Major NTSB investigations
180,630 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,609 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 DCA00MA023Accident · 88 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas MD-83 · Port Hueneme, CAA loss of airplane pitch control resulting from the in-flight failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim system jackscrew assembly's acme nut threads. The thread failure was caused by excessive wear resulting from Alaska Airlines' insufficient lubrication of…NTSB NYC00MA048Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportIsrael Aircraft Industries 1124A · Gouldsboro, PAThe improper assembly of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator unit by maintenance personnel.NTSB DCA00MA006Accident · 217 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 767-366-ER · Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the EgyptAir flight 990 accident is the airplane's departure from normal cruise flight and subsequent impact with the Atlantic Ocean as a result of the relief first officer's…NTSB DCA00MA005Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportLearjet 35 · Aberdeen, SDIncapacitation of the flight crewmembers as a result of their failure to receive supplemental oxygen following a loss of cabin pressurization, for undetermined reasons.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 CHI99MA269Accident · 10 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 65-A90 · Marine City, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall, inflight loss of contol, and collision with the ground.NTSB NYC99MA178Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Vineyard Haven, MAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were haze, and the dark night.NTSB LAX99MA251Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportSchempp-Hirth Nimbus 4DM · Minden, NVThe pilot's excessive use of the elevator control during recovery from an inadvertently entered spin and/or spiral dive during which the glider exceeded the maximum permissible speed, which resulted in the overload failure of the wings at loadings beyond the…NTSB DCA99MA060Accident · 11 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-82 · Little Rock, ARThe flight crew's failure to discontinue the approach when severe thunderstorms and their associated hazards to flight operations had moved into the airport area and the crew's failure to ensure that the spoilers had extended after touchdown. Contributing to…NTSB DCA99MA007Accident · Minor injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-200 · Atlanta, GA(1) the capping of the incorrect hydraulic line by mechanics, which led to the failure of hydraulic system A; (2) the mechanics' lack of experience working with the Boeing 737 hydraulic system; and (3) the maintenance controller's failure to ascertain more…NTSB DCA98MA084Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 727-200 · Jamaica, NYThe failure of the right main landing gear caused by fatigue cracking and stress corrosion cracking of the trunnion bearing support fitting.NTSB CHI98MA260Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportNorth American NA-265-80 · Florence, KSthe pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability, his improper in-flight decision to attempt aerobatics, and his loss of control of the airplane.NTSB DCA98MA045Accident · Serious injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportDouglas DC-9-32 · Calhoun, GAThe failure of the flight crew to maintain adequate separation from hazardous meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were: (1) the failure of AirTran Airlines to provide adequate crewmember training and guidance regarding hazardous…NTSB FTW98MA126Accident · Serious injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportEmbraer 145-ER · Beaumont, TXThe first officer's improper use of the rudder when given a simulated engine failure on takeoff and the pilot-in-command's delayed remedial action which resulted in a loss of control. A factor was the first officer's lack of experience in the regional jet…NTSB DCA98MA023Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 727-223 · Chicago, ILthe failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper pitch attitude for a successful landing or go-around. Contributing to the accident were the divergent pitch oscillations of the airplane, which occurred during the final approach and were the result of an…NTSB FTW98MA096Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 25B · Houston, TXThe flight crew's continued descent of the airplane below the glideslope and through the published decision height without visual contact with the runway environment. Also, when the captain encountered difficulty tracking the localizer course, his improper…NTSB DCA98MA015Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 747-122 · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)The pilot-in-command's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions, and the difficulty of obtaining adequate weather forecasts of over-ocean turbulence. Factors contributing to the accident include the presence of clear air turbulence, and the failure…NTSB ANC98MA008Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Barrow, AKThe pilot's disregard for lateral fuel loading limits, his improper removal of frost prior to takeoff, and the resulting inadvertent stall/spin. Factors involved in this accident were the improper asymmetrical fuel loading which reduced lateral aircraft…NTSB DCA98MA002Accident · 9 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Montrose, COthe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed for undetermined reasons while maneuvering the airplane near the maximum gross weight and aft cg in or near instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in the loss of control and entry into a stall/spin.