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 DEN84FU005Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportEipper Quicksilver MX · Peyton, COThe ultralight was flying in formation with 2 other craft. The accident plt was seen by one of the other two plts to descend to a low alt over a creek bed and then pull up abrultly to climb over a power line. The landing gear collided with the wires and the…NTSB SEA84FA113Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Gleneden Beach, ORTwo witnesses observed the student plt in the acft at about 1500 PDT. They reported that they were waiting for the wx to clear & that they tried to get the student to spend the night instead of leaving, but they were unsuccessful. Subsequently, the acft…NTSB SEA84FA110Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRockwell S-2R · American Falls, IDThe load/ground crew reported that the plt planned to make 1 more spray run before flying back to the home base. When the acft did not return to the loading area, they assumed he had returned to the base. They drove 20 mi back to the base, but found neither…NTSB DEN84FTE01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportHarper/Cricri MK-12 · Longmont, COThe homebuilt acft was on downwind leg of the traffic pattern, after initial takeoff, when it went into a dive & collided with the ground. A witness said he heard a power reduction before the dive & power added again as it started down. The plt's son said his…NTSB ATL84FA172Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 35 · Chesapeake, VAThe acft was being flown on a test flt after a new fuel pump had been installed. While taxiing for takeoff, the eng stopped. The plt restarted the eng & subsequently performed a takeoff. Witnesses saw the acft climb to about 500 ft AGL & begin a turn onto the…NTSB ATL84LA170Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Nashville, TNThe plt reported that after he & his passengers were aboard the acft, the eng was running & ground control had cleared him to taxi when he discovered that the left main wheel was still chocked, preventing forward movement of the acft. He was setting his…NTSB LAX84FU027Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportMitchell TU-10 · Perris, CAThe purpose of the flt was for one instructor plt (CFI) to check out the other CFI in the ultralight vehicle. Reportedly, many witnesses watched as the acft climbed to aprx 3000 ft AGL. The aircrew then performed a series of rolls to the left & right. The…NTSB NYC84FA170Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportI.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2 · Collegeville, PAAccording to a witness who ran the wing of the glider during takeoff, at 250 to 300 ft AGL the tow acft turned left but the glider maintained rwy heading. Shortly thereafter the tow line released at the glider-end and the glider initiated a right turn. After…NTSB MIA84FA165Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportConsolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4 · Fort Myers, FLThe eng was heard 'popping' & misfiring during the takeoff roll. About 1 min later while climbing thru 400-500 ft, the plt reported an eng failure & was cleared to land on any rwy. The acft entered a left turn, stalled & spun into a parking lot. An exam of…NTSB ATL84FA169Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310R · Clarkson, KYThe acft crashed after an in-flt separation of various components of the airframe. Post accident evidence provided by the failed parts gave a graphic picture of the in-flt seq which was supplemented by a witness who saw & heard the acft in its final dive.…NTSB MIA84FA166Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Clermont, FLThe plt was not aware that two ground attendants were riding the cable during a logging operation when there was an accidental cable release & the attendants fell to the ground. Examination of the acfts hook did not reveal a system failure or malfunction.…NTSB MIA84FA164Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M-18C · Sugar Loaf Key, FLThe acft was observed making several passes over a friends house. At the end of the third pass during, a climbing left turn, the right wing separated from the acft. Inspection of the wreckage revealed wood rot in the main wing spar. The last known inspection…NTSB FTW84LAMS4Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Lafayette, LAThe acft has been missing since 5/10/84. The owner called for his acft preflighted and departed on a southerly heading. An off shore oil rig spotted a twin engine acft heading south. Search efforts by cap were unsuccessful. The plt gave no indication of his…NTSB FTW84LA228Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRockwell S-2R · Bay City, TXWhile spraying a field with propanel & modown grass killers, the plt was crossing below a high tension power line. The vertical stabilizer contacted the lowest wire which tore loose the vertical stabilizer. The acft pitched nose up, then it dove down, crashed…NTSB FTW84FU006Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportMitchell T-10R263 · Horizon City, TXThe ultralight departed west Texas arpt at about 1700 MDT for a local instructional flt with 2 persons on board. It was last seen flying at about 1800 MDT a short distance west of the arpt. When it did not return at 2100 MDT, the arpt manager notified the…NTSB NYC84FA163Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310K · New Cumberland, PAThe plt departed VFR without a formal wx briefing or filing a flt plan. The wx at dest was VFR when the plt departed. The forecast indicated that ceilings would lower. The wx did, in fact, deteriorate while the flt was enroute and the plt obtained an IFR…NTSB CHI84FA179Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20J · Highland Hgts, OHTwo