Major NTSB investigations
180,624 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,602 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.board_report_url IS NOT NULL OR c.\"investigationClass\" = 'Class 1' OR c.\"caseType\" = 'Major - Launch') 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') 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 DCA15MA019Accident · 1 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportScaled Composites 339 · Koehn Dry Lake, CAScaled Composites' failure to consider and protect against the possibility that a single human error could result in a catastrophic hazard to the SpaceShipTwo vehicle. This failure set the stage for the copilot's premature unlocking of the feather system as a…NTSB ERA14MA271Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGulfstream Aerospace G IV · Bedford, MAThe flight crewmembers' failure to perform the flight control check before takeoff, their attempt to take off with the gust lock system engaged, and their delayed execution of a rejected takeoff after they became aware that the controls were locked.…NTSB DCA14MA081Accident · No injuriesClass 2 · MajorFinal reportAirbus A320 - 214 · Philadelphia, PAthe captain's decision to reject the takeoff after the airplane had rotated. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to follow standard operating procedures by not verifying that the airplane's flight management computer was properly…NTSB ERA14MA060Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportFairchild SA227-AC · La Alianza, PRThe flight crew's excessive elevator input during a rapid descent under night lighting conditions, which resulted in the overstress and breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was an initial loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be…NTSB ANC14MA008Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Saint Marys, AKThe pilot's decision to initiate a visual flight rules approach into an area of instrument meteorological conditions at night and the flight coordinators' release of the flight without discussing the risks with the pilot, which resulted in the pilot…NTSB DCA13MA133Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAirbus A300 - F4 622R · Birmingham, ALthe flight crew's continuation of an unstabilized approach and their failure to monitor the aircraft's altitude during the approach, which led to an inadvertent descent below the minimum approach altitude and subsequently into terrain. Contributing to the…NTSB DCA13MA121Accident · 10 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportDehavilland DHC-3 · Soldotna, AKThe operator's failure to determine the actual cargo weight, leading to the loading and operation of the airplane outside of the weight and center of gravity limits contained in the airplane flight manual, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing…NTSB DCA13MA120Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 777-200ER · San Francisco, CAThe flight crew's mismanagement of the airplane's descent during the visual approach, the pilot flying's unintended deactivation of automatic airspeed control, the flight crew's inadequate monitoring of airspeed, and the flight crew's delayed execution of a…NTSB DCA13MA081Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-400 BCF · Bagram, AfghanistanNational Airlines' inadequate procedures for restraining special cargo loads, which resulted in the loadmaster's improper restraint of the cargo, which moved aft and damaged hydraulic systems Nos. 1 and 2 and horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism components,…NTSB ANC13GA036Accident · 3 fatalClass 1Final reportEurocopter AS350 · Talkeetna, AKThe pilot's decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of control. Also causal was the Alaska Department of Public Safety's punitive culture and…NTSB ERA13MA139Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 390 · Thomson, GAThe pilot's failure to follow airplane flight manual procedures for an antiskid failure in flight and his failure to immediately retract the lift dump after he elected to attempt a go-around on the runway. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of…NTSB DCA13IA037Incident · No injuriesClass 1 · IncidentFinal reportBoeing 787 · Boston, MAan internal short circuit within a cell of the auxiliary power unit (APU) lithium-ion battery, which led to thermal runaway that cascaded to adjacent cells, resulting in the release of smoke and fire. The incident resulted from Boeing's failure to incorporate…NTSB DCA12FA051Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportConvair 440 - NO Series · San Juan, PRthe flight crew's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after shutting down the right engine due to an in-flight fire in one of the right augmentors. The failure to maintain airspeed resulted in either an aerodynamic stall or a loss of directional control.NTSB ERA12MA122Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Green Cove Springs, FLThe pilot’s improper decision to continue visual flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the pilot’s improper decision was his self-induced pressure to complete the trip.NTSB DCA12MA020Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEurocopter France AS350B2 · Las Vegas, NVSundance Helicopters’ inadequate maintenance of the helicopter, including (1) the improper reuse of a degraded self-locking nut, (2) the improper or lack of installation of a split pin, and (3) inadequate postmaintenance inspections, which resulted in the…NTSB WPR12MA046Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportRockwell 690 · Apache Junction, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain a safe ground track and altitude combination for the moonless night visual flight rules flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's complacency and lack of situational…NTSB WPR12MA034Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEurocopter EC 130 B4 · Pukoo, HIThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in marginal weather conditions, which resulted in the impact of the horizontal stabilizer and lower forward portion of the fenestron with ground and/or vegetation and led to…NTSB ERA12MA005Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206B · New York, NYThe pilot's failure to anticipate and correct for conditions (high gross weight, low indicated airspeed, and a right downwind turn) conducive to loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE), which resulted in LTE and an uncontrolled spin. Contributing to the…NTSB WPR11MA454Accident · 11 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportNorth American/Aero Classics P-51D · Reno, NVThe reduced stiffness of the elevator trim tab system that allowed aerodynamic flutter to occur at racing speeds. The reduced stiffness was a result of deteriorated locknut inserts that allowed the trim tab attachment screws to become loose and to initiate…NTSB CEN11FA599Accident · 4 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportEurocopter AS-350-B2 · Mosby, MOThe pilot's failure to confirm that the helicopter had adequate fuel on board to complete the mission before making the first departure, his improper decision to continue the mission and make a second departure after he became aware of a critically low fuel…NTSB DCA11MA076Accident · 4 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportGulfstream GVI · Roswell, NMThe National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: an aerodynamic stall and subsequent uncommanded roll during a one engine-inoperative takeoff flight test, which were the result of (1) Gulfstream’s failure…NTSB DCA11MA039Accident · Minor injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 737 · Yuma, AZthe improper installation of the fuselage crown skin panel at the S-4L lap joint during the manufacturing process, which resulted in multiple site damage fatigue cracking and eventual failure of the lower skin panel. Contributing to the injuries was flight…NTSB DCA11IA015Incident · No injuriesClass 1 · IncidentFinal reportBoeing 757-223 · Jackson Hole, WYa manufacturing defect in a clutch mechanism that prevented the speedbrakes from automatically deploying after touchdown, and the captain’s failure to monitor and extend the speedbrakes manually. Also causal was the failure of the thrust reversers to deploy…NTSB ANC10MA068Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDehavilland DHC-3 · Aleknagik, AKThe pilot's temporary unresponsiveness for reasons that could not be established from the available information. Contributing to the investigation's inability to determine exactly what occurred in the final minutes of the flight was the lack of a cockpit…NTSB CEN10MA367Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 421B · Alpine, TXThe degraded performance of the airplane due to the pilot not properly setting the flaps and retracting the landing gear after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.NTSB ERA10MA188Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportEurocopter AS-350-B3 · Brownsville, TNThe pilot's decision to attempt the flight into approaching adverse weather, resulting in an encounter with a thunderstorm with localized instrument meteorological conditions, heavy rain, and severe turbulence that led to a loss of control.NTSB CEN10MA088Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 35A · Prospect Heights, ILA loss of control for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA09MA447Accident · 9 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Hoboken, NJ(1) the inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, which made it difficult for the airplane pilot to see the helicopter until the final seconds before the collision, and (2) the Teterboro Airport local controller’s nonpertinent telephone conversation,…NTSB CEN09PA348Accident · 2 fatalClass 1Final reportAgusta A109E · Santa Fe, NMThe pilot's decision to take off from a remote, mountainous landing site in dark (moonless) night, windy, instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were an organizational culture that prioritized mission execution over aviation safety…NTSB WPR09MA159Accident · 14 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportPilatus PC-12/45 · Butte, MT(1) the pilot's failure to ensure that a fuel system icing inhibitor was added to the fuel before the flights on the day of the accident; (2) his failure to take appropriate remedial actions after a low fuel pressure state (resulting from icing within the…NTSB DCA09MA027Accident · 50 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBombardier DHC-8-402 · Clarence Center, NYThe captain’s inappropriate response to the activation of the stick shaker, which led to an aerodynamic stall from which the airplane did not recover. Contributing to the accident were (1) the flight crew's failure to monitor airspeed in relation to the…NTSB ERA09MA157Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 206H · Quebradillas, PRThe pilot exceeded the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in an in-flight break up while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions.NTSB