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Major NTSB investigations, VA

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.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19692026

Where

Latest cases

Query with SQL

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" = 'VA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND (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

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\" = 'VA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND (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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'VA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND (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 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…Oct 24, 2004 · N501RH · Destroyed NTSB DCA02MA026Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportCanadair CL-600-2B19 · Dulles Airport, VAthe airplane's collision with two wild turkeys.Mar 9, 2002 · N622BR · Substantial damage 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…Sep 11, 2001 · N644AA · Destroyed 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…Dec 22, 1996 · N827AX · Destroyed 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…Sep 10, 1995 · N945PA · Destroyed 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.…Jun 18, 1994 · XABBA · Destroyed NTSB DCA94GA010Accident · 3 fatalClass 1Final reportBeech 300/F · Front Royal, VAthe failure of the pilot-in-command to ensure that the airplane remained in visual meteorological conditions over mountainous terrain, and the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration executives and managers responsible for the FAA flying program to:…Oct 26, 1993 · N82 · Destroyed 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…Sep 23, 1985 · N339HA · Destroyed NTSB ATL84MA101Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech V35B · Charlottesville, VAWhile proceeding on an IFR flt plan, the plt requested he be assigned an alt below 8000 ft due to 'a passenger with an ear problem.' Otherwise, the en route portion of the flt proceeded without incident. During arrival, the plt was cleared for an ILS apch to…Feb 17, 1984 · N9353Q · Destroyed NTSB DCA84AA005Accident · No injuriesFinal reportDouglas DC-8-63F · Norfolk, VADuring arrival at nas Norfolk, the aircrew were vectored for a gca apch to rwy 10. They were advised that the wx was 200 ft scattered, 600 ft overcast, visibility 1 mi with rain, wind was from 360 deg at 20 KTS. Also, they were given a PIREP of 'heavy…Oct 25, 1983 · N797FT · Destroyed NTSB DCA82AA008Accident · 8 fatalFinal reportCessna 414A · Ashland, VAThe plt received 2 wx briefings, one on the evening bfr the flt, another at 1009 EST, within 3 hrs of the tkof time. IFR conditions were forcasted at the uncontrolled, destination arpt. The plt filed an IFR flt plan, but did not list an alternate arpt. The…Jan 3, 1982 · N2620L · Destroyed NTSB DCA81AA008Incident · No injuriesClosedDouglas DC-10 · Leesburg, VAJan 31, 1981 · N143US · Minor damage NTSB DCA80AA017Accident · 2 fatalClosedLear Jet 23 · Richmond, VAMay 6, 1980 · N866JS · Destroyed NTSB DCA76AZ039Accident · 11 fatalClosedGrumman G-1159 · Hot Springs, VASep 26, 1976 · N500J · Destroyed NTSB IAD75AI042Accident · 7 fatalClosedCessna 411A · Wise, VAJan 12, 1975 · N100KC · Destroyed NTSB DCA75AZ008Accident · 9 fatalClosedCessna 150H · Newport News, VAJan 9, 1975 · N50430 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB IAD75AI022Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Saxis, VAOct 11, 1974 · N6876P · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB NYC72IN136Incident · Minor injuriesClosedBoeing 720B · Front Royal, VAApr 26, 1972 · N736US · No damage NTSB IAD70A0028Accident · 3 fatalClosedAero Comdr 1121 · Rural Retreat, VAOct 31, 1969 · N236JP · Destroyed