Major NTSB investigations, 1989
180,658 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,636 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
| 1968 | 5 |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 13 |
| 1970 | 12 |
| 1971 | 12 |
| 1972 | 11 |
| 1973 | 10 |
| 1974 | 9 |
| 1975 | 11 |
| 1976 | 8 |
| 1977 | 7 |
| 1978 | 10 |
| 1979 | 11 |
| 1980 | 9 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1982 | 9 |
| 1983 | 19 |
| 1984 | 25 |
| 1985 | 31 |
| 1986 | 48 |
| 1987 | 30 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1989 | 24 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 1991 | 14 |
| 1992 | 11 |
| 1993 | 14 |
| 1994 | 16 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 1997 | 10 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 1989
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 year(c."eventDate") = 1989 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 DCA90MA011Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBritish Aerospace BAE-3101 · Pasco, WAThe flightcrew's decision to continue an unstabilized instrument landing system (ILS) approach that led to a stall, most likely of the horizontal stabilizer, and loss of control at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's…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 DCA90MA005Accident · 20 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDe Havilland DHC-6-300 · Halawa,Molokai, HIThe airplane's controlled flight into terrain as a result of the decision of the captain to continue flight under visual flight rules at night into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which obscured rising mountainous terrain. Contributing to the…NTSB DCA90MA002Accident · Minor injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 727-232 · Salt Lake City, UTA fire which started in the passenger oxygen system for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the failure of delta airlines to recognize, attend to and correct repeated leaks in the oxygen system.NTSB NYC90MA009Accident · 5 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportAgusta A109A Mkii · Lacey Township, NJIn-flight separation of a main rotor blade due to fatigue failure of the main rotor blade spar, which originated at a manufacturing induced scratch (tool mark) that was the result of inadequate quality control.NTSB DCA89MA076Accident · 10 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportde Havilland DHC-6-300 · Grand Canyon, AZImproper pilot techniques and crew coordination during the landing attempt, bounce, and attempted go-around.NTSB DCA89MA074Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 737-400 · Flushing, NYThe captain's failure to exercise his command authority in a timely manner to reject the takeoff or take sufficient control to continue the takeoff, which was initiated with a mistrimmed rudder. Also causal was the captain's failure to detect the mistrimmed…NTSB DCA89IA071Incident · No injuriesClass 1 · IncidentFinal reportBoeing 737-200A · Kansas City, MOThe flightcrew's failure to adequately prepare for and execute a nonprecision approach and their subsequent premature descent below minimum descent altitude. Contributing to the cause of the incident was the inadequate and deficient services provided to the…NTSB DCA89MA063Accident · 111 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10 · Sioux City, IAThe inadequate consideration given to human factors limitations in the inspection and quality control procedures used by united airlines' engine overhaul facility which resulted in the failure to detect a fatigue crack originating from a previously…NTSB CHI89MA132Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas DC8-63F · Vandalia, OHFailure of the left main landing gear, bogie trim cylinder, and malfunction of the emergency airbrake control valve.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 DEN89MA130Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Big Timber, MTFailure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the terrain. Contributing factors were: dark night, pilot's visual perception, inadequate initial training of the pilot…NTSB CHI89MA095Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportDouglas DC3C-S13CG · Waterman, ILThe pilot-in-command (PIC) failed to provide adequate supervision while training the copilot and allowed the aircraft to enter a stall/spin, then did not provide adequate remedial action to properly recover from the spin. Factors related to the accident were:…NTSB ATL89MA123Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 200 · Pensacola, FLAn in flight cabin fire of undetermined origin, and smoke (toxic condition) in the crew compartment, which resulted in physical impairment of the flight crew.NTSB DCA89MA035Accident · 2 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-33F · Saginaw, TXThe loss of control of the airplane for undetermined reasons following the inflight opening of the improperly latched cargo door. Contributing to the accident were: inadequate procedures used by evergreen airlines and approved by the FAA for preflight…NTSB DCA89MA034Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-300 · Oakland, CAIgnition of puddled fuel from a blocked combustor drain line, and a slow start during which fuel was misted and blown out the tail pipe. An existing tailwind at the gate allowed the fuel to wet the tail surfaces and be ignited during the APU start. The…NTSB CHI89MA057Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportNihon YS-11A-600 · West Lafayette, INA loss of control due to the improper inflight decisions by the crew and the undetected accumulation of ice on the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, during flight in a forward center of gravity condition and exacerbated by the extension of full…NTSB DCA89MA027Accident · 9 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 747-122 · Honolulu, HIThe sudden opening of the improperly latched forward lobe cargo door in flight and the subsequent explosive decompression. Contributing to the accident was a deficiency in the design of the cargo door locking mechanisms, which made them susceptible to…NTSB DCA89MA026Accident · 10 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 402B · Corona, CAThe pilot's failure to properly preflight and plan for flight and his intentional flight into IMC conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were the low ceiling conditions in conjunction with the mountainous terrain.NTSB FTW89MA047Accident · 1 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32F · Salt Lake City, UTImproper in-flight planning/decision by the captain (pilot-in-command) and his improper use of the portable oxygen system, which resulted in his incapacitation due to hypoxia. Factors related to the accident were: inadequate maintenance/inspection of the…NTSB CHI89MA047Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportDassault-Breguet Falcon 900 · South Bend, INFailure of the thrust reverser actuator links due to a manufacturing/design problem. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse runway conditions and the crosswind.NTSB CHI89MA046Accident · No injuriesMajor investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-201 · Chicago, ILPrevious damage to the aft cone (engine mounting) bolt, which resulted in mismatched surfaces between the bolt and isolation mount, loss of torque during cyclic loading of the mounting bolt, and subsequent fatigue failure of the bolt.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 ATL89MA070Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportSwearingen SX-300 · Wilmington, OHFatigue and resulting failure of the right wing's lower attachment fitting and inadequate quality control by the Swearingen SX-300 production/design personnel.