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.

NTSB LAX82AA235Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportCessna 320B · San Jose, CAThe C-172M had departed reid-hillview arpt (6 mi east) & improperly entered a right downwind for rwy 30R at San Jose. The C-320B had executed a go-around from rwy 30R due to other traffic & was in a climbing turn also entering downwind for rwy 30R. The C-320B…Jun 26, 1982 · N510BC · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FRD16Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Belle Chasse, LAThe acft departed southern seaplane's land rwy 20 & climbed to approximately 200-300 ft where it was observed trailing white smoke. It travelled approximately 1.6 mi from its departure point & struck a tree on the bank of the algiers outfall canal. Eng tear…Jun 26, 1982 · N3446W · Substantial damageNTSB DEN82AA115Accident · 6 fatalFinal reportBeech V35B · Near Ringling, MTAlthough IMC existed over mountainous areas, the plt attempted a visual flt direct to salt lake city. The probable flt path of the acft was one which is usually flown by plts on VFR flts. The course taken by plts desiring to cross over themountain ridges west…Jun 24, 1982 · N4538S · DestroyedNTSB ANC82DAG33Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-14 · Talkeetna, AKThe pilot step taxied the float plane to the north end of neil lake in preparation for a south takeoff. Approaching the north shore, a left step turn was initiated to postion the aircraft to the south for a takeoff. During the turn, while still on a northerly…Jun 24, 1982 · N5173H · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA232Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA-316B · Dardanelle, CAThe pilot took off from modesto, CA on a medivac flight to pick up a victim that was injured in an automobile accident. A nurse and a medical technician were on board. Spotlights on vehicles were used to illuminate the landing area as well as high surrounding…Jun 23, 1982 · N6456 · DestroyedNTSB NYC82FNA16Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportDavis DA-2A · Lincoln, RIThe pilot was on a local pleasure flight to see that the aircraft was functioning properly after a routine inspection. Just prior to the accident, witnesses heard the engine sputter, then become quiet. The plane was observed to continue straight ahead for…Jun 22, 1982 · N2281Z · DestroyedNTSB MIA82FA136Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAero Commander S2R · Lakeland, FLThe pilot had planned to fly the foreign registered aircraft to miami, FL to visit the venezuelan consulate's office before continuing on to venezuela. The aircraft was modified with an auxiliary fuel tank in the hopper. Also, authorization was obtained to…Jun 21, 1982 · YV419 · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FVG27Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportRyan PT-22 · Orland, CAAt about 50 ft in the air the acft turned left & straight down.Jun 21, 1982 · N49086 · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA230Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna P210N · Jamul, CAThe plt was being vectored for another approach after executing a missed approach. At 1642 the plt was cleared for 5,000 ft. at 1643 the plt was given a heading of 090, vector for the final approach course. At 1647 the plt was given a heading of 340. The…Jun 21, 1982 · N6690P · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FRJ12Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-36-375 · Wildsville, LAThe pilot took off on a local flight to spray a bean field. About 1000 ft from the end of the field was a 300 ft radio tower. The aircraft was observed to circle the bean field and circle the radio tower twice. During a procedure turn, the aircraft struck the…Jun 21, 1982 · N90297 · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA225Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Westley, CAThe plt made a low pass over a ranch house traveling from nw to se. He then made a second low pass over the swimming pool area traveling in a NE direction, & waved to those standing by the pool. The acft began a 180 reversal turn, entered a steep nose down…Jun 20, 1982 · N2661Z · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FPD13Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportVarieze · Roanoke, TXAbout 5 min after takeoff, the pilot initiated a high speed low pass over the airport. When the aircraft was about 1000 ft from the airport at about 100 ft AGL, the right winglet separated. A witness estimated that the aircraft's speed was about 200 mph.