NTSB investigations, IA
180,610 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,589 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, newest first
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 c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'IA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA' 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" = 'IA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' 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 MKC87FA138Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportAero Commander 500-B · Mason City, IAThe airplane was in a normal appearing climb after takeoff when it pitched up to a 70 to 80 degree attitude, stalled, dropped the right wing, then leveled the wings and hit the ground in a near-flat attitude. The weight and CG were within limits. No preimpact…NTSB MKC87LA128Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLowder Quickie II · Iowa City, IAThe PIC rptd normal takeoff and climb during a LCL flt. Abt 15 min into the flt, the PIC experienced a nose down pitching. Throttle was reduced and level attitude was established. The PIC rptd difficulty maintaining level flt and made a precautionary lndg on…NTSB MKC87LA122Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140 · Ankeny, IAWhile practicing take offs and landings, CFI and student experienced engine failure shortly after take off. An emergency landing was initiated, and during forced landing attempt the aircraft was substantially damaged. The CFI stated the engine quit due to…NTSB MKC87LA123Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech C35 · Spencer, IADuring ldg, PIC failed to maintain directional control and swerved off the rwy. Ldg gear collapsed and acft was substantially damaged. Witnesses said plt and pax were behaving irrationally prior to lvf departure apt. PIC left the scene of accident and two…NTSB MKC87LA120Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEagle DW-1 · Mediapolis, IAThe PIC attempted to depart downwind on a rural farm landing strip during an aerial application operation. The acft failed to attain flying speed and the acft struck a fence and ditch beyond the airport boundary.NTSB MKC87LA119Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech B35 · Keokuk, IAThe PIC rptd a loss of manifold press during cruise flt and an inability to maintain alt. A forced lndg was made to the Keokuk arpt, but the PIC stated he was too high and fast for a lndg. The PIC made a go-around, but again approached too fast. Another…NTSB MKC87LA116Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 188-B · Sigourney, IADuring an unloaded re-positioning flt to begin an aerial application operation, the PIC experienced a total engine failure. A forced ldg was attempted and acft hit a ditch and was substantially damaged.NTSB MKC87FA106Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-180 · Sioux City, IAThe PIC had telephoned the fss at huron, s.d. for enr wx to Sioux City, IA, fm Sioux falls, s.d., late the evening of may 20. The fcst indicated IFR flt cond's with intermittent trsms along the rte throughout the fcst period. The PIC dptd Sioux falls, s.d. at…NTSB MKC87LA112Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150G · Forest City, IAAfter reaching a cruise alt of 1000 ft AGL, the plt noticed a lack of oil pressure. He elected to make a precautionary landing in an unplowed soft field. The plt then reduced pwr to idle and set up for the landing. During the landing roll the acft nosed over.…NTSB MKC87LA089Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172E · Moorhead, IAAccording to FAA statements, the pilot was attempting a takeoff from a taxiway when a wing dipped. The pilot then lost control as the wing dragged, causing the aircraft to ground loop/swerve onto the terrain. The nose gear tire blew during the swerve and the…NTSB MKC87FA087Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Ogden, IAThe airplane was equipped for IFR flight. The pilot was not instrument rated. The pilot had been briefed earlier that VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot did not update the weather for this flight. The front of the airplane was buried seven feet in the…NTSB MKC87FA085Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Marion, IAThe CFI and stu were practicing approaches to the Marion, Iowa arpt. Several witnesses stated that the t & g lndgs were unusual which gained their attn. On the last appch the acft was observed to be slow during the unusually steep appch. Abt 15 to 20 ft AGL…NTSB MKC87FA077Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150-H · Council Bluffs, IAAcquaintances stated that the student pilot was very motivated in the pursuit of his private pilot certificate and that, on the day of the accident, he was looking forward to this first solo flight. According to his instructor-pilot, who also witnessed the…NTSB MKC87LA076Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Muscatine, IAThe grass runway was 1300 feet long. The wind was 90 degrees cross at 5 knots, gusts to 20 KTS. The instructor said they had a wind shift and then they hit a soft spot near the end of the runway which slowed them. The elevator and stabilizer caught on a…NTSB MKC87LA062Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Mason City, IAThe pilot stated that he had obtained a full weather briefing and an IFR clearance from grand marais, Minnesota to des moines, Iowa prior to departure; and that the flight was uneventful, except for stronger than forecasted headwinds aloft. Enroute, the pilot…NTSB MKC87LA040Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech A-36 · Corning, IAThe flt had progressed normally from champagne, IL. The IFR flt plan was cancelled at lamoni VOR and the flt proceeded VFR. On final