mins after takeoff, acft impacted terrain left wing down, measured 63 degrees nose down, well left of designated departure course. Investigation revealed no malfunction or failure in the acft structure, power plant or systems. Plt's actual instrument…NTSB CHI84FA180Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportColonial C-2 · Stone Lake, WIThe plt had flown to little sissabagama lake where he owned a cabin. A witness had observed the last 3 mins of flt but not the actual impact with the water. The acft was later found inverted in 15 ft of water 300 ft from a shore. Plt was found 150 ft from the…NTSB NYC84FA158Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Shirley, NYWhile climbing with a glider in tow, the tow acft pitched nose up. The glider & tow plts released the tow rope & the glider plt landed safely. The tow acft maintained a nose high attitude, stalled, then entered an uncontrolled descent & crashed. An…NTSB MKC84FA281Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20C · New Blaine, ARDespite a wx briefing forecasting IMC and discouraging VFR flight, the non-instrument rated plt departed aprx 1 hour before the accident. Impact occurred in wooded rising terrain at an elevation of about 1,957 ft MSL at an aprx nose down attitude of 4 degs.…NTSB ATL84FA168Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172RG · Dallas, GAApproximately one-half hour after takeoff, the aircraft collided with rising terrain and was destroyed. The flight was unauthorized and no witnesses observed the crash. Weather at the time of the crash is unknown. The private pilot on board probably had not…NTSB SEA84FA102Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Lovelock, NVThe plt had originally requested a wx briefing at 0444 for a flt from cheyenne,WY to loverlock,NV. Prior to departing cheyenne at 0630, the FBO told the plt that the Lovelock arpt was flooded. The plt replied he would land at a strip in town. Fuel receipts…NTSB FTW84FA220Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPitts Special S-1 · La Marque, TXThe plt was scheduled to perform aerobatics in an air show. While maneuvering at about 300 ft AGL, the acft entered a nose high, steep left turn, stalled, then entered a 2 turn spin to the left. The plt recovered in a nose low, wings level attitude, but the…NTSB MKC84FA131Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Sheldon, IAAt about 1015 CDT, while en route, the plt radioed a fss & requested the Kansas city wx. VMC conditions were reported at Kansas city, but the plt was informed of an AIRMET, which provide a caution of low ceilings & reduce visibilities across his route of flt.…NTSB DEN84FA144Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B23 · Ruidoso, NMThe pilot stated that upon landing a gust of wind blew the aircraft off the runway center and he initiated a go-around. Witnesses stated the aircraft climbed to approximately 200 to 300 ft and started a left turn. Engine power appeared to be minimal. As the…NTSB DEN84FA143Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210N · Farmington, NMFuel exhaustion occurred in normal cruise flt after plt determined consumption precluded reaching destination and requested emergency straight-in to nearest airport. Forced landing executed on highway, wing struck a parked, occupied vehicle. Plt accustomed to…NTSB LAX84FA280Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman American AA-5B · Placerville, CAThe plt lived near the arpt & had been commuting to sacramento, CA for about 3 weeks. Rwy 27 was the prominant rwy & the arpt was surrounded by hills. Shortly after taking off, the acft crashed about 2 mi west of the arpt while in a right wing low attitude on…NTSB FTW84FA218Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportde Havilland Tiger Moth DH 82A · San Antonio, TXThe acft crashed in an open pasture with trees on the western perimeter. The acft attitude at impact was nose down at a 30 to 50 degree angle in a right spiral. The main fuel tank mounted on the top wing over and behind the engine broke from its mount on…NTSB NYC84FA157Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna A152 · Bethlehem, PAThe acft crashed while spinning from low alt. The acft was observed by witnesses doing aerobatics at low alt. At the topof loop or vertical climb the acft did a hammerhead stall under power and went into a spin. It appeared to one witness as if the plt was…NTSB LAX84FA277Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Ukiah, CADuring arrival, the plt was cleared for a loc/dme rwy 15 apch to the Ukiah arpt. At 1307 PDT, he began the apch at the tucci intersection, 15.5 mi north of the rwy. At 1311:04 the last radar contact showed that the acft was about 5 mi north of the arpt. At…NTSB LAX84FA275Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRolladen-Schneider LS3 · Warner Springs, CAThe sailplane was found in a nose down attitude amoung 10 to 15 foot ribbon-wood shrubs approx 250 ft wnw of the departure end of a small airstrip. Both wings were found displaced forward with the rt one forming a straight line extension forward fm the…NTSB FTW84FPJ01Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-22 · Byron, OKThe acft had impacted the ground at a 60 deg angle. The 1153 wx at ponca city, OK (60 mi east of the crash site) was ceilings obscured to vision & indefinite, with thunderstorms, rain & fog. The ceiling was estimated to be 200 ft obscured.NTSB CHI84FA169Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172RG · Woodbury, MNThe acft collided with a radio antenna support cable at aprx 171 ft AGL during low altitude maneuvering in snow showers. One witness stated that the heaviest snow showers were in the vicinity of the accident site. A policeman saw the acft over a field near…NTSB NYC84MA151Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-60-601P · Cockeysville, MDOn the day of departure the plt had received a 30 min familiarization flt upon completion of the superstar conversion. Emphasis was directed to eng gages, fuel flow & counter, & power settings. The flt was flown at 5,500 ft. the plt then obtained a wx…NTSB FTW84FA214Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310Q · Mckinney, TXPlt entered the landing pattern behind a slower acft (stearman) and reduced speed to maintain a proper interval. The nominal approach speed differential between the two acft makes is 26 mph. A right hand traffic pattern was in use and a right crosswind…NTSB LAX84FA374Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Lone Pine, CAWhen the acft did not return from a x-country flt, a search was initiated. However, the acft was not found until hikers discovered the wreckage on 6/29/84. Impact occurred at about the 9000 ft level in mountainous terrain. The outer wing panels & horizontal…NTSB ATL84FA151Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Maynardville, TNThe acft crashed in an uncontrolled state after the airframe failed in flt. Witnesses observed the acft spinning out of the clouds with parts of the airframe separating as it descended. The weather had been described to the plt in 2 wx briefings. At the time…NTSB NYC84FA149Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Turner, MEWitnesses observed the acft approach, flaps down, for lndg. A flare was made near the approach end of the runway, then the acft ballooned to about 20 ft AGL and once more descended to the runway surface. On touchdown, the right wing tip appeared to contact…NTSB FTW84FA209Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman American AA-5A · Pryor, OKThe student plt taxied upwind & took off downwind. Witnesses reported that the acft lifted off at the departure end & never left ground effect. After about 1/2 mi, the acft stalled as the plt attempted to clear electric lines. The acft then crashed, hitting a…NTSB NYC84FA148Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300 · Hopwood, PAThe ATP rated pilot obtained a complete wx briefing including forecasts of occasional moderate icing, a cleveland center wx advisory, winds aloft with temps at the flt planned alt of 6000 ft ranging from -1 to -4 deg c and pireps of moderate icing from 5000…NTSB MIA84FA149Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Panacea, FLAcft crashed in water shortly after takeoff. One witness stated the acft entered the water in a steep left bank at a high rate of descent. Witnesses also stated that at the time of the accident, the ceiling was about 50 to 200 ft MSL, visibility was less than…NTSB ATL84MA148Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-34-220T · Mt Airy, GADrg arrival, the plt reqd & rcvd clnc to fly drct to the unctld arpt, altho the arpt had no terminal nav fac & the acft had no RNAV type equip. Nrby at athens, the 0745 spl wx OBS was in part: indef cig, sky obscd, vsby 1/4 mi with fog. At 0801, atl ctr clrd…NTSB LAX84FU026Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportTeratorn Tierra II · Chico, CAThe ultralight was being test flown after alterations to the acft & its flight control system. The plt put the acft through some maneuvers and during one of them, described by witnesses as a chandelle, the acft nosed down & crashed intothe ground. The acft…NTSB FTW84FA206Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportNorth American AT-6D · Cypress, TXThe acft crashed while spinning after only a few minutes flt. The acft had just been flown by another plt for aprx 20 minutes just prior to the accident flt. This plt/owner said the acft operated in a trouble free manner. During the accident flt the plt made…NTSB DCA84AA022Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportMitsubishi MU-2B-60 · Burlington, CTThe acft was flown earlier in the day for a sales demonstration. On the return flt, when the landing gear were lowered, the plt thought he heard a noise emitting from the gear, although cockpit indications were normal. The acft landed at johnnycake arpt & was…NTSB SEA84FA090Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBowen-Powell BP-1 · Minden, NVWitnesses observed the acft enter a right turn at about 1000 to 1500 ft AGL. The turn steepened into a tight spiral, & subsequently, the acft crashed in a steep nose down attitude. The plt was wearing a parachute & bailed out; however, the parachute became…NTSB NYC84FA143Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Concord, MAThe acft crashed into a house while on an ILS approach to rwy 11 at hanscom field. Shortly before the acft had reached the outer marker (and after the hand off from boston approach control to hanscom tower) an altitude alert on N4467X was received by the…NTSB LAX84FA460Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Bakersfield, CAThe non-instrument rated plt departed imperial, CA on 4/18/84 at about 1845 PST. Two people reported that at 2100 to 2200 PST, they saw an acft circling in the area of cummings mountain, about 10 mi south of the accident site, but because the mountain tops…NTSB NYC84FA142Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 58 · Bentley Creek, PAThe last radio call made by the plt was at 0658 EST when he reported level at 8000 ft. radar data at 0708 EST, showed the acft changing heading from 327 to 335 degrees, alt decreased from 8000 to 5000 ft and ground speed increased from 179 to 188 KTS.…NTSB LAX84FA259Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A23-24 · Bowman, CAOn a flt from fair oaks, CA, to reno, NV, a flt of about 1 hr 15 mins, the acft experienced a total power loss. The plt asked the pax to select the other fuel tank. The selctor handle was not attached to the valve. But the pax located the handle and turned…