the aircraft was performing high speed, low level passes over the homes of some friends and relatives when, suddenly, it started a steep climb over a tree line. The aircraft appeared to slow down at the top of the climb; then it leveled…NTSB SEA87LA089Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWoehrle FLUT-R-BUG SA6B · Gleneden Beach, ORImmediately after takeoff and while engaged in a tight climbing turn at low alt the pilot allowed the aircraft to enter a stall condition. Plt failed to recover before impacting the ground.NTSB DCA87MA030Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCASA C-212-CC · Mayaguez, PRAfter several maintenance adjustments of the right propeller and flight idle fuel flow, the aircraft was test flown and released for flight. Several pilots continued to note descrepancies concerning the right propeller system. Adjustments were made and the…NTSB ANC87FA067Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Nightmute, AKThe aircraft was destroyed when the aircraft struck a 350 foot high hill along its route. This flight was a part 135 on-demand air taxi cargo flight. Several other air taxi operators and company aircraft elected to cancel their flights. Both ground reports…NTSB CHI87FA124Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Ina, ILBefore the flt, the plt stated his intentions were to practice ngt lndgs. He took off at 2010 CDT with an estd 1.5 hrs of fuel on board. When the acft did not return, a search was initiated. Subsequently, it was fnd by fishermen, submergedin a lake…NTSB ATL87FA132Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAeronca 7BCM · Georgiana, ALThe plts & pax of 2 acft were returning from an annual pleasure trip. Neither acft had a good comm radio. Shortly after takeoff, they enctrd fog. They flew above the wx until they were near their 1st refueling stop (greenville, AL). Both plts dscndd beneath…NTSB MIA87RA152Accident · 6 fatalForeign investigationCessna P206 S/N P206-0009 · St. Johns, CanadaNTSB DCA87MA029Accident · 4 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportCessna 340A · Orlando, FLThe two acft, a Cessna 340A and a north American SNJ-4, collided in flt at aprx 3000 ft MSL over Orlando FL in VMC with a visibility of 7 miles. Both acft were in contact with and being radar vectored by Orlando approach control. The C-340 was in level flt…NTSB LAX87FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Newhall, CAAt about 1440 PDT, the non-instrument rated plt depd antioch CA, on a flt to burbank, CA. No known in-flt communicationswere made until the plt contacted TRACON at 1725 PDT. At that time, he rprtd inbound at 7500' & requested a special VFR clnc to the arpt.…NTSB MKC87FA094Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Neelyville, MOWitnesses stated that the p.I.c. had aborted several takeoff attempts while trying to depart to the north--the winds were originating from the southwest at approximately 5 mph. The aircraft eventually departed from, and almost used the full length of, runway…NTSB LAX87LA199Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369D · TamuningsA Hughes 369D, operated off of a fishing vessel, went out of control and crashed in the pacific ocean, nr guam. The accident was witnessed by the ship's captain. His statement indicated one of the main rotor blades separated in flt while the helo was orbiting…NTSB ATL87FA130Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182R · Kennesaw, GAN5511N was in the traffic pattern at cobb county airport-mc collum field and was near the turning point from crosswind to dwnd when it was struck by N52995. N52995 was making a straight-in entry into the downwind leg of the traffic pattern from the west with…NTSB MIA87FA150Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-11 · Hollandale, MSWitnesses stated that the acft circled a pond & dived once, then on a 2nd circling attempt, it made a short steep turn & went into a twisting dive into the pond. The passenger stated that they were flying at appx 100 to 150 ft above some fish ponds when the…NTSB MKC87FA092Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Valley, NEAt aprx 2020 CDT, witnesses saw the acft as the plt made svrl low passes over the platte river near Valley, NE. On the last pass, the acft struck power lines, then crashed in the river. The wreckage came to rest in the main channel of the river in aprx 25 ft…NTSB LAX87DVA06Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportNorth American F-86F · Shafter, CAFollowing an airshow, the pilot transmitted while on final approach to the runway, that the engine had seized. The aircraft was landed with the landing gear retracted. During the flare the aircraft became uncontrollable, bounced several times on the runway,…NTSB FTW87FA105Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman AA-5B · Eagle Lake, TXOn April 25,1987 a Grumman American AA5B, N28846, impacted the terrain near Eagle Lake, Texas. The private pilot and her husband received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The…NTSB LAX87LA189Accident · 4 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Lihue, HIThe pilot filled the aircraft's fuel tanks, loaded three air tour passengers and proceeded up a canyon that climbed up to an elevation of about 3000 feet MSL on a sightseeing flight. A ground tour bus driver observed smoke emanating from the canyon and…NTSB ATL87FA123Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSwearingen SA-226TC · Wilmington, NCThe right engine failed during takeoff immediately after rotation 3000' down the 7,002' rwy 16. The plt continued the flt and the landing gear remained extended. The unauthorized plt rated pax made xmissions to the tower. Witnesses rpted that the acft reached…NTSB MKC87FA087Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Ogden, IAThe airplane was equipped for IFR flight. The pilot was not instrument rated. The pilot had been briefed earlier that VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot did not update the weather for this flight. The front of the airplane was buried seven feet in the…NTSB ATL87FA122Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech D-55 · Leesburg, GADuring a return flight at night, the aircraft crashed in an open field. The aircraft impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. The impact displaced the wing assembly rearward perpendicularly through the rear spar assembly. Both engine and propeller…