Fatal NTSB investigations, PA
180,610 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,589 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 per year
| 1964 | 11 |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 17 |
| 1966 | 17 |
| 1967 | 16 |
| 1968 | 26 |
| 1969 | 14 |
| 1970 | 20 |
| 1971 | 24 |
| 1972 | 19 |
| 1973 | 18 |
| 1974 | 20 |
| 1975 | 12 |
| 1976 | 19 |
| 1977 | 19 |
| 1978 | 20 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1980 | 14 |
| 1981 | 9 |
| 1982 | 16 |
| 1983 | 21 |
| 1984 | 14 |
| 1985 | 20 |
| 1986 | 11 |
| 1987 | 11 |
| 1988 | 18 |
| 1989 | 8 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1991 | 9 |
| 1992 | 8 |
| 1993 | 9 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1997 | 13 |
| 1998 | 9 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'PA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
AND 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'PA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND 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 ERA26FA309Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportCessna 150 · Carlisle, PAOn August 19, 2026, at 1852 eastern daylight time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 407, N873ST, and a Cessna 150H airplane, N23330, collided in flight near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The two commercial pilots onboard the helicopter were seriously injured, and…NTSB ERA25FA344Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportHughes 369D · Jim Thorpe, PAOn September 11, 2025, about 1402 eastern daylight time, a Hughes (McDonnell Douglas) 369D helicopter, N5072F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and line technician were fatally injured. The…NTSB ERA25FA272Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper PA46-500TP · Lititz, PAOn July 20, 2025, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46-500TP Meridian airplane, N819MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Lititz, Pennsylvania. The pilot was the sole person on board and was fatally injured. The…NTSB ERA25MA106Accident · 7 fatalClass 2 · MajorPreliminary reportLearjet 55 · Philadelphia, PAOn January 31, 2025, at 1807 eastern standard time, a Learjet 55 airplane, Mexican registration XA-UCI (call sign MTS056) was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two pilots, two medical crewmembers, and two…NTSB ERA24LA316Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSheaffer Leroy B Kitfox Model IV · Palmyra, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel airplane during takeoff from a narrow runway with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.NTSB ERA24FA292Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172N · Lock Haven, PAThe student pilot’s premature turn to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern at low airspeed and altitude, resulting in a collision with trees and terrain.NTSB ERA24FA103Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGrumman American Avn. GA-7 · Coatesville, PAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel, and his subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate annual maintenance inspection, during which maintenance…NTSB ERA24FA077Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportZenith Stol CH701 · Marienville, PAThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating visibility conditions at night, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent descent that continued to ground contact.NTSB ERA23LA332Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 47G-5 · Mifflinville, PAThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during an aerial application flight.NTSB ERA23FA270Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Ebensburg, PAThe pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain.NTSB ERA23FA252Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 180 · Harrisburg, PAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent collision with terrain and objects.NTSB ERA23FA045Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBearhawk Patrol · Hanover Township, PAThe pilot’s decision to unlatch his seatbelt during flight, which allowed him to exit the airplane and impact the tail, resulting in a loss of control and impact with terrain.NTSB CEN22FA436Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Allentown, PAA partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA22FA137Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech 35 · Hilltown Township, PAThe pilots’ exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while practicing maneuvers during an instructional flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and and a loss of airplane control.NTSB ERA22FA076Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna T210R · Grove City, PAA catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation after the pilot’s failure to secure the oil filler cap before flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ decision to continue the flight following the oil loss event and precautionary landing.NTSB ERA21FA334Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportNorth American SNJ-2 · Wilkes-Barre, PAA partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal was the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for a forced landing following the loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and…NTSB ERA21FA253Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportVans RV6 · Buckingham, PAAn exhaust system leak that resulted in failure of the oil quick drain, a loss of oil lubrication, an in-flight fire, and the pilot’s subsequent loss of airplane control.NTSB ERA21LA191Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Forkston, PAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night, spatial disorientation, and collision with terrain.NTSB ERA20FA074Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson R66 · Mechanicsburg, PAA severe left roll excursion after the onset of pitch and roll oscillations, which were not arrested by the pilot for undetermined reasons. This resulted in main rotor blade contact with the airframe and a subsequent inflight breakup of the helicopter.NTSB ERA20FA013Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportSportine Aviacija LAK17B · Tamaqua, PAThe pilot's exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while climbing in thermal lift, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.NTSB ERA19FA275Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportVans RV 8 · Stroudsburg, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA19FA243Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportPoberezny Acro Sport II · Jersey Shore, PAThe pilot's decision to conduct low altitude aerobatic maneuvers which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.NTSB ERA19FA240Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech F33 · Hatboro, PAThe pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during the departure climb after entering instrument meteorological conditions.NTSB ERA19FA161Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Tyrone, PAThe pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into trees and terrain.NTSB CEN18FA144Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Williamsburg, PAThe pilot's failure to obtain an updated weather briefing before the flight and his subsequent loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions during a diversion to an alternate airport after…NTSB DCA18MA142Accident · 1 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 737 7H4 · Philadelphia, PAA low-cycle fatigue crack in the dovetail of fan blade No. 13, which resulted in the fan blade separating in flight and impacting the engine fan case at a location that was critical to the structural integrity and performance of the fan cowl structure. This…NTSB ERA18FA122Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMD Helicopter 600 · Smethport, PAThe helicopter pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance during power line construction work, which resulted in the helicopter's main rotor striking and becoming entangled with a wire and a subsequent dynamic rollover and collision with terrain.