…Jun 20, 1982 · N111CH · DestroyedNTSB ATL82FKQ15Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportCessna R182 · Ocean Springs, MSA pilot-rated witness observed the entire flight and accident. He stated that after takeoff and gear retraction, the aircraft was held at a very low altitude, which he thought was to gain airspeed. The aircraft reached the end of the runway and went into a…Jun 19, 1982 · N757FB · DestroyedNTSB ANC82DA050Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 185F · Near Chinitna B, AKThe aircraft was chartered to salvage gear from a burned hovercraft that was beached about one mile south of Chinitna bay. The pilot reported that the two passengers got the gear ready to load while he held the plane off the beach by hand, trying to keep the…Jun 19, 1982 · N4212Q · DestroyedNTSB ATL82FIG09Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Woodbine, MDAfter taking off from runway 21, the pilot made a left turn-out then reentered a downwind for runway 03. At about the same time, a Cessna 150 was departing from runway 21 and a glider entered the pattern to land on runway 03. Two witnesses observed the…Jun 18, 1982 · N5153X · DestroyedNTSB NYC82AA125Accident · 4 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-28RT-201 · Dunkirk, NYThe flt was cleared for a VOR rwy 24 apch. At 2226 the plt reported the arpt in sight. At 2228 the acft crashed 4,000 ftsouth of the departure end of rwy 24 on a heading of 115 deg. The jamestown,NY 2250 wx observation was partial obscuration, estimated 200…Jun 17, 1982 · N8192A · DestroyedNTSB CHI82FA214Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32 · Charlevoix, MIThe acft departed the Charlevoix arpt & crashed 1 mile south of the arpt. Two persons tried to discourage the plt from leaving because of the poor weather. Witnesses described the weather as raining hard & visibility poor with an estimated visibility at 200…Jun 17, 1982 · N30575 · DestroyedNTSB CHI82FA213Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Danville, OHThe pilot made a low, slow pass over a camp so a passenger could drop a package. After the package was dropped, the aircraft entered a left turn, then stalled and spun to the ground.Jun 17, 1982 · N5330M · DestroyedNTSB NYC82FGM11Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell 47G-3B-1 · Kittanning, PAThe helicopter was on a powerline patrol flight with three occupants on board. While proceeding along the powerline with a tailwind, the pilot started to climb over a hill. He stated to the passengers that he was unable to out climb the hill, then circled to…Jun 15, 1982 · N9276Z · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FA223Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Hartshorne, OKWhile on a cross-country flight, the pilot was advised by radio of a severe thunderstorm and tornado watch along his route. At 1613 CDT, he was advised of a line of radar returns about 10 miles ahead. He replied that it "looks like a soft spot through there,…Jun 15, 1982 · N8442T · DestroyedNTSB SEA83FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M-20 · Sandy, ORThe acft crashed into rising terrain in marginal weather conditions. No flt plan had been filed. The acft crashed 25 miles from the takeoff point on 6/12/82 and was missing until 9/9/83. The pilot had received a weather briefing from portland fss indicating…Jun 14, 1982 · N231AW · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA231Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Truckee, CAAt aprx 2015 PDT on 6/13/82, the acft departed petaluma, CA on a ngt, VFR, x-country flt to riverton, WY. An en route stop was planned for elco, NV. No records were fnd of a wx briefing or flt plan. The acft was declared overdue on 6/16/82 & the wreckage was…Jun 14, 1982 · N42488 · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA219Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Yorba Linda, CAWitnesses observed the acft flying low over the riverside freeway with a high RPM eng sound & in a right turn. The acft continued to roll & turn to the right & crashed.Jun 13, 1982 · N8311Z · DestroyedNTSB CHI82FA206Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcclary Mong Sport · Cedar, MNWitnesses observed the acft enter a steep nose down attitude & slow spiral from which the acft did not recover.Jun 13, 1982 · N5099 · DestroyedNTSB ATL82FLQ06Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Mayfield, KYThe aircraft crashed while the pilot was performing an aerobatic routine at an airshow. After about 7 minutes in an 8 minute act, the pilot performed an 8-point roll at about 200 ft AGL, then pulled up into a hammerhead stall. After a hammerhead turn to the…Jun 13, 1982 · N50352 · DestroyedNTSB