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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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 CHI83FA258Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210L · Porter Township, WIBoth occupants were rated plts. The plt in the right front seat of the acft had applied for membership with the organization that owned the plane. He may have been receiving informal instruction in the operation of the acft. During flt, the acft was observed…NTSB FTW83FA276Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportGrumman AA1A · Lagrange, TXWitnesses in six separate locations around the town reported the acft performing low altitude aerobatic maneuvers & buzzing recreational areas prior to the accident. The acft was subsequently observed doing 'roller-coaster' or figure-8 maneuvers, stall & spin…NTSB NYC83FHM02Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportDial-Thorp T-18 · Morristown, NJThe plt had been active in organizing an air show, but was not considered a participant. However, his home built acft was on static display. On the 2nd day of the show, the chairman of the event gave him permission to do a fly-by. Subsequently, he initiated a…NTSB NYC83FA142Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18A-150 · Collegeville, PADuring takeoff, the acft was observed to enter a steep climb after making a short takeoff roll. One witness estimated that the takeoff roll was about 400 ft & then the acft entered a climb at aprx a 35 deg angle. After reaching an altitude of about 200 to 300…NTSB MKC83FA128Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech J35 · Knoxville, IAThe acft was observed to lift off the rwy aft abt a 900 ft ground roll. The lndg gear began to retract as it lifted off, and it began an immediate left turn overflying the airport hangars. It was further observed with the wings aligned with the ground in a 90…NTSB MKC83FA127Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Newton, IAThe non-instrument rated plt took off on a x-country flt at night. When advised of wx along his route, he requested & recieved radar advisories. A short time later, he reported that he was in a storm. For about 10 minutes, the radar controller was…NTSB FTW83FA271Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna TU206F · Pampa, TXDuring arrival on a dark night, the acft collided with level ground aprx 1 mi northeast of the arpt. It touched down on a west northwesterly heading in aprx a 45 deg, left bank, slightly nose down, attitude. An exam of the wreckage was made, but no evidence…NTSB NYC83FA141Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech K35 · Ridgefield, CTShortly after takeoff, several witnesses heard unusual sounds from the acft. One stated that he heard a sputtering noise & the eng stopped, then it restarted, but was not smooth. The other 2 witnesses heard a backfiring or sputtering noise. Subsequently, the…NTSB LAX83FA279Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 95-B55 · Van Nuys, CAThe acft crashed in a residential area after a loss of control by the plt. The acft was climbing through an overcast in IFR conditions and last reported 'four' in response to a request for altitude. This was the last radio transmission received from the flt.…NTSB LAX83FA277Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 212 · Goleta, CAThe plt stated that as he approached the oil rig & reduced power to start his descent from 500 ft, the tail rotor (t/r) pedals began to vibrate. The vibrations became worse with a further reduction of power to reduce airspeed. The plt then planned a descent…NTSB FTW83FA270Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-400A · Lane City, TXThe plt was leading a flt of 2 acft on an aerial application mission. The plt of the 2nd acft stated that at the end of a swath run, the lead acft pulled up to an almost vertical attitude & to an alt of between 300 & 400 ft AGL. At that time, the plane…NTSB SEA83FA118Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28RT-201T · Gov'T Camp, ORWx conditions along the flt route indicated ceilings of 25,000 ft & unrestricted visibility except for the area south & west of mount hood. Mount hood, elevation 11,239 ft MSL, on the sw side of government Camp & clear lake (accident site),was covered by…NTSB MKC83FU003Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportAirmass Sunburst · Pittsburg, KSThe plt had completed a private plt ground school course & had flown aprx 4.6 hrs in a Cessna 172 before flying his home built ultralight vehicle. During a test flt, he was making a go-around from a touch-and-go landing when the vehicle crashed. A witness…NTSB MIA83FA158Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Fort Lauderdale, FLDuring flt, the acft was observed flying from west to east across the beach & out over the ocean. Witnesses reported that over the ocean, the sky was dark & thunderstorms were approaching with heavy lightning. As the acft crossed the beach, a distinct eng…NTSB LAX83FA276Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · El Cajon, CAThe plt was first wx briefed at 0916 for a flt to catalina island & on to san jose. VFR flt was not recommended. Subsequently the plt called fss four more times, the final call at 1402 during which he requested & received the wx for montgomery & gillespie…NTSB LAX83FA267Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Mesa, AZPrior to the flt, the plt reported that he was 'going to do some airwork.' About 1.2 hrs after takeoff, witnesses saw the acft flying eastbound at an estimated altitude of between 2000 & 3500 ft AGL. A witness with about 40 hrs of aeronautical experience…NTSB LAX83LA265Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Show