…NTSB ERA17FA248Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAircraft Mfg & Dvlpmt CH601XLi Slsa · Towanda, PAA partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, and the pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an attempted return to the airport, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall…NTSB ERA17FA232Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMorrisey 2150A · Honesdale, PAA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of two psychoactive substances, which led to his impaired decision to attempt to takeoff after engine issues became evident.NTSB ERA17FA223Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSlip Stream Genesis · Linesville, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a climbing turn after takeoff and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the…NTSB ERA17FA153Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHoward DGA 15P · Monongahela, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.NTSB ERA17FA017Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28 · Austin, PAThe pilot's loss of control while maneuvering in night instrument conditions that included light-to-heavy rain with severe turbulence, updrafts and downdrafts, and hail. Contributing to the accident was the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation, his lack…NTSB ERA16FA269Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportYakovlev YAK11 · West Mifflin, PAA malfunction of the electrical system, which resulted in an electrical fire in the right wing root of the airplane, which compromised the fuel system and resulted in ignition of fuel. Contributing to the accident was the routing of the electrical wiring near…NTSB ERA16FA215Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA31 · State College, PAThe pilot's decision to continue an unstabilized instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.NTSB ERA16FA143Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R44 · Canadensis, PAThe pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation, which occurred after ascending in order to clear rising terrain and inadvertently entering the clouds.NTSB ERA16FA064Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Farmington, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after a cabin door came open in flight, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's misuse of…NTSB ERA16FA063Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportTimothy C Williams CCK-1865 · Linesville, PAThe noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to attempt a flight under visual flight rules at night in instrument meteorological conditions to an unlit airstrip, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.NTSB ERA16LA010Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMurray Blair L Free Bird Classic · Kylertown, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during approach for landing, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of flight experience in the accident airplane make and model.NTSB ERA15FA298Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMchugh Tony Kitfox Model 1 · Montrose, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during final approach, which resulted in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.NTSB ERA15FA171Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA28 · West Chester, PAThe failure of the flight instructor and the pilot to abort the takeoff after the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power with adequate runway remaining, and their subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to the airplane…NTSB ERA15LA001Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Command 582 · Monongahela, PAThe amateur-built gyroplane’s collision with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct the flight without obtaining additional training.NTSB ERA14LA290Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCameron Balloons US Z-225 · Spring City, PAThe pilot's fall from the balloon’s basket during touchdown in a field for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in his fatal injury.NTSB ERA14FA153Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWaters Peter T Avid Bandit · Washington, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control in gusty and turbulent wind conditions.NTSB ERA14FA077Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Biglerville, PAThe noninstrument-rated pilot's spatial disorientation after inadvertently encountering instrument meteorological conditions at night and his subsequent loss of airplane control.NTSB ERA13LA433Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom F-28C · Bloomsburg, PAThe relieved pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the rotating main rotor blades after he exited the helicopter.NTSB ERA13FA402Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T-50 · Lenox Twp., PAThe pilot's intentional visual flight into night instrument meteorological conditions and thunderstorms and his improper decision to takeoff without getting updated weather information after a briefer cautioned him during a previous flight that visual flight…NTSB ERA13FA336Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R66 · Noxen, PAThe pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.NTSB ERA13LA263Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportWilson William M Cricket MC12 · Doylestown, PAThe pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after detecting the airplane’s degraded performance. Contributing to the accident were the likely loss of power from the left engine for reasons that could not be determined during the postaccident examination of the…NTSB ERA13FA026Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS 355 · Erwinna, PAThe pilot’s decision to depart under visual flight rules in dark night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in subsequent spatial disorientation, uncontrolled descent, and impact with trees and terrain.NTSB ERA13FA014Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Coolbaugh Township, PAThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions due to self-imposed pressure to complete the trip, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.