NTSB investigations, 1997

111 cases where the first occurrence was “In flight collision with terrain/water”.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations, 1997 per year, 1982–2026: 3,485 cases
1982290
1983222
1984210
1985187
1986159
1987123
1988135
1989122
1990141
1991146
1992143
1993163
1994124
1995139
1996110
1997111
1998105
1999116
2000109
2001130
2002105
200387
200472
200580
200679
200777

Latest 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\") = 1997
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 230)
  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.

NTSB CHI98LA072Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-30/A · Hastings, NEThe pilot's improper IFR procedure, by which he failed to maintain minimum descent altitude. Fog, a low ceiling, and night condition were a contributing factor.Dec 24, 1997 · N9WG · DestroyedNTSB FTW98FA074Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A100 · Colo Springs, COFailure of the pilot to follow IFR Procedures and maintain the minimum descent altitude (MDA). A related factor was fog.Dec 21, 1997 · N100BE · DestroyedNTSB IAD98LA016Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Bally, PAThe pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Related factors were tailwind, and lack of total experience.Dec 16, 1997 · N8068Z · Substantial damageNTSB CHI98LA060Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Waukegan, ILthe pilot's not identifying unsuitable terrain (snowbank) in the landing area, and his not selecting the proper touchdown point. A factor was the snowbank.Dec 14, 1997 · N68318 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC98LA039Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · New Salem, MAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance above the water due to his impairment by drugs. A factor in this accident was the glassy water condition.Dec 9, 1997 · N12219 · Substantial damageNTSB LAX98FA050Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20J · Sedona, AZthe failure of the pilot to maintain adequate terrain clearance during the climb. Contributing factors were dark night conditions, mountainous/hilly terrain, and mountain wave weather conditions.Dec 3, 1997 · N301JL · DestroyedNTSB SEA98LA018Accident · 3 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAero Commander 112 · Kettle Falls, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Factors include the physiological impairment of the pilot's judgement due to alcohol.Dec 1, 1997 · N1054J · DestroyedNTSB MIA98FA038Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna C-182E · Townsend, TNthe pilot's failure to maintain VFR flight conditions in a mountainous area resulting in inflight collision with rising terrain.Dec 1, 1997 · N9033Y · DestroyedNTSB CHI98LA050Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 402B · Spencer, IAThe pilot failure to comply with the prescribed IFR procedure and his not following his company's operations specifications. Low clouds and fog were are contributing factors.Nov 29, 1997 · N22NC · Substantial damageNTSB NYC98FA035Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310R · St Mary'S, PAwas the pilot's descent below the minimum descent altitude and his failure to comply with published procedures.Nov 28, 1997 · N6923 · DestroyedNTSB CHI98LA051Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech E55 · Gardner, KSthe inadvertant landing gear retraction, which occurred due to undetermined reason(s).Nov 25, 1997 · N3914A · Substantial damageNTSB LAX98FA043Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · La Jolla, CAthe pilot's act of suicide by intentionally diving his aircraft into the ocean.Nov 24, 1997 · N6463D · DestroyedNTSB SEA98LA015Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Newberg, ORThe pilots failure to account for the increased drag on the runway during the preflight planning. Factors were the long, wet grass.Nov 22, 1997 · N7528D · Substantial damageNTSB MIA98LA022Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Crystal River, FLThe certified flight instructors improper supervision of the rated pilot during a crosswind landing resulting in an in-flight collision with the left wing of the airplane and the runway, subsequent loss of directional control on landing rollout, and collision…Nov 3, 1997 · N4105F · Substantial damageNTSB LAX98GA029Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportCessna 182R · Markleeville, CAthe pilot-passenger's failure to maintain sufficient altitude and airspeed to avoid collision with terrain, and the pilot-in-command's diverted attention and failure to recognize a deteriorating situation in time to effect a safe recovery.Nov 3, 1997 · N2043E · DestroyedNTSB CHI98GA025Accident · 2 fatalFinal reportAerospatiale AS350B · Frankfort, ILthe pilot in command misjudged the clearance with the terrain during a dark night maneuvering approach to a runway. A related factor was the dark night conditions.Oct 30, 1997 · N911RR · DestroyedNTSB LAX98FA031Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna U206B · Markleeville, CAthe pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the excessive gross weight of the airplane, the high density altitude, and the…Oct 27, 1997 · N4982F · DestroyedNTSB NYC98FA020Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172E · Elkton, VAThe pilot's intention VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors were clouds and mountainous/hilly terrain..Oct 26, 1997 · N3097U · DestroyedNTSB MIA98FA015Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Rabun Gap, GAThe pilot's continued flight under visual flight rules into known instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain a safe altitude for terrain clearance resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees and the ground on the side of a mountain.Oct 24, 1997 · N1499U · DestroyedNTSB LAX98LA020Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Fernley, NVthe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during a delayed go-around after an improper decision to continue an approach to an unlighted runway without adequate visual references. Ground fog was a factor in this accident.Oct 24, 1997 · N3155A · Substantial damageNTSB CHI98FA022Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20K · Emporia, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain an altitude above the minimum descent altitude for the approach. Factors contributing to this accident were the low ceiling, rain, and fog.Oct 24, 1997 · N305RJ · DestroyedNTSB SEA98LA007Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185A · Damascus, ORfailure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from terrain. Factors relating to the accident included: darkness, and hilly/mountainous terrain.Oct 23, 1997 · N714 · DestroyedNTSB NYC98FA017Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportExtra Flugzeugbau EA-200 · Radnor, OHThe failure of the pilot to obtain the proper altitude/clearance above the terrain, to perform an aerobatic maneuver. A factor was the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model.Oct 21, 1997 · N11EX · DestroyedNTSB ATL97LA144Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-160 · Belleview, FLthe pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, and his delay in initiating a go-around, which resulted in a hard touchdown, loss of directional control, and collision with objects (fence and trees).Sep 28, 1997 · N3402Z · Substantial damageNTSB ANC97FA155Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 207A · Twin Hills, AKImproper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude over mountainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were downdraft conditions, mountainous/hilly terrain, and the use of over-the-counter medications.Sep 26, 1997 · N9984M · DestroyedNTSB ATL97LA140Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Greenville, SCthe pilot's improper use of the elevator control and delayed liftoff during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise, collision with the runway, and collapse of the nose gear as he aborted the takeoff.Sep 25, 1997 · N738SZ · Substantial damageNTSB NYC97FA186Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Normalville, PAthe pilot's inadequate clearance above an unlighted ridgeline in clouds and fog at night, and his decision to not file an IFR flight plan and his VFR flight into IMC conditions.Sep 24, 1997 · N35405 · DestroyedNTSB FTW97LA356Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-76A · Patterson, LAfailure of the copilot to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff, which led to an inadvertent descent and collision with a crop of sugar cane and the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, fog, and the pilot-in-command's inadequate…Sep 22, 1997 · N517AL · Substantial damageNTSB ATL97LA137Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportJohn W. Culp KR-2 · Greenwood, SCThe collision with the ground for undetermined reasons.Sep 21, 1997 · N9097E · DestroyedNTSB IAD97LA120Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-180 · Danbury, CTThe pilot's improper planning/decision to not use actual occupant weights and compute takeoff data, which resulted in an overweight takeoff towards rising terrain.Sep 18, 1997 · N3102R · DestroyedNTSB LAX97GA325Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportBell 205A-1 · Sequim, WAthe pilot's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions in mountainous terrain.Sep 12, 1997 · N90HJ · DestroyedNTSB FTW97FA340Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182N · Montrose, COInadequate preflight and in-flight planning, preparation and decision making. A related factor was the improper use of flaps.Sep 8, 1997 · N9043G · DestroyedNTSB FTW97LA337Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22 · Saratoga, WYThe pilot's failure to consult airplane performance data based upon the weather conditions that prevailed. Factors were terrain induced turbulence and high density altitude.Sep 3, 1997 · N8731C · Substantial damageNTSB SEA97LA191Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G · Wellpinit, WAThe pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, and his failure to maintain rotor blade clearance from terrain during landing.Aug 17, 1997 · N9571 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA97LA190Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLaister LP-49 · North Plains, ORThe pilot's selection of an inadequate landing site, and his failure to adequately plan his return glide back to his home gliderport. A factor contributing to the accident was rough terrain.Aug 16, 1997 · N40NH · Substantial damageNTSB CHI97LA259Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Bradshaw, NEthe pilot not maintaining clearance from the terrain. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's diverted attention due to the problems with his global positioning flagger equipment and the other ag- airplane, and the crop.Aug 16, 1997 · N8622L · Substantial damageNTSB SEA97LA189Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRotz RAF 2000 GTX SE · Olympia, WAThe pilot's failure to attain adequate rotor rpm prior to takeoff.Aug 15, 1997 · N9155H · Substantial damageNTSB MIA97LA231Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman-Schweizer G-164A · Pinehurst, GAThe failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the cotton crop while maneuvering to begin a spray pass over a 5 foot-tall cotton crop, resulting in the in-flight collision with the crop and terrain.Aug 15, 1997 · N8721H · Substantial damageNTSB MIA97FA232Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 200 · Dalton, GAthe pilot's improper IFR procedure, by failing to maintain the minimum descent altitude (MDA) during the ILS localizer approach, until the runway environment was in sight, which resulted in a collision with terrain short of the runway. Factors relating to the…Aug 14, 1997 · N74EJ · Substantial damageNTSB CHI97LA257Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A188B · Elwood, NEthe pilot not maintaining clearance from the bushes. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's inadequate preparation prior to the takeoff attempt, his changing flap positions during the takeoff run which degraded the airplane's performance…Aug 14, 1997 · N731GE · Substantial damageNTSB FTW97LA311Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402 · Patterson, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.Aug 12, 1997 · N90PK · Substantial damageNTSB CHI97LA254Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A188B · Britton, SDthe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the terrain during the spray run and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn after having contacted the terrain. A factor was the pilot's diverted attention.Aug 11, 1997 · N91919 · Substantial damageNTSB IAD97LA108Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRiekkenen Ryelong LE · Wurtsboro, NYThe pilot performed an aerobatic maneuver and misjudged the altitude.Aug 9, 1997 · N4YC · DestroyedNTSB LAX97LA275Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman American AA-5 · Monterey, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from surrounding terrain.Aug 8, 1997 · N6086L · DestroyedNTSB FTW97FA299Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech 58P · Colorado Spring, COfailure of the pilot to follow IFR procedures; and his failure to maintain proper altitude, while executing a missed approach from an attempted ILS approach. Related factors included: low ceiling, rain, fog, the pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability,…Aug 5, 1997 · N258W · DestroyedNTSB FTW97LA297Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech F33A · Creede, COThe pilot's intentional low altitude flight over mountainous terrain, inadequate altitude to clear surrounding obstacles, and his misjudging vertical clearance. A factor was the pilot's use of an inappropriate chart for navigation.Aug 3, 1997 · N179DD · DestroyedNTSB CHI97LA234Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRutan Defiant · Alma, MIthe pilot did not perform an adequate preflight check and he did not perform the takeoff checklist. Factors included the pilot's inadequate design of the safety latch and the canopy inadvertently deploying.Aug 2, 1997 · N20SR · DestroyedNTSB FTW97LA300Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPoor Boys Toys Exec 90 · Patricia, TXThe failure of the pilot to maintain terrain clearance with the crops during a surveying flight. A factor was the pilots diverted attention.Aug 1, 1997 · N596PB · Substantial damageNTSB SEA97LA179Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180B · Spanish Fork, UTThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. A factor was the crosswind.Jul 30, 1997 · N929AE · Substantial damageNTSB LAX97FA259Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-85 · Bullhead City, AZimproper judgement of the pilot by intentionally performing low level maneuvers, and his misjudgment of a level-off over water.Jul 28, 1997 · N3339N · Destroyed