Low, AZThe acft stalled during a night takeoff and collided with the ground. The weather was VMC and no flight plan was filed. No one witnessed the takeoff as the airport was closed. It was a dark night and the student pilot had no night flying experience. The pilot…NTSB SEA83FYK04Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportHomebuilt Christen Eagle II · Bend, ORUpon completion of his routine during an airshow, the plt stated to the show announcer that he would do a low pass down the rwy followed by a vertical climb to a hammerhead stall & then into a lomcevak aerobatic maneuver. This maneuver is aclimbing outside…NTSB MIA83FA152Accident · 6 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Sebastian, FLDuring the flt, the plt contacted vero beach tower & requested the wx. He was advised that vero beach & ft pierce, FL were VFR, but there was wx north of vero beach, a convective SIGMET was in effect & there were thunderstorms in the area. The plt…NTSB CHI83FA239Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 35 · Auburn, OHThe acft approached the 1800 ft grass strip from the west. Local residents reported the wind as from the wse at 28-30 mph. There was no wind sock at the landing strip. According to witnesses the acft traveled 3/4 of the rwy without touching the ground. At…NTSB LAX83FVG12Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportYarnell Grass Hopper · Redding, CAThe acft crashed into steep mountainous terrain under unknown circumstances. The wreckage was 50 feet below a ridge line in deep brush. The engine and nose section were buried to the firewall. Eight inches of one prop blade showed aboveground and revealed no…NTSB FTW83FA261Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Omega, OKThe plt had just completed spraying a field & was in a right turn when the right wing tip hit gently rising terrain. The owner thought that the plt might have diverted his attention while looking at a farmer's map to locate the next field. (Several similar…NTSB DEN83FTE09Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportLink-Johnson-Chessman HP-16 · Eldorado Sprgs., COThe glider crashed into a mountain while maneuvering during VMC weather. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider impacted the face of bear peak mountain near the 7900 ft. level. The fuselage was crushed the wings separated and the pilot, who had undone his…NTSB ATL83FA213Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Calhoun, GAThe plt had flown to the arpt to perform aerobatic maneuvers at a fly-in. He had a low altitude waiver to perform down to 500 ft AGL. Before the flight, he told several spectators he was going to do a maneuver right after takeoff. Witnesses reported that the…NTSB NYC83FA130Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportNorth American AT-6C · Westfield, MAThe airline transport rated plt was on a low level, aerobatic waiver, competency check flt. He was scheduled to demonstrate a loop, an aileron roll, a split-s, an immelmann, a barrel roll & a 4-point hesitation roll. The minimum alt for these maneuvers was to…NTSB DEN83FA131Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAero Commander 680FL · Monticello, UTThe acft crashed while doing magnetometer surveys at low altitude. The right engine had lost power then regained it for a short period and lost it again. A videotape in the acft recorded the plt saying, 'I changed that # just in time.' The acft yawed and the…NTSB DCA83AA028Accident · 23 fatalFinal reportDouglas DC-9-32 · Covington, KYThe Safety Board's full report on this investigation is provided as Aviation Accident Report number AAR-86/02. 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 At…NTSB LAX83FA260Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32 300C · Buckeye, AZThe acft collided with a utility pole about 36 ft AGL less than a mile north of a private dirt airstrip. The acft had departed scottsdale municipal arpt at about 0045. The accident occurred at about 0200 aproximately 4 miles west of Buckeye,AZ. A witness…NTSB FTW83FA259Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180J · Harvey, LAA navigable waterway, Harvey canal, was being used as a seaplane base. In that area, a set of power lines were suspended over the canal by 2 tall towers. The lowest line over the canal was 160 ft above the canal surface, but the lines dropped to heights of…NTSB MIA83FA149Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23C-250 · Ft. Lauderdale, FLThe acft crashed shortly after takeoff. According to witnesses, the acft veered to the left losing altitude and suddenlyflipped to the left crashing about 1/2 mile from the arpt in a steep left bank. The landing gear was reported in a down position. An…NTSB LAX83FA256Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech H35 · Antioch, CAThe acft collided with the ground in a nose low attitude during flt in the traffic pattern to land. Witnesses described the pattern as being close in, slow and low compared to normal traffic. The attitude of the acft was described as nose high. As the acft…NTSB SEA83FA115Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 180J · North Bend, WAThe plt had requested a VFR departure eastbound to waterville & radar flt following. He stated he would be going VFR through stampede pass. After takeoff the acft was tracked on a radar heading of ene at an altitude of 2,500 ft MSL. Shortly thereafter the plt…NTSB NYC83FA126Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B36TC · Farmingdale, NYThe acft collided with a powerline static wire during an instrument landing approach. The private plt was instrument rated and had received a weather briefing and filed an IFR flt plan. He commented to the