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NTSB investigations: Piper PA-23-160, TX

23 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper PA-23-160. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19642026

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" = 'TX' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102304')) 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\" = 'TX' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102304'))
  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" = 'TX' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102304'))
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 CEN25LA042Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Manvel, TXA loss of left engine power during the initial climb due to restricted fuel flow as a result of a binding fuel control cable.Nov 15, 2024 · N4143P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW04LA059Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Fort Worth, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain control and the partial loss of engine power as a result of an improperly installed mixture control linkage.Jan 9, 2004 · N3289P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW01FA007Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Cotulla, TXThe pilot's failure to refuel the airplane which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Also contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to feather the engine.Oct 10, 2000 · N3390P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW00LA205Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Rio Grande City, TXthe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the pilot flying the airplane with known deficiencies, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Jul 12, 2000 · N4322P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW95FA226Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Palestine, TXLoss of aircraft control during a go-around, due to failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to assure that the minimum control speed (VMC) was maintained. Factors relating to the accident were: shutdown of the left engine, which would have prevented normal…Jun 5, 1995 · N4187P · Destroyed NTSB FTW91LA120Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23 · Cresson, TXA loss of engine power for unknown reasons and the failure of the certified flight instructor/pilot-in-command to feather the propeller.Jul 11, 1991 · N289RL · Destroyed NTSB FTW90LA038Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · Cresson, TXThe failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane and the cfi's inability to regain control. Contributing to the accident was the lack of brakes on the cfi's side of the airplane.Nov 27, 1989 · N289RL · Substantial damage NTSB FTW85LA144Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-160 · El Campo, TXAttempting a single-engine take-off, the pilot was unable to maintain VMC or retract the landing gear. He lost control of the aircraft and collided with a tree.Mar 8, 1985 · N3438P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW81FRG43Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Carrizo Sprgs, TXJun 14, 1981 · N4042P · Destroyed NTSB FTW78FA064Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Leakey, TXAug 2, 1978 · N4195P · Destroyed NTSB FTW76DRA23Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Hungerford, TXFeb 8, 1976 · N3340P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW74FRJ25Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Center, TXJan 29, 1974 · N3238P · Destroyed NTSB FTW71AF050Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Athens, TXFeb 19, 1971 · N4971C · Destroyed NTSB FTW71FRG26Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Seguin, TXDec 18, 1970 · N3304P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW70F0156Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Clear Springs, TXJul 20, 1969 · N3471P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW69A0075Accident · Minor injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · El Paso, TXApr 20, 1969 · N3488P · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB FTW69D0475Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Burnet, TXFeb 28, 1969 · N3273P · Destroyed NTSB FTW67A0079Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Los Fresnos, TXFeb 4, 1967 · N3296P · Destroyed NTSB FTW67F0393Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Austin, TXDec 23, 1966 · N4367P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW66F0647Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Houston, TXApr 30, 1966 · N4367P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW66F0102Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-23 · Liberty, TXJun 19, 1965 · N3404P · Substantial damage NTSB FTW65A0090Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Tomball, TXMar 13, 1965 · N615F · Destroyed NTSB UNK64X1628Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA23 · Abilene, TXMay 5, 1964 · N4367P · Substantial damage