NTSB investigations, 1985
180,630 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,609 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
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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\") = 1985 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") = 1985 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 CHI85FEK01Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportDietz Evans VP-1 · Bryan, OHThe acft impacted the terrain in an uncontrolled descent after stalling during an emergency descent. The plt stated that at an alt of 700-800 ft AGL, the engine RPM decreased from 3000 to 2400. The RPM continued to decrease and the acft stalled at an alt of…NTSB CHI85FA300Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Bainbridge, INThe acft was observed at about 300 ft AGL. It had just completed a turn with its wings level when it suddenly nosed over and entered a spin to ground impact.NTSB ATL85LA220Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Mt Sterling, KYThe insturctor (CFI) was demonstrating a soft field takeoff from a grass area beside the rwy. At that time, the acft lifted off, then settled back onto the grass. The CFI reported that the right main gear touched down in a hole which caused the acft to veer…NTSB ATL85LA219Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHiller UH-12E · Pickens, SCThe plt had completed application of a herbicide and was returning to his temp opns area 1/2 mi distant when the engine quit about 50 ft AGL. Plt flared the helicopter on the 45 deg downslope and tailbeem/rotor contacted ground. The fuel gauge ind 18 gals…NTSB ANC85FA130Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22/20 · Alexander Lake, AKThe plt lost directional control of the acft during takeoff and the acft rolled into rough terrain along side of the rwy where it nosed over.NTSB SEA85LA169Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185F · Boise, IDThe acft ground looped and the left main gear collapsed during a landing roll. The plt reported that the left wing came up during the landing roll which resulted in the acft veering to the right. When the wing settled, the left main gear collapsed allowing…NTSB SEA85LA168Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Juneau, AKPlt returning from local flight lost visual contact with runway during flare due to sunglare. ATCT had cleared acft to runway and no request for chc initiated by plt, or go around attempted.NTSB SEA85LA166Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS350D · Hoonah, AKDuring a CFR 135 flt the plt heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the acft with a corresponding left yaw. The eng was shut down in-flt and a successful autorotation was made onto water. The plt discovered 50 lbs of tools and 50 ft of cable had exited…NTSB NYC85LA179Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · W.Stafford, CTThe plt stated that shortly after takeoff upon reaching an alt of 3000 ft, the eng pwr dropped to 1000 RPM with the prop windmilling. He then went through the restart procedure to no avail. The plt then performed an eng shut down and force landed the acft in…NTSB NYC85LA175Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman AA-1C · Farmingdale, NYThe plt was performing a series of touch and go landings at republic arpt when the accident occurred. During the final landing, a hard touch down was made which resulted in a porpoised landing.NTSB NYC85FNC05Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBarnes AX7 · Gorham, METhe pilot took off with three passengers in a hot air balloon. There was an unforecast wind change with an increase in velocity. This change in wind direction and velocity precluded the ability to make a landing and keep the basket upright. When the basket…NTSB MKC85LA160Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180J · Fort Dodge, IAN180DH was landing on a 6,547 x 150 ft, dry, asphalt, runway with a lt quartering headwind at 15, with gust to 20 KTS. The plt said he made a full flap, full stall, 3PT, landing. The acft was aligned with the rwy centerline but after a short roll the acft…NTSB LAX85LA321Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-235 · Monterey, CAThe pilot took off on a training flight to practice holding over a VOR intersection 12 miles off shore. Approximately 12MINUTES after take off the pilot declared 'mayday,rough engine', to the Monterey,calfornia control tower control specialist. The control…NTSB LAX85LA320Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman G-164A · Durham, CADuring an ag flight in which a compound containing sulfur dust was being sprayed a fire began in the acft's spray apparatus. The cockpit filled with heavy smoke & the plt made a successful forced ldg in the underlying field. The fire spread & eventually…NTSB FTW85LA290Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 177B · Guthrie, OKThe plt stated he lost eng power shortly after takeoff and during initial climb. He elected to go into the trees due to lack of altitude to allow a more suitable landing area. An eng examination disclosed that the no. four exhaust valve was stuck open due to…NTSB FTW85LA289Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 14-19-3 · Gatesville, TXThe acft was destroyed by fire after executing an emergency landing following an inflight fire and eng failure. Shortly after takeoff the plt smelled electrical insulation overheating and noticed a decrease in fuel pressure. Fire broke out on the left side of…NTSB DEN85LA192Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Missoula, MTThe pilot