CEN09MA142Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320 · Lubbock, TXThe flight crew's failure to monitor and maintain a minimum safe airspeed while executing an instrument approach in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. Contributing to the accident were 1) the flight crew's failure to…NTSB DCA09MA026Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAirbus A320 · Weehawken, NJThe ingestion of large birds into each engine, which resulted in an almost total loss of thrust in both engines and the subsequent ditching on the Hudson River. Contributing to the fuselage damage and resulting unavailability of the aft slide/rafts were (1)…NTSB CEN09MA117Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-76C · Morgan City, LA(1) the sudden loss of power to both engines that resulted from impact with a bird (red-tailed hawk), which fractured the windshield and interfered with engine fuel controls, and (2) the subsequent disorientation of the flight crewmembers, which left them…NTSB DCA09MA021Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 737-524 · Denver, COThe captain’s cessation of right rudder input, which was needed to maintain directional control of the airplane, about 4 seconds before the excursion, when the airplane encountered a strong and gusty crosswind that exceeded the captain’s training and…NTSB CEN09MA019Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 222 · Aurora, ILThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the 734-foot-tall lighted tower during the visual night flight due to inadequate preflight planning, insufficient altitude, and a flight route too low to clear the tower. Contributing to the accident was the air…NTSB MIA08MA203Accident · 4 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAerospatiale SA365N-1 D · District Heights, MDThe pilot's attempt to regain visual conditions by performing a rapid descent and his failure to arrest the descent at the minimum descent altitude during a nonprecision approach. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot’s limited recent instrument…NTSB DCA08MA098Accident · 4 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportLearjet LR60 · Columbia, SCThe operator’s inadequate maintenance of the airplane’s tires, which resulted in multiple tire failures during takeoff roll due to severe underinflation, and the captain’s execution of a rejected takeoff (RTO) after V1, which was inconsistent with her…NTSB CHI08MA270Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportConvair CV-580 · Columbus, OHThe improper (reverse) rigging of the elevator trim cables by company maintenance personnel, and their subsequent failure to discover the misrigging during required post-maintenance checks. Contributing to the accident was the captain’s inadequate…NTSB LAX08MA277Accident · 10 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech A100 · Moab, UTThe pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during takeoff for undetermined reasons.NTSB LAX08PA259Accident · 9 fatalClass 1Final reportSikorsky S-61N · Weaverville, CAThe following actions by Carson Helicopters: 1) the intentional understatement of the helicopter's empty weight, 2) the alteration of the power available chart to exaggerate the helicopter's lift capability, and 3) the practice of using unapproved…NTSB DCA08MA085Accident · 8 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportRaytheon Corporate Jets BAE 125-800A · Owatonna, MNThe captain’s decision to attempt a go-around late in the landing roll with insufficient runway remaining. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilots’ poor crew coordination and lack of cockpit discipline; (2) fatigue, which likely impaired both pilots’…NTSB DEN08MA116Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 407 · Flagstaff, AZBoth helicopter pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of N407GA’s pilot to follow flight arrival route guidelines, and the failure of N407MJ’s pilot to follow…NTSB DCA08MA076Accident · No injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 767 · San Francisco, CAThe design of the supplemental oxygen system hoses and the lack of positive separation between electrical wiring and electrically conductive oxygen system components. The lack of positive separation allowed a short circuit to breach a combustible oxygen hose,…NTSB SEA08MA136Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS-350-D · Avalon, CALoss of engine power during approach for landing due to a fatigue fracture of a power turbine blade.NTSB DFW08MA076Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportCessna 500 · Oklahoma City, OKAirplane wing-structure damage sustained during impact with one or more large birds (American white pelicans), which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane.NTSB NYC08MA090Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportRaytheon C90A · Mount Airy, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper decision to descend below the minimum descent altitude, and failure to follow the published missed approach…NTSB MIA08MA051Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 525 · West Gardiner, METhe pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent failure to maintain airplane control.NTSB ANC08MA038Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Kodiak, AKThe failure of company maintenance personnel to ensure that the airplane's nose baggage door latching mechanism was properly configured and maintained, resulting in an inadvertent opening of the nose baggage door in flight. Contributing to the accident were…