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 FTW84LA137Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-150 · Altus, OKThe acft crashed in a wheat field that was being spray, then was destoyed by a post crash fire. According to the operator, the plt was at the end of a swath run when he glanced into the cockpit to visually check how much chemical was remaining in the hopper.…NTSB SEA84FA055Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65S · Haines, AKAccording to a witness the acft made an intersection takeoff and immediately started an almost vertical climb. At about 300 ft AGL the acft winged over to the left and dove into the ground 100 ft from the rwy center and near the upwind end. The horizontal…NTSB MKC84FA077Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 414A · Mena, ARAcft cleared for Mena NDB apch and to maintain 5000 ft MSL until established on the apch. Acft descended to 4800 ft MSL on aprx grnd track of 040 to 030 deg after NDB passage. Acft then turned to a ground track of 116 deg. After 12 seconds the acft turned to…NTSB LAX84FA221Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12D-85 · Edwards Afb, CAThe acft collided with the ground and rolled inverted in the desert near Edwards Afb. Examination of the wreckage gave no evidence of a failure or malfunction of equipment. The coroner reported that the plt died of a gunshot wound to the head before the acft…NTSB CHI84FA110Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 177RG · Salem, OHThe plt got a weather briefing and was advised of areas of fog. While taking off toward the west, he encountered fog. The acft entered a right turn about 1000 ft from the end of the rwy & subsequently crashed about 1 mi northwest of the arpt. Initial impact…NTSB LAX84FA180Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMaupin WOODSTOCK-I · California City, CADuring flt, the glider sustained an in-flt failure of both wings, then entered an uncontrolled descent & crashed. An exam of the wreckage revealed no preexisting structural problems. The glider was equipped with a recording barograph. A barograph trace showed…NTSB LAX84FA178Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A-36 · Coyote, CAThe acft crashed in mountainous terrain during a night x-country in marginal weather. The plt made an approach to san jose, cancelled his IFR flt plan and advised he was proceeding to hollister. A common practice in the area is to fly the valley, following…NTSB ATL84FA099Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30-160 · Massies Mill, VAWhile en route, the plt was progressing northbound when he contacted the Washington fss at 2134 EST for updated wx info. At that time, he described his position as north of lynchburg, VA. The fss briefer noted that his voice was normal, his manner was calm &…NTSB LAX84FA176Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Oakland, CAThe plt left the traffic pattern where the weather was VMC and proceeded northbound into IMC weather. The plt had just checked out in this acft. The field elevation of departure is 47 ft MSL. Thirteen miles north the terrain was mountainous and the acft…NTSB ATL84FA095Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172RG · Chesapeake, VAPrior to departure, the plt was twice advised that the destination wx was below most users minimums. The non-instrument rated plt then departed dulles arpt on an IFR flt plan in IMC. After departure, he did not follow assigned headings, & for a period of…NTSB DEN84FA089Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 58P · Durango, COWhen the plt called the fss at 1341 MST, he stated he had already received some 'real time' wx & requested only the wx at Durango & farmington, NM. He filed an IFR flt plan to Durango & took off at 1437. Drg arrival, the plt attempted to get into VFR…NTSB CHI84FA107Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150D · Wanatah, INAt about 1716 CST, the non-instrument rated plt contacted a fss, reported he was in the clouds with about 1 hr of fuel on board & requested 'vector me someplace.' He was told that indianapolis was VFR, but the plt stated that he could not reach indianapolis &…NTSB MKC84FA071Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150M · Lincoln, KSThe non-instrument rated plt departed the russell control zone at night in IFR conditions by obtaining a special VFR clearance. After he reported clear of the control zone, there was no further radio contact with ATC facilities. At 0235 CST, the acft was…NTSB ATL84FA093Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300T · Bluefield, WVThe non-instrument rated plt began his takeoff during the hours of darkness, but in VMC wx. He stated that during the takeoff roll at about 65 to 75 KTS just prior to rotation, the landing light extinguished. Plt stated that 2 to 3 seconds later, he rotated &…NTSB DEN84FA086Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210M · Sidney, MTRichland flt #101, a bank check courier flt, departed VFR with 180 lbs of cargo. Six minutes prior to the crash, the last radio transmission from the acft was heard concerning a routine landing wx advisory. The acft crashed aprx 45 degs nose low, gear & flaps…NTSB FTW84FA127Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican AA-1A · Lampasas, TXThe acft descended into the ground along the east bank of the Colorado river at about a 45 deg angle to the horizon in a wings level attitude. There were no witnesses to the accident. Investigation revealed that the plt was planning a springtime canoe trip…NTSB FTW84FA126Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30B · Hugo, OKAccording to witnesses, the acft was having some kind of problem after takeoff. It entered a nose high attitude, went to the right & crashed. An exam revealed that it had impacted in a nose down attitude. The landing gear was found in a down & locked…NTSB SEA84FA048Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-61L · Medford, ORThe plt deviated from the painted taxi line to avoid a parked fuel truck and collided with a hangar door. The main rotor hit the door and flying debris damaged 2 hangers,3 acft and 2 cars.NTSB ATL84FA092Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 210 · Newport News, VAThe flight had been airborne for aprx 38 mins when the pilot began experiencing communication problems. Nine minutes later the pilot reported 'instrument problems' and began to receive radar vectors to a landing. 