briefer that 'it doesn't sound too good' and that he…NTSB LAX83FU007Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportUltralight Engineering Astra HS · Bakersfield, CAThe plt was on a familiarization flt in preparation to fly the Ultralight vehicle on a x-country to evaluate it for a magazine article. The eng quit on the 1st flt & a successful forced landing was made. Reportedly, the vehicle required only minor repairs & a…NTSB LAX83FU006Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportEipper Weight Shift · Bakersfield, CAReportedly, the plt was lining up on final apch to land when the ultralight vehicle collided with a power line at aprx 30 ft AGL. According to the county coroner, the plt died from accidental electrocution on 5/31/83.NTSB FTW83FA254Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Haskell, TXThe acft crashed while on a flt in an area where thunderstorm warnings were in effect. There were no known witnesses to the actual crash, but 2 or 3 local residents heard an acft eng at about the estimated time of the accident. One resident about 1/4 mi from…NTSB FTW83FA253Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28R200 · Decatur, TXAfter landing due to poor wx the pilot obtained a wx briefing during which he was told of a long line of thunderstorms 150 miles wide covering the area in which he was located. The pilot departed & then attempted to land at an airport 15 miles away in gusty…NTSB FTW83FA252Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-60 · New Orleans, LAWitnesses reported that when the acft was stabilized on final apch, it pitched up slightly & yawed, then rolled left to an inverted attitude & crashed in a canal. Several witnesses stated that the left prop was windmilling. One stated the left prop had…NTSB DEN83FA123Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper 24-180 · Horse Creek, WYThe acft crashed in rolling terrain minus about 6 ft of its left wing. This portion of wing was found about 339 ft east of the main wreckage. Exam revealed evidence that the outboard portion of the wing separated in an upward and aft direction indicative of…NTSB FTW83FA251Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280C · Opelousas, LAThe helicopter was observed to lift off to a hover and began an erratic hover. The acft pitched up and spun throwing theplt out and fatally injuring him. Witnesses said they did not know the plt was going to fly the helicopter. The opinion was that it was to…NTSB ANC83LA085Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Glennallen, AKReportedly, the plt & passenger had worked a long day before going to their respective homes to attend household chores. Later, they met, and reportedly, they consumed food & beer. Eventually, they arrived at the location of where the plt's plane was parked.…NTSB LAX83FA253Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Norco, CAThe student plt had flown to the riverton arpt to attend a ground school. Reportedly, prior to his departure at aprx 2235 PDT, stars were visible overhead, but the horizontal visibility was poor & there was a haze layer at about 500 ft AGL. At aprx 2250, a…NTSB CHI83LA232Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing A75N1 · Lebanon, INThe plt had flown the acft to boone county arpt to get the acft's carburetor adjusted. After the adjustment, he took off to the south on a grass rwy beside the concrete rwy. While climbing thru about 300 to 400 ft AGL, the eng began running rough. The plt…NTSB NYC83FA125Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Haines Falls, NYOn the previous day, the plt had flown to poughkeepsie, NY. Before he departed on the retrun trip, the manager of a flt school informed him that the wx was bad; however, he took off at about 0912 EDT. While enroute, the acft collided with trees near the top…NTSB LAX83LA249Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman-Schweizer G-164C · Live Oak, CAThe plt was on a flight to seed a rice field with 2 sets of power lines located near its west edge. The plt had seeded the field many times before, & reportedly, was familiar with the area. During the 1st swath run, which was from east to west, the acft…NTSB DEN83FA120Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38-112 · Canon City, CODuring base turn the acft stalled, rolled over & spun to the ground.NTSB MIA83FA145Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22 · Pompano Beach, FLThe surviving pax stated that about 1 mi from the rwy their alt was 1,000 ft & 'lots of speed.' The plt was cleared to land on rwy 13. The plt then reported 'we go around again...' He was advised by the tower to make left traffic. He was then observed…NTSB LAX83FA246Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportHerpst Varieze · Portola, CAThe home built acft collided with trees & crashed on rising terrain while the plt & passenger were on a sight-seeing flt. The accident occurred at an elevation of 7000 ft, the density altitude was estimated to be aprx 10000 ft. the wreckage was scattered aprx…NTSB LAX83FA241Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20K · Van Nuys, CAThe acft was 1 mile out on the final approach when the tower asked the plt to make a right turn to downwind. The requestwas made because a C-130 following had declared an emergency for landing witnesses saw the Mooney M-20 enter a right turn and descend. The…NTSB DEN83FTI04Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportCessna 152 · Hamilton, MTThe acft was flying uphill at low alt when it struck the top of 4 trees and impacted the ground about 40 yards away inverted with power on at low airspeed. The elevation at the crash site was about 6000 ft MSL with the tops of the terrain in the direction of…