ANC82FAG32Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Chugiak, AKThe student plt contacted his flight instructor by phone on the day of the accident & informed him that he was going to use his own acft for a fishing trip. He also stated that a commercially rated plt would be going along & would be flyingthe acft. The…Jun 13, 1982 · N2340S · Substantial damageNTSB LAX82FA218Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Corona, CABoth aircraft (a Cessna 150L, N18007 and a Cessna 140, N90006) had taken off from the Corona municipal airport, sometime around noon on 6/12/82. The Cessna 150 pilot and passenger were on a flight to porterville, CA, while the Cessna 140 pilot and passenger…Jun 12, 1982 · N18007 · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB LAX82DAMS1Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportWing D-1 · Catalina Island, CAThe flt departed torrance at 1259 PDT & VFR conditions existed at the time. When the flt did not return a search was initiated. The search was terminated after 4 days. Friends & relatives speculated this may have been a dual instruction flt in preparation for…Jun 11, 1982 · N8601M · DestroyedNTSB SEA82FYA08Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna T210M · Shoshone, IDThe aircraft crashed in a near level attitude and at a high rate of speed. Neither the seat belt nor shoulder harness was fastened. The pilot's blood alcohol level was 236 mg%.Jun 10, 1982 · N761CP · DestroyedNTSB CHI82FA203Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBellanca 7KCAB · Centerpoint, INThe non-rated owner/pilot crashed after taking off from a private sod strip. The impact point was about 400 ft from the departure end of the runway and 200 ft left of the centerline. According to a witness, the takeoff roll was started from a crown on the…Jun 9, 1982 · N7543F · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FPD12Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 150 · Graham, TXThe aircraft was being used on a pipeline patrol mission. The pilot informed the pipeline ground crew of a pipeline leak and circled the area. The aircraft was observed by the ground crew to making a wide circle at about 100 ft AGL when it abruptly went into…Jun 8, 1982 · N6742G · DestroyedNTSB ANC82FAG30Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Near Dillingham, AKThe acft impacted a side of a mountain Near horseshoe pass at an elevation of 250 ft above sea level. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight with VMC prevailing.Jun 8, 1982 · N278T · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FPG14Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportAeronca 7AC · Lehi, ARThe acft was believed to have departed the west memphis arpt at approximately 1900. The acft was found at approximately 2000 in an open field 2 mi sw of the arpt. The acft had collided with the ground very hard in a nose down condition. Neither occupant…Jun 7, 1982 · N83654 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL82FLA03Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportCessna 172M · Thomasville, GAThe aircraft was being operated on a business flight for the purpose of surveying farm crops in the area. At about 1700 EDT, it crashed into a 20 acre farm lake while on a westerly heading. The weather was reported as clear, visibility 6 to 7 miles with haze,…Jun 7, 1982 · N13687 · DestroyedNTSB SEA82FYM18Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportMccall KR-2 · Union, ORReportedly, the aircraft departed la grande, OR with 12 gallons of fuel on board and was flown to baker, OR. Later, the pilot departed baker on a return flight to la grande without refueling. Subsequently, the plane was reported as missing. The next day it…Jun 6, 1982 · N54622 · DestroyedNTSB MKC82FA096Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Tama, IAThe purpose of the flight was to take a family friend on a night airplane ride to see the lights of a neighboring city. The takeoff was made from a soft wet grass runway with an aircraft exceeding the maximum allowable gross weight and the center of gravity…Jun 6, 1982 · N8187A · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FRD13Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Lake Charles, LAThe plt told the surviving pax he was going to make a short fld takeoff with full (40 deg) flaps. The pax, who is also a plt, disagreed with the plt. The plt said it would be okay & proceeded to take off. During the takeoff roll the pax suggested he change…Jun 6, 1982 · N83006 · DestroyedNTSB CHI82FA200Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38 · Niles, MIAt about 1300 EDT, the aircraft took