15 minutes later she declared an emergency and…NTSB MIA84FA072Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Hoboken, GAWhile on base leg for landing, the forward right wing strut failed causing the right wing to separate. The acft then entered an uncontrolled descent & crashed. The non-certificated plt owned the acft. He had not complied with airworthiness directive 77-03-08.…NTSB NYC84FA081Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 402 · Jaffrey, NHThe plt had filed an IFR flt plan; however, he took off in VFR conditions & did not activate the flt plan. Radar data showed that the latter part of the flt was flown at 6300 ft, then at 1712:39 EST, a descent was begun. One minute later, the flt was last…NTSB FTW84FA125Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · College Station, TXThe plt had received a telephone wx briefing at 1610 & an in-person wx briefing at 1932, about 45 min before takeoff. The local wx deteriorated considerably between the last briefing & the time of the accident. The acft departed at 2016, & at 2024 the acft…NTSB DEN84FA085Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna TR182 · Tappen, NDThe private non-instrument rated plt received two weather briefings before the flight. During the last briefing at 1350 MST, he was informed that VFR flt was not recommended. At 1554 MST, the acft departed crystal arpt in a westerly direction. Several…NTSB ATL84FA090Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 23 · Loris, SCThe estimated time of takeoff was about 1930 EST. The route of flt before 2000 EST was not known. At aprx 2005, the plt reported that he was unsure of his position. Shortly after that, the acft was identified over a military firing range. The plt was vectored…NTSB DEN84FA081Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportEnstrom F-28C · Chester, MTAccording to a company employee, the plt made a radio call from a remote mountain site where the plt was doing some workon a transmitter tower & stated that he was taking off, & if the employee did not hear from him in an hour to come look for him. The…NTSB DCA84AA016Accident · 6 fatalFinal reportLearjet 24 · Avalon, CAThe acft departed on a sales demo flt to monterey, CA with potential buyers aboard. En route, the destination was changed to Avalon, CA. UNICOM advised the crew of the wind direction & speed on downwind. Witnesses reported the acft was slightly hi on final,…NTSB DCA84AA015Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportSwearingen SA226TC · Terre Haute, INAfter taking off from rwy 23, the acft crashed ssw of the arpt about 6300 ft from the departure end of the rwy & about 1800 ft to the left of the rwy centerline. Impact occurred while the acft was in a steep descent. The wreckage path was scattered along a…NTSB ATL84FA088Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna P210N · Greensboro, NCDuring arrival, the plt was advised that the arpt wx had just changed to IFR. He was assigned an alt (2900 ft MSL) & provided a vector for an ILS apch. Shortly thereafter, the plt advised that he was 'having motor difficulty & needed to come straight-in.' He…NTSB NYC84FA085Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Templeton, MAThe acft collided with trees on unlgtd terrain at ngt after making a low pass at aprx 60 ft AGL with the gear extended. Witnesses reported that the acft's clearance lights were not operating until the rwy lights were turned on, then they observed the acft's…NTSB DEN84FA076Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Columbus, NMThe plt took off at night in the company of plts flying 2 other acft, a Cessna 150 & a Piper PA-22. N719K, a Beech A36 bonanza, was flying ahead of the other 2 acft. The plt of 1 of the other acft stated that the bonanza plt would usually fly at a slower…NTSB MIA84FA067Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Stuart, FLWitnesses observed the helicopter flying at 100 to 150 ft above the water & about 100 yds offshore. They observed & heard nothing unusual, except they said the helicopter began descending until it impacted the water. The rear doors had been removed for the…NTSB FTW84FA122Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 77 · Fritch, TXThe acft departed on 1/27/84 and failed to return from a 2 hour local flt. Time of departure was 1330 CST. On 1/28/84, afisherman on lake meredith found an acft wheel floating in the water. This wheel was later found to have the same part numbers and paint as…NTSB NYC84FA074Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna P210N · Groton, CTThe acft was blown off course during a procedure turn for an ILS approach. The plt made a missed approach because of themisalignment and tried a non standard means of orientation for the 2nd attempt and intercepted the middle marker unexpectedly. Radar shows…NTSB FTW84FA121Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300 · New Orleans, LAThe eng quit as the acft was descending for an approach into moisant arpt & the acft was ditched in lake pontchartrain. Examination revealed that the magneto distributor block was severely cracked & both sets of breaker points were displaced away from the…NTSB NYC84FA073Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310G · Pequannock, NJAn FBO mechanic reported that the plt had requested a jumpstart. The wx was cold (20 deg) & the initial attempted eng start was unsuccessful. After being preheated, both engs were started. Nothing abnormal was noted during taxi, run-up & the takeoff roll.