Major NTSB investigations
37 cases where the first occurrence was “In flight collision with terrain/water”.
Cases per year
| 1983 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 2 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 3 |
| 1989 | 3 |
| 1990 | 3 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
Where
Latest 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.board_report_url IS NOT NULL OR c.\"investigationClass\" = 'Class 1' OR c.\"caseType\" = 'Major - Launch')
AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 230)
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.board_report_url IS NOT NULL OR c."investigationClass" = 'Class 1' OR c."caseType" = 'Major - Launch') AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 230) 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 DEN07MA134Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech E90B · Ruidoso, NMFailure to maintain clearance from terrain due to spatial disorientation.NTSB NYC06MA192Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEmbraer 110P1 · Pownal, VTThe pilot's misinterpretation of the airplane's position relative to the final approach fix, which resulted in the displacement of the descent profile by 6 nautical miles and the subsequent controlled flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident…NTSB SEA05MA085Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportLockheed P-3B · Chico, CATerrain clearance was not maintained while maneuvering for undetermined reasons. Mountainous terrain was a factor.NTSB NYC05MA039Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2 · Oxon Hill, MDThe pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the dark night conditions, limited outside visual references, and the lack of an operable radar altimeter…NTSB IAD05FA023Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportCASA 212-200-CC · Bamiyan, Afghanistanthe captain's inappropriate decision to fly a nonstandard route and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in the inflight collision with mountainous terrain. Factors were the operator's failure to require its flight crews to file…NTSB IAD05MA006Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBeech 200 · Stuart, VAThe flight crew's failure to properly execute the published instrument approach procedure, including the published missed approach procedure, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the flight crew's…NTSB DCA04MA030Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportSikorsky S76A++ · Gulf of Mexicothe flight crew's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent for undetermined reasons, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.NTSB LAX03MA292Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAerospatiale AS350BA · GrandCanyonWest, AZThe pilot's disregard of safe flying procedures and misjudgment of the helicopter's proximity to terrain, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a canyon wall. Contributing to the accident was the failure of Sundance Helicopters and the Federal…NTSB DCA01MA065Accident · 44 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 757 · Shanksville, PAThe Safety Board did not determine the probable cause and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Safety Board provided…NTSB DCA01MA064Accident · 64 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 757-200 · Arlington, VAThe Safety Board did not determine the probable cause and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Safety Board provided…NTSB DCA01MA034Accident · 18 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGrumman Gulfstream III · Aspen, COthe flight crew's operation of the airplane below the minimum descent altitude without an appropriate visual reference for the runway. Contributing to the cause of the accident were the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) unclear wording of the March 27,…NTSB DCA01MA017Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBeech 200 · Strasburg, COThe pilot’s spatial disorientation resulting from his failure to maintain positive manual control of the airplane with the available flight instrumentation. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the loss of a.c. electrical power during instrument…NTSB DCA99MA088Accident · 10 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Volcano, HIthe pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in an area of cloud-covered mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to properly navigate and his disregard for standard operating…NTSB ANC97MA161Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Wainwright, AKThe pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain altitude/clearance from terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the weather conditions.NTSB DCA94MA065Accident · 37 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-9-31 · Charlotte, NC1) The flightcrew's decision to continue an approach into severe convective activity that was conducive to a microburst; 2) the flightcrew's failure to recognize a windshear situation in a timely manner; 3)the flightcrew's failure to establish and maintain…NTSB DCA94MA061Accident · 12 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportLearjet 25D · Chantilly, VAThe poor decisionmaking, poor airmanship, and relative inexperience of the captain in initiating and continuing an unstabilized instrument approach that led to a descent below the authorized altitude without visual contact with the runway environment.…NTSB DCA94MA022Accident · 18 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportJetstream BA-3100 · Hibbing, MNThe captain's actions that led to a breakdown in crew coordination and the loss of altitude awareness by the flightcrew during an unstabilized approach in night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were: the failure of the…NTSB ATL92MA118Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBeech C99 · Anniston, ALThe failure of senior management of gp express to provide adequate training and operational support for the startup of the southern operation, which resulted in the assignment of an inadequately prepared captain with a relatively inexperienced first officer…NTSB DCA92MA016Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 1900C · Gabriels, NYFailure of the captain to establish a stabilized approach, his inadequate cross-check of instruments, his descent below specified minimum altitude at the final approach fix, and failure of the copilot to monitor the approach. Factors related to the accident…NTSB CHI90MA244Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Elkhorn, WIImproper planning/decision by the pilot, and his failure to attain adequate altitude before flying over rising terrain at night. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, fog, haze, rising terrain, and the lack of visual cues that were available to the…NTSB DCA90MA030Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 737-2X6C · Unalakleet, AKDeficiencies in flightcrew coordination, their failure to adequately prepare for and properly execute the unk LOC rwy 14 nonprecision approach and their subsequent premature descent.NTSB MKC90MA049Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGrumman G1159 · Little Rock, ARFailure of the pilot-in-command to follow IFR procedures (maintain an ILS glide path or initiate a missed approach) during an IFR arrival to the airport. Factors related to the accident were: unfavorable weather conditions, an erroneous wind indication from…NTSB DCA90MA010Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBritten-Norman BN-2 · Block Island, RIThe aircraft crashed for an undetermined reason, during an overwater flight on a dark (moonless) night under a cloud layer. A SIGMET was in effect warning of moderate to occasionally severe turbulence below 6000 feet and the potential of low level wind shear.NTSB DCA89MA058Accident · 11 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech H18 · Waipio Valley, HIThe pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to maneuver with insufficient altitude over or in a a canyon area. Factors related to the accident were: the terrain conditions and scenic air tour's lack of specific direction to its pilots concerning safety…NTSB ATL89MA072Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportHawker Siddeley HS.748 Series 2A · Tipp City, OHImproper IFR procedure by the first officer (copilot) during takeoff, his lack of instrument scan (improper use of flight/navigation instruments), his failure to maintain a positive rate of climb or to identify the resultant descent, and the captain's…NTSB ATL88MA184Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportLearjet 35A · West Paterson, NJWitnesses rpted a normal takeoff. Radar indicated the acft turned right as cleared and began cruise at 1900 ft, hdg nw at 235 KTS. 65 secs after calling clear of the control zone the acft's radar track ended. The acft was fragmented by theimpact with all flt…NTSB DCA88MA017Accident · 9 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportFairchild SA-227AC · Bayfield, COThe aircraft was operating as Continental express flight 2286. During the approach in IFR conditions, the aircraft went below the minimum descent altitude then struck the terrain at 7180 feet MSL. Exam of the aircraft did not disclose any pre-impact failures…NTSB FTW88MA047Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 36A · Monroe, LAThe crew was executing the ILS approach and had turned back inbound on the procedure turn to the outer marker when the co-pilot stated they were 5.9 DME in a calm voice with no indication of a problem. Impact with the ground occurred at about 5.9 DME,…NTSB DEN87MA168Accident · 10 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech D18S · Lakeside, MTThe plt borrowed the acft to fly a musical group to kalispell for a pvt engagement at Lakeside, MT, which was aprx 15 mi south of the arpt. That evening, the group boarded the acft for the return flt. After takeoff, the acft was seen flying at low alt in the…NTSB DCA87MA026Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 707-351C · Kansas City, MODrg arr, buffalo airways flt 721 was vectored for an ILS rwy 1 apch. Except for deviations to avoid tstms, dscnt to the terminal area was routine. At 2151:01, the flt was adzd it was 5 mi fm the outer marker (om), was given a final vector to intercept the ILS…NTSB LAX87MA018Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Altadena, CAWhile rtrng to santa monica (smo) fm a x-country, the plts diverted to van nuys when the rwy at smo was closed due to a disabled acft. After the rwy was reopened, they filed an IFR flt pln to cont at 5000' & tkof at ngt. Drg dep, the AR-3 ctlr provided radar…NTSB DEN86MA241Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 441 · Lander, WYOn 5/1/86, the plt had an acoustic tumor removed fm his rgt ear which included the removal of the 8th nerve (balance nerve). His attending physician suggested aprx a 1 yr period of recuperation due to equilibrium problems associated with this type of surgery.…NTSB CHI86MA025Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 441 · Derry, PADrg arrival, the plt was advised the destn wx was: estd 500' overcast, vis 1 mi with fog, arpt blo mins. The plt electedto make an NDB rwy 23 apch, but said he would divert if a missed apch was made. He was provided radar vectors & was clrdfor the apch. At…NTSB SEA86MA018Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 24D · Juneau, AKDrg arrival to pick up a med-evac patient, the flt was clrd for an LDA-1 rwy 8 apch via the asort transition. Thus, the plt should have contd se on J-541 twd the ssr VORTAC & intercepted the localizer (LOC) at asort; then track inbnd on theloc (062 deg),…NTSB DCA85AA037Accident · 14 fatalFinal reportBeech B99 · Grottoes, VAAcft arr fm the NE, crossed ovr the arpt in IMC conds & contd twd the sw to the initial apch fix (iaf) for an ILS rwy 4 apch. The iaf was ovr the outer marker (om), 4.2 mi sw of the arpt. As the acft deptd the iaf, it contd outbnd twd the sw on an imprecise…NTSB NYC84MA102Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31 · Cumberland, MDApprox 16 min prior to the accident the plt was cleared for the localizer DME approach. The acft collided with the mountainous terrain on a hdg of about 220 degrees at approx 8.5 DME on a bearing of 051 degrees from the arpt. As indicated on the loc/dme rwy…NTSB FTW84MA069Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 210N · El Paso, TXN4742P departed El Paso, TX, on an IFR flight plan with a clearance to climb to 10,000 feet. No climb restrictions were included in the clearance. Departure control service was provided by albuquerque ARTCC since El Paso tower had shut downfor the night. The…