…NTSB DCA97MA059Accident · 5 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-8-61 · Miami, FLThe airplane being misloaded to produce a more aft center of gravity and a correspondingly incorrect stabilizer trim setting that precipitated an extreme pitch-up at rotation, was (1) the failure of Fine Air to exercise operational control over the cargo…NTSB DCA97MA058Accident · 228 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-300 · Nimitz Hillthe captain's failure to adequately brief and execute the nonprecision approach and the first officer's and flight engineer's failure to effectively monitor and cross-check the captain's execution of the approach. Contributing to these failures were the…NTSB DCA97MA055Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-11 · Newark, NJThe captain's overcontrol of the airplane during the landing and his failure to execute a go-around from a destabilized flare. Contributing to the accident was the captain's concern with touching down early to ensure adequate stopping distance.NTSB DCA97MA053Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-11 · Honolulu, HIThe pilot's failure to apply adequate manual control inputs following his decision to disconnect the autopilot during the autoland operation, resulting in a subsequent loss of directional control. Also causal and contributing to the tail strike was the…NTSB DCA97MA049Accident · Serious injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportAirbus Industrie A300B4-605R · West Palm Beach, FLThe flightcrew's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during leveloff which led to an inadvertent stall, and their subsequent failure to use proper stall recovery techniques. A factor contributing to the accident was the flightcrew's failure to properly use…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 DCA97MA017Accident · 29 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEmbraer EMB-120RT · Monroe, MIThe Federal Aviation Adminstration's (FAA) failure to establish adequate aircraft certification standards for flight in icing conditions, the FAA's failure to ensure that at Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial/FAA-approved procedure for the accident airplane's deice…NTSB DCA97MA016Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-8-63F · Narrows, VAthe inappropriate control inputs applied by the flying pilot during a stall recovery attempt, the failure of the nonflying pilot-in-command to recognize, address, and correct these inappropriate control inputs, and the failure of ABX to establish a formal…NTSB DCA97MA009Accident · 14 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBeech 1900C · Quincy, ILthe failure of the pilots in the King Air A90 to effectively monitor the common traffic advisory frequency or to properly scan for traffic, resulting in their commencing a takeoff roll when the Beech 1900C (United Express flight 5925) was landing on an…NTSB CHI97MA017Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGulfstream G-IV · Wheeling, ILfailure of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll in a gusty crosswind, his failure to abort the takeoff, and failure of the copilot to adequately monitor and/or take sufficient remedial action to…NTSB NYC97MA005Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-88 · Flushing, NYThe Safety Board's full report is available at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. NTSB Report AAR-97/03. the inability of the captain, because of his use of monovision contact lenses, to overcome his misperception of the airplane's position relative to the…NTSB DCA96MA079Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas DC-10-10CF · Newburgh, NYan in-flight cargo fire of undetermined origin. (NTSB Report AAR-98/03)NTSB DCA96MA070Accident · 230 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-131 · East Moriches, NYAn explosion of the center wing fuel tank (CWT), resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank. The source of ignition energy for the explosion could not be determined with certainty, but, of the sources evaluated by the investigation,…NTSB DCA96MA068Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-88 · Pensacola, FLthe fracture of the left engine's front compressor fan hub, which resulted from the failure of Delta Air Lines' fluorescent penetrant inspection process to detect a detectable fatigue crack initiating from an area of altered microstructure that was created…NTSB DCA96MA054Accident · 110 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-9-32 · Miami, FLwhich resulted from a fire in the airplane's class D cargo compartment that was initiated by the actuation of one or more oxygen generators being improperly carried as cargo, were (1) the failure of SabreTech to properly prepare, package, and identify…NTSB SEA96MA079Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportCessna 177B · Cheyenne, WYthe pilot-in-command's improper decision to take off into deteriorating weather conditions (including turbulence, gusty winds, and an advancing thunderstorm and associated precipitation) when the airplane