…NTSB NYC84FA072Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Barre, MAThe acft was landed off the arpt tailing fire and smoke shortly after takeoff. It was a cold day and the CFI and student had trouble starting the acft even after pre-heat was used. Witnesses saw the acft after takeoff descending withsmoke and flames trailing…NTSB LAX84FA152Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182Q · Soledad, CAThe acft crashed into the side of a hill at about 1500 ft MSL in a 50 degree nose down attitude. The plt had encounteredweather on a night VFR flt. He was attempted to return the acft for a scheduled club flt the next morning. He had previously planned an…NTSB LAX84FA151Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportWells/Rand KR-2 · Santa Paula, CAWhile flying in an easterly direction, the acft collided with a 1/2 inch power line/ground cable, aprx 300 ft above the terrain. The impact occurred at mid-span. After colliding with the cable, the acft crashed & came to rest in an orchard. The sun was at an…NTSB ATL84FA084Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportRockwell 690B · Greenville, SCAs the plt was making an ILS approach in IMC weather, the acft descended into trees & crashed about 1-1/2 mi from the rwy threshold. The descision height for this approach was 1316 ft MSL & was located less than a mile from the threshold.a controller said…NTSB ATL84FA083Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300 · Attalla, ALDuring a VOR approach to land in IMC wx, the acft collided with a tree. The non-instrument rated plt had filed an IFR flt plan on this and other occasions even though he was not qualified. During this approach, the descent was continued past the mda of 960…NTSB FTW84FA115Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Davidson, OKThe acft struck high voltage powerlines while conducting aerobatic maneuvers. A witness stated that the acft pulled-up into a nose high maneuver, climbed to about 3000 ft AGL, appeared to slide backwards and enter a nose-down turning maneuver. Full power was…NTSB ATL84FA082Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 177B · Lafayette, GAThe acft crashed in an open field during an uncontrolled descent after encountering forecast icing conditions. The plt had received weather briefings and filed a flt plan into icing conditions in an acft not equipped to handle icing. The plt stayed at an…NTSB LAX84FA142Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182R · Yorba Linda, CAThe acft was seen to descend in a near-vertical high speed descent out of the clouds and disappear into a canyon. A search party found the acft on the floor of the canyon. The acft had departed an arpt 18 miles away on a VFR x-country flight. Investigation…NTSB MIA84FA058Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12C · San Juan, PRA performer fell from a trapeze rigged below the helicopter while it was hovering at about 150 ft AGL. The FAA had not authorized the modification to the acft. The plt was not certified for external load operations. The performer reportedly had not done this…NTSB LAX84FA138Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Tracy, CAThe flight departed under instrument meteorological conditions, with visibility restricted to one quarter mile by fog. The ceiling was obscured. After departure witnesses heard the aircraft make what appeared to be a left turn. Next they heard the engine…NTSB LAX84FA136Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Union City, CAThe acft crashed into hilly terrain in an almost vertical high speed power on descent. A witness about 64 miles north of the accident site had seen an acft that met the description of the accident acft 'scud running', or flying beneath the low cloud bases…NTSB FTW84FA114Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Throckmorton, TXThe acft crashed in a steep left wing down, nose down attitude. The flt had been for the purpose of checking out the front seat plt on pipe line patrol. The front seat plt had only 22 hrs in this make & model. The weather was VMC and no mechanical…NTSB MKC84MA060Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportDouglas DC-3C · St. Louis, MOAfter landing, the plt-in-command (PIC) placed a refueling order to fill the acft's two 210 gal main tanks for a return flt to toronto, ontario, Canada. After the cargo was unloaded & the acft was refueled, the aircrew aborted the 1st 2 attempts to takeoff…NTSB FTW84LA416Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 210N · Plaquemine, LAThe acft was found by a hunter crashed in a heavily wooded swamp area aprx 10 months after the acdnt. The sole body fnd was beyond a condition of testing for toxicology or autopsy. The body was identified as a plt who was supposed to meet the owner of the…NTSB ATL84FU003Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPterodactyl Ascender II · Lawrenceville, GAThe plt took off in conditions of turbulence & gusty winds. Witnesses reported the ultralight vehicle pitched & rolled erratically after lift-off. The plt then made a right climbing turn to a downwind heading & proceeded over a tall tree line toward a field…