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NTSB investigations

15 cases where the first occurrence was “Ditching”.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19822026

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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."mKey" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 150) 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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 150)
  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."mKey" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 150)
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 DEN03LA143Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6 · Boulder, COpilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making. Contributing factors include the thunderstorms, the lack of suitable terrain available for a precautionary landing and the water.Aug 7, 2003 · N25RN · Substantial damage NTSB LAX00LA203Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech B200 · Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)Physical incapacitation of the pilot from improper handling of a pesticide.May 24, 2000 · N24CV · Destroyed NTSB SEA96LA120Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Seattle, WAAn intentional plan or decision by the pilot to ditch the airplane in Puget Sound.May 31, 1996 · N47852 · Destroyed NTSB SEA96LA067Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182P · Darrington, WAa ditching of the airplane for undetermined reason(s).Mar 12, 1996 · N41MG · Substantial damage NTSB LAX95LA137Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportde Havilland DHC-6-200 · Honolulu, HIIntentional ditching due to the flightcrew's failure to properly manage the fuel system, and operation of the airplane in an excessively overweight condition.Mar 16, 1995 · N37ST · Destroyed NTSB MIA95LA084Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206L · Miami, FLThe failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain adequate engine power while maneuvering, his failure to take remedial action to recover from the resulting descent, and his decision to make a precautionary landing on the water.Mar 6, 1995 · N164BH · Substantial damage NTSB MIA94LA076Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-34-200 · Gulf Of MexicoThe pilot's physiological condition (failure to remain awake) resulting in extended flight over water followed by fuel exhaustion, total loss of engine power, and ditching before returning to land.Feb 17, 1994 · N1247T · Destroyed NTSB LAX92FA267Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 · Richmond, CAA divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for an undetermined reason(s) which resulted in rotor contact to the tailboom.Jun 29, 1992 · N83858 · Destroyed NTSB MIA87LA263Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 411 · No.Atlantic Oc (Atlantic Ocean)The acft was ditched 35 miles southeast of cat island on a flt from georgetown to freeport, Bahamas for unknown reason(s). The acft has not been recovered. Attempts to contact the pilot & registered owner were to no avail.Sep 26, 1987 · N39BJ · Substantial damage NTSB LAX86LA032Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T188C · Hilo, HIThe plt became aware of the acft's unanticipated low fuel state when the eng failed while over the pacific ocean, aprx 900 miles from his destination. He restarted the eng but estimated there was not enough fuel remaining to reach his original destination. He…Nov 4, 1985 · N9958J · Destroyed NTSB MIA84LA250Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Marathon, FLThe coast guard was alerted to a ditched acft in the atlantic ocean near Marathon, FL. The CG found the wreckage of a PA-31 and 27 bales of marijuana in and around the wreckage. Two men in a life raft, whose cover was still in the acft, were arrested.…Sep 6, 1984 · N4499B · Substantial damage NTSB MIA84LA173Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Venice, FLThe acft was ditched in the gulf of Mexico after being followed by U.S. Customs. The plt was picked up, but would not state his departure point or destination, nor did he submit a plt/operational acft accident report as requested by the NTSB.Apr 24, 1984 · N1931H · Destroyed NTSB MIA84LA015Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23 · Gulf Of MexicoThe acft was ditched in the Gulf Of Mexico before fuel exhaustion. The pilot said he departed an arpt near great inagua,Bahamas in VMC weahter. He reported that he experienced a malfunction of the compass and fearing fuel exhaustion had made two passes around…Oct 21, 1983 · N6403Y · Destroyed NTSB MIA83LA037Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 337 · 35 Nm W. Andros, BahamasPilot 60 miles from destination was diverted to nassau because of approaching darkness and no IFR flight plan on N2488S. Pilot said he was not IFR rated and did not have enough fuel for trip to nassau. Nassau insisted until it was dark and then relented by…Nov 20, 1982 · N2488S · Substantial damage NTSB DEN82FA197Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Near Kalispell, MTAfter a flight from vancouver, british columbia to penticton, Canada, the pilot filed a flight plan for a return trip and departed at about 1900 MDT. Later, the aircraft crashed at night in the little bitterroot lake, located about 25 miles west of Kalispell,…Aug 23, 1982 · CGICK · Substantial damage