stated that he did not use proper technique and did not maintain directional control while landing in a brisk and direct crosswind. The airplane was substantially damaged in the hard landing that was followed by a ground loop.NTSB CHI85LA295Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobert Thibodeau JR ACE · Troy, MIOn July 17,1985 at 1015 EDT, a Robert Thibodeau jr ace N3642, registered to and flown by Robert Thibodeau, lost control and collided with the terrain on takeoff at Troy oakland airport, Troy,Michigan, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological…NTSB CHI85LA294Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Schaumburg, ILThe acft contacted a ditch during a forced landing following a loss of pwr shortly after takeoff. The plt reported that at an alt of aprx 200 ft AGL, during the takeoff climb, a total loss of pwr occurred. A left turn was made in an attemptto avoid buildings…NTSB CHI85IA296Incident · 1 fatalIncident investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180D · Lansing, MIWhile en route to jackson, MI, the owner/plt suffered an apparent heart attack. The passenger, who was a private plt, safely landed the acft at Lansing, MI. The owner/plt's wife said that he had a plt certificate, but she could not locate it. There was no…NTSB CHI85FEX04Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportTexas Helicopter OH13E/M74 · Veedersburg, INThe acft was destroyed during a hard forced landing in a soybean fld following a loss of pwr. Inspection of the helicopter revealed the carburetor, fuel filter and fuel tank were void of fuel. The plt received received serious injuries during the accident and…NTSB ATL85LA218Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 177 · Stanton, KYThe pilot reported that during takeoff, he believed that the flight controls were not responding to control inputs. Moments after lift-off, he aborted the takeoff. The airplane continued off the departure end of the runway, where the nose gear and engine…NTSB ANC85LA129Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes H-269B · Northway, AKThe pilot stated he departed and after liftoff began losing power. He attempted to make adjustments when the engine changed sound distinctively to a reduced power. He attempted landing on a downslope and touched down with 5 to 10 knots of forward speed. Upon…NTSB ANC85LA128Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A-185F · Portage, AKAcft attempted to land on inlet mud flats & nosed over following a reported rough running engine.NTSB SEA85LA172Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Moses Lake, WAA ground loop occurred during landing roll on rwy 36. The wind at touchdown was from 210 degs at 5 KTS. The twr did give the plt the current wind when the controller cleared him to land. The plt was aware that he would be landing with a left quartering tail…NTSB SEA85LA167Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Denio, NVA loss of pwr occurred while cruising above mountainous terrain. During forced landing the nose gear collapsed and the acft nosed over. The eng had just been rebuilt less than 37 hrs prior to the accident. The plt stated that a week prior to the accident the…NTSB NYC85LA176Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-108 · Hookstown, PAThe instructor and student were practicing normal takeoffs and landings. According to the pilot, on the sixth landing, at the correct airspeed, the aircraft touched down on the main gear and then the noise wheel collapsed. The aircraft then nosed over.…NTSB NYC85LA174Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Spring Valley, NYThe plt decided to divert to the rampa valley arpt due to wx. He over flew the arpt 2 times, then made an apch to land, but the acft was high & fast, so he made a go-around. He stated that he made a normal landing on the next apch. However, he was unable to…NTSB LAX85LA319Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Thermal, CAThe acft crashed during a night visual approach while practicing landings. The pax stated that the acft was high on the approach and the pilot was adjusting his rate of descent when the acft went down.NTSB FTW85LA288Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G-5 · Crane, TXThe helicopter was being operated from a flat bed trailer. The plt stated he had lifted to a 3 foot hover when the eng stopped. The helicopter suddenly rotated about 45 degs before he could stop it. The plt attempted to make an autorotation touchdown but was…NTSB CHI85LA293Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportJohn H. MC Clain, JR. Rand KR2 · Mechanicstown, OHThe acft landed short of the rwy after a power loss. The plt said he was approaching to ladn at 1800 RPM when he added power to clear some power lines. The eng did not respond and the acft was flown under the wires where it collided with a tree during landing…NTSB CHI85LA291Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 6B · Battle Creek, MIThe envelope of Balloon N1533S was penetrated and torn by the basket of Balloon i-frog. The envelope was damaged to the degree that altitude could not be sustained. The aeronqut of N1533S was seriously injured upon ground impact. I-frog was landed without…NTSB CHI85LA290Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Oconomowoc, WIThe helicpoter contacted a corn crop and came to rest inverted during an aerial application flt. The plt stated, 3 passes were made over the fld being sprayed and after a turn to begin the 4th pass, the helicopter settled with pwr contacting the crop.NTSB CHI85FA292Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 