off on a local training flight with a student and a certified flight instructor on board. Later at about 1325, the plane crashed in a wooded area about 1 mi northeast of the approach end of runway 21. One witness reported…Jun 6, 1982 · N2588K · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FVD17Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportSavage Skybolt · Livermore, CAAfter the eng quit witnesses observed the acft nose over to about a 30-45 deg nose down attitude. No usable fuel was found in the acft. The acft has a section of clear plastic tubing on the outside of the fuel tank that is used as the fuel gauge. It would be…Jun 5, 1982 · N1914S · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA213Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172L · Meiners Oaks, CAWitnesses in a remote canyon reported an aircraft making low passes in that area. They last saw the plane going up the canyon. Later, the aircraft was located on a wall of the same canyon. Tests of the pilot's blood showed an alcohol level of .279 percent.…Jun 5, 1982 · N19659 · DestroyedNTSB FTW82FRA21Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-32 · Houston, TXThe acft was found in a rice field on 6/5/82. Narcotics were found in the acft along with a large quantity of money on the pilot's body. The acft had N38312 painted on the side. The acft was stolen in atlanta, ga in October of 1981.Jun 5, 1982 · N36497 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL82FA155Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Snow Hill, MDThe pilot/owner and another occupant with a commercial certificate and an instrument rating took off on a IFR flight plan. The weather at the departure point and destination was characterized by low ceilings and reduced visibilities in fog and rain.…Jun 5, 1982 · N8193Y · DestroyedNTSB NYC82FA116Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Elma, NYThe pilot was performing a flight exam for a private pilot certificate. An approach was made to a field bordered by high tension lines. During the approach the aircraft collided with wires and descended nose first to the ground.Jun 4, 1982 · N757GY · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FA208Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T210N · Humphreys Peak, AZTe acft impacted Humphreys Peak at 10,200 ft MSL. The last wx observation at grand canyon was at 1745. The reported wwx was a clear sky & 50 mi visibility.Jun 4, 1982 · N4777Y · DestroyedNTSB ATL82FA153Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Alabaster, ALAt 0755, the plt contacted birmingham approach control & reported 35 mi south at 2,000 ft. he was advised of the bhm wx & that it was IFR at the arpt. The pilot stated he would like to land at another arpt & was given his approximate position to three arpts.…Jun 4, 1982 · N5443H · DestroyedNTSB NYC82FA115Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeechcraft B-55 · Ithaca, NYThe takeoff was observed to appear normal for 2500 ft. at about 150 ft in the air the acft rolled sharply left. The roll continued to an inverted position, after which the acft descended in a near vertical attitude. The aileron- elevator control locking pin…Jun 3, 1982 · N677F · DestroyedNTSB ATL82FKG15Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportAeronca 7AC · Cedartown, GAThe acft stalled & crashed into trees from an altitude of approximately 60 feet AGL. The elevator trim tab control was found in the full nose up position.Jun 2, 1982 · N2475E · DestroyedNTSB SEA82FYM17Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Yamhill, ORDuring takeoff the aircraft veered off the right side of runway 8 and collided with a split rail fence. The aircraft then crossed a gravel road and struck a wire cattle fence catching on fire within seconds after coming to a stop. The winds were out of the…Jun 1, 1982 · N7525K · DestroyedNTSB SEA82DYE07Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportStarduster TOO SA300 · Sequim Bay, WAWhile flying over a lake at low altitude, the left wing of the aircraft struck wires on a moored sailboat about 50 ft above the water level. Three witnesses report that just prior to the collision, the pilot dipped or wagged his wings and waved at them. After…May 31, 1982 · N15DK · DestroyedNTSB LAX82FXQ09Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportCessna 182 · Truckee, CAThe pilot had returned to the airport after a glider towing operation of about 10 minutes. Runway 19 was in use. Reportedly, the terrain to the north of runway 19 was about 100 ft lower than the airport elevation. A witness reported that he heard the sound of…May 31, 1982 · N5056D · Destroyed