was overweight and when the density altitude was…NTSB FTW96FA118Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · FieldFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 · Houston, TXthe captain's decision to continue the approach contrary to Continental Airlines (COA) standard operating procedures that mandate a go-around when an approach is unstabilized below 500 feet or a ground proximity warning system alert continues below 200 feet…NTSB SEA96MA043Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportMitsubishi MU-2B-36 · Malad City, IDcontinued flight by the flightcrew into icing conditions with known faulty deice equipment; structural (airframe) ice; and failure of the flight crew to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control and collision with terrain. A…NTSB MIA96FA059Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · FieldFinal reportDouglas DC-9-32 · Nashville, TNthe flight crew's improper procedures and actions (failing to contact system operations/dispatch, failing to use all available aircraft and company manuals, and prematurely resetting the ground control relay circuit breakers) in response to an in-flight…NTSB DCA96MA029Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-136 · Jamaica, NYthe captain's failure to reject the takeoff in a timely manner when excessive nosewheel steering tiller inputs resulted in a loss of directional control on a slippery runway. Inadequate Boeing 747 slippery runway operating procedures developed by Tower Air,…NTSB DCA96MA008Accident · Minor injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas MD-83 · East Granby, CTthe flightcrew's failure to maintain the required minimum descent altitude until the required visual references identifiable with the runway were in sight. Contributing factors were the failure of the BDL approach controller to furnish the flightcrew with a…NTSB NYC95MA220Accident · 12 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 65 · West Point, VAThe pilot's inadequate preflight/preparation, his failure to ensure proper weight and balance of the airplane, and his failure to obtain/maintain minimum control speed, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control after loss of power in one engine. A factor…NTSB DCA95MA054Accident · 8 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportEmbraer EMB-120RT · Carrollton, GAthe in-flight fatigue fracture and separation of a propeller blade resulting in distortion of the left engine nacelle, causing excessive drag, loss of wing lift, and reduced directional control of the airplane. The fracture was caused by a fatigue crack from…NTSB ATL95MA106Accident · Serious injuriesClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-9-32 · Atlanta, GAfailure of Turk Hava Yollari maintenance and inspection personnel to perform a proper inspection of a 7th stage high compressor disc, thus allowing the detectable crack to grow to a length at which the disc ruptured, under normal operating conditions,…NTSB DCA95MA020Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDouglas DC-8-63 · Kansas City, MO(1) The loss of directional control by the pilot in command during the takeoff roll, and his decision to continue the takeoff and initiate a rotation below the computed rotation airspeed, resulting in a premature liftoff, further loss of control and collision…NTSB DCA95MA019Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Tusayan, AZa loss of power on one engine for an undetermined reason(s), and the pilot's improper decision to return to the departure airport for landing which neccessitated maneuvering over increasingly higher terrain. Factors in the accident were: the high gusting…NTSB DCA95MA007Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportLearjet 35A · Fresno, CA1) Improperly installed electrical wiring for special mission operations that led to an in-flight fire that caused airplane systems and structural damage and subsequent airplane control difficulties; 2) improper maintenance and inspection procedures followed…NTSB DCA95MA006Accident · 15 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBritish Aerospace Jetstream 3201 · Morrisville, NC1) the captain's improper assumption that an engine had failed, and 2) the captain's subsequent failure to follow approved procedures for engine failure, single-engine approach and go-around, and stall recovery. Contributing to the cause of the accident was…NTSB CHI95MA044Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 · Bridgeton, MOThe Cessna 441 pilot's mistaken belief that his assigned departure runway was runway 30R, which resulted in his undetected entrance onto runway 30R, which was being used by the MD-82 for its departure. Contributing to the accident was the lack of Automatic…NTSB DCA95MA001Accident · 68 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportATR ATR-72-212 · Roselawn, INthe loss of control, attributed to a sudden and unexpected aileron hinge moment reversal that occurred after a ridge of ice accreted beyond the deice boots while the airplane was in a holding pattern during which it intermittently encountered supercooled…NTSB DCA94MA076Accident · 132 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing B-737-300 · Aliquippa, PAA loss of control of the airplane resulting from the movement of the rudder surface to its blowdown limit. The rudder surface most likely deflected in a direction opposite to that commanded by the pilots as a result of a jam of the main rudder power control…