170A · Olney, ILThe aircraft departed new baden and began flying erratically down an interstate highway. It caused one automobile accident by flying low head-on passes at cars. It flew underan overpass, damaging a wingtip in the process. It flew intoan electrical cable and…NTSB ATL85LA214Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWag-Aero Cubbie (J-3) · Stockbridge, GADuring a departure, the eng had a partial loss of power. The plt reported that after climbing to about 75 ft, neither the acft's speed nor alt would increase. He lowered the nose to increase the eng RPM & speed, but the eng did not respond. Subsequently, the…NTSB ATL85FMG05Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportFain Evans VP-1 · Statesville, NCThe unregistered expired certificated newly purchased experimental acft was being flown by the student plt owner on his 1st flt in the acft. The acft was seen to takeoff and make a right turn after which it descended into tall trees. Witness reported hearing…NTSB ATL85FA213Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBeech 99 · Louisville, KYWhile enroute to 8000 ft, both eng lost all power. The plts attempted return to the departure a/p was unsuccessful. He made an emerg ldg on the interstate highway. All landing gear was damaged. The fuel tanks were empty. There were conflicting fuel quantity…NTSB SEA85LA189Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech 35-C33 · Scappoose, ORDuring taxi from landing while in a turn, th epilot inadvert ently selected gear up. He owns a similar airplane and had borrowed this aircraft. His aircraft gear and flap contr ols are in the opposite position of this aircraft's. he intended to raise the…NTSB SEA85LA165Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Pacatello, IDAfter landing the plt was instructed by the tower to expedite off the rwy and taxiway due to a jet following close behind. During taxi from the taxiway to the ramp, the plt was paying particular attention to his right wing tip to avoid parked acft. The acft…NTSB MKC85LA225Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman G-164A · Griffithville, ARThe plt reports that the acft fishtailed during the takeoff roll and ran off the side of the rwy. The acft was heading toward a canal and the plt elected to try to fly over the canal. The acft became airborne and flew about 1/4 mi. The plt saw trees ahead and…NTSB MKC85LA159Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28 · Springfield, MODuring a wx briefing, the plt was advised of possible thunderstorms at his destination. While en route, he was told that thunderstorm activity at his destination was confirmed by radar. During the last 40 min of the flt, the plt flew past aprx 15 arpts where…NTSB MKC85LA156Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Harrison, ARAfter an en route stop, on a x-country flt, the student plt was taxiing to takeoff again. While proceeding northbound with a left x-wind, the plt applied braking action to slow the acft for a turn. At about that time, the acft veered to the right, went down…NTSB MIA85IA211Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna R182 · Jacksonville, FLThe plt stated that he made a normal touchdown & on his landing rollout the nose gear collapsed. The landing gear was cycled several times after this occurrence & no abnormality was observed. No determination could be made of the malfunction of the landing…NTSB LAX85LA316Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M-20-E · Los Banos, CAThe acft collided with a cement embankment during the landing roll after completing an emergency landing in an open field about 5 miles so. Of Los Banos arpt, Los Banos, CA. The plt reported that shortly after departing harris-argo west arpt (5CA7), the acft…NTSB FTW85FA287Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Saginaw, TXThe helicopter had landed in the road to pick up an injured auto accident patient. The plt made an aerial check prior to landing to the west in a calm wind condition. The patient was loaded in a secure stretcher and all was ready for liftoff. The plt stated…NTSB DEN85LA190Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Thistle, UTThe plt had just completed an aerial spray mission and was flying through a canyon when the acft collided with pwr lines. Control of the acft was lost and it contacted the terrain.NTSB DEN85FA189Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 320F · Rapid City, SDThe acft crashed during an attempted VFR go-around. The plt said he didn't recall touching down and he thought he was 'floating.' When the acft began drifting left of rwy centerline, the plt initiated a go-aroung. He said he applied full power and rotated. He…NTSB ATL85FA216Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Anneville, KYThe pilot stated that the aircraft experienced hydraulic system failure followed by a loss of engine power. An emergency autorotation landing was attempted in a pasture and during the landing the aircraft was substantially damaged. Post crash examination…NTSB SEA85LA164Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 · Idaho City, IDShortly after takeoff the pilot was unable to outclimb rising terrain. A tree was struck with the left wing tip. And shortly afterwards the aircraft mushed into trees. Density altitude at the time of takeoff computed to be about 6000 feet. The aircraft was…NTSB NYC85LA177Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-76A · Hartford, CTThe apch to the pvt helipad was uneventful up to the last 100 ft where the plts noticed a high sink rate. The plt increased collective to correct for the situation. At