approach to rwy 17, aprx 1 mile from the rwy, the altimeter suddenly unwound and the acft struck trees. The altimeter had…NTSB MKC86LA191Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBarnes AX-7 · Creston, IAThe pilot of the hot air balloon made a landing that was hard enough to break her right ankle. The pilot stated the accident possibly could have been avoided if she had been wearing hightop shoes with laces.NTSB MKC86LA185Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Onawa, IAThe student plt was making touch-&-go landings while on a supervised solo flt. During her 3rd landing, the acft touched down hard & bounced, then after touching down again, it went off the left side of the rwy, hit a ditch & was damaged.NTSB MKC86FCD03Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportRoger Warnell KR-1 · Waterloo, IAThe pilot reported that he had carburetor problems. The engine quit and the pilot made a forced landing about one mile from airport. This was the pilots first flight in this aircraft.NTSB MKC86LA170Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTeratorn Tierra 2 · Dixon, IAThe experimental acft was loaded near max gross wt on takeoff from the pvt sod airatrip. The plt stated the acft performed sluggishly during the climbout from the field. The plt stated that on the climbout that he was overflying a corn field bordering the…NTSB MKC86LA159Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T188C · Davenport, IAThe ag pilot was spraying a field when he impacted powerlines which removed the upper one-third of the vertical stab and rudder. On landing he groundlooped and collapsed the right main gear.NTSB MKC86LA158Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman AA-5A · Audubon, IAThe pilot stated that the engine was developing full power during the brake release and takeoff roll but that the aircraft would not accelerate to lift-off speed as fast as expected. Upon reaching 70 m.p.h.(61 KTS.), and after a takeoff roll of 2,000 feet,…NTSB MKC86LA160Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHuizenga SEA Hawk · Clinton, IADuring a test flt of an experimental sea plane, the plt rptd a loss of eng pwr during a turn in the traffic pattern at Clinton airport. The plt stated he had 5 gallons of fuel onboard and had flown about 2 tenths of an hour. Inspection of the fuel system…NTSB MKC86FA151Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportWhittman WD (Bigx) · Sheldahl, IAWitnesses state that they saw two airplanes, one silver and one red, climbing northbound to cruise altitude in loose formation when the red aircraft's engine backfired and the antique fabric-covered aircraft started burning. Flames five to eight feet in…NTSB MKC86LA145Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182A · Davis City, IAStatements from FAA flight service station personnel indicate that the pilot received a weather briefing prior to departure but that a flight plan was not filed for the 600 mile trip. Records show that the flt lasted 05:28 hours before the engine sputtered…NTSB MKC86LA171Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-150 · Iowa City, IAThe flight instructor stated that he had planned to conduct an engine-out drill after takeoff by reducing power to the starboard engine. During the engine-out drill the student reduced power to the operating engine and the aircraft landed hard back on the…NTSB MKC86LA144Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · Davenport, IAThe owner of the airplane had not flown since 1980 and was receiving instruction to become current and was to receive a bfr on this trip also. The airplane had been rebuilt after a forced landing and also had just received an annual inspection. The airplane…NTSB MKC86LA140Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Oxford, IAThe student PIC was practicing touch and go landings at a pvt strip when on landing the PIC stated he lost directional control and veered off the left side of runway 33. The ensuing departure substantially damaged the acft. Rptd winds were 290 degrees at 10…NTSB MKC86LA134Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman G-164B · Wellman, IAThe PIC stated that during the last 3rd of his procedure turnaround the acft descended to just below the powerlines at the edge of the field he was spraying. The acft struck the powerlines with the main landing gear which nosed the acft over. Full power was…NTSB MKC86FCD02Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportPiper PA18 · Sloan, IAThe acft stalled during a low alt steep turn immediately after takeoff. The acft collided with the ground aprx 300 ft east of the rwy. No malfunctions in equipment were found. The plt stated that he was turning steeply to avoid another acft. Statements of two…NTSB MKC86LA125Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Nevada, IAWitnesses stated that the student appeared nervous while performing the preflight inspection for what was to be her second supervised solo flight. After engine start and initial taxi, the student began to exercise the throttle in an erratic fashion, sometimes…NTSB MKC86FCD01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Lenox, IAThe acft collided with a fence during a takeoff with a full load of chemical pesticide. Collision with the ground resulted in a fire. The plt, who was seriously burned and later died, stated on his way to the hospital that he attempted to dump the acft load…NTSB MKC86LA100Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Monticello, IAThe plt stated that following a normal touchdown the wind picked up and overturned the acft. He had recently purchased the acft and was ferrying it home when the accident occurred. He further stated that he owned a tailwheel acft prior to purchasing this one,…NTSB MKC86LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRockwell S-2R · Salem, IAThe pilot states that the engine quit without warning as he was spraying a wheatfield. Pilot further states that he had very little time to pick a suitable landing area. He landed in hilly terrain and slid sideways into a crest, tearing out the right main…NTSB MKC86LA090Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172D · Garden Grove, IAThe plt stated that he was attempting a no-flap takeoff from his pvt strip when the wheels hit a wet spot. He said that the acft slowed down but he extended flaps and continued the takeoff. When he saw that he was running out of rwy, he aborted the takeoff…NTSB MKC86LA084Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301T · Perry, IAShortly after takeoff the PIC noticed a loss of engine pwr and flames erupting from the engine cowling. The PIC executed a turn back to the arpt as thick black smoke filled the cockpit. The PIC opened the side vent window to maintain sight of the ground and…NTSB MKC86LA081Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Lytton, IAThe acft was departing from a 2,500 ft long, grass, farm strip. The plt said he noticed after take off that the eng was not developing full power and he could not maintain alt. He attempted to land in an adjacent fld, but the ground was soft and the acft…NTSB MKC86LA074Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech G18S · Cedar Rapids, IAThe pilot was aware that he would have a strong crosswind on landing. He was landing on runway 13 with winds from 180 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The pilot stated that while the airplane was rolling down the runway, the right wing was lifted by…NTSB MKC86LA056Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38-112 · Des Moines, IAThe student pilot stated he was on the takeoff roll for a practice flight when he lost directional control and ran off the left edge of the runway and stayed there until it impacted a taxi/intersection sign.NTSB MKC86LA054Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Bancroft, IAThe plt became disoriented on a night, VFR flt and landed at an arpt to determine his location. The unattended arpt did not have a phone so the plt tookoff again enroute to his original dest. He became disoriented a second time and, because the acft was…NTSB MKC86LA050Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Des Moines, IAN8036B diverted to Des Moines for fuel after encountering strong head winds enroute. After landing on rwy 30R the plt turned off the rwy onto a taxiway that runs to the north. The plt then stopped to change radio frequencies. While the acft was stopped a…NTSB MKC86FA048Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182A · Clinton, IAThe pilot normally made several touch and go landings before departing the local area. He was known to not fly near clouds or at night. For this flight, the ceiling was at least 1000 feet at takeoff and was at least 700 feet in the accident area. Airplane was…NTSB MKC86LA040Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech C23 · Dubuque, IAThe aircraft landed on runway 13 because the n-s runway was covered with ice. The wind was from 220 degrees at 16, gusts to 24 knots. The aircraft bounced twice during the landing and drifted left. The aircraft encountered snow along the left side of the…NTSB MKC86LA041Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech M35 · Council Bluffs, IAThe acft made a gear-up forced lndg off the arpt after a loss of power during a business flt. The acft had only been airborne for about 15 minutes. Post accident investigation discovered that the acft fuel was contaminated with water.NTSB MKC86MA031Accident · 7 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportRockwell 500-S · Des Moines, IAN81589 was flwg a Boeing 727 on ILS apch in IFR conds. Aprx 2.5 mi fm rwy, N81589 suddenly deviated left nrly 90 deg. 39 sec later, plt rprtd he enctrd svr turbc, then said he was trying to clb. N81589 subsequently flew thru tree tops on rising trrn for aprx…NTSB MKC86LA010Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Monticello, IAThe pilot stated that he knew that he would have strong cross-winds for landing but when he was ready to land, he was unable to correct for them. He started a go-around, hit gusty winds that rolled him to the right and when the airplane would'nt climb, they…NTSB MKC85LA224Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca Citabria 7ECA · Council Bluffs, IAOn climbout fm the Council Bluffs airport the plt reported a loss of engine power and the engine quitting. The plt attempted an air restart but was too low to the grnd to continue. The plt weaved in and out of trees during his descent finally impacting the…NTSB MKC85LA220Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172K · Kalona, IAThe plt reported that on the initial indication of rain, he elected to takeoff from the harvested soybean field before it became muddy. The field was soft & was about 2100 ft long. Before the acdnt, the wind was from the south, so the plt began his takeoff in…NTSB MKC85FA217Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · What Cheer, IAThe acft was observed flying through the top of a tree, then through a four strand high voltage pwr line. Final impact was relatively flat in a soy-bean field. The plt later stated that he had become disoriented in flt and hallucinated that he was in a Piper…NTSB MKC85FCD02Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportCessna 172 M · Emmetsburg, IAThe acft crashed in a turkey farm field after losing alt during takeoff. A witness said the acft settled as though the plt was raising the flaps after takeoff. The acft lost alt in a rt turn, and landed 1 mile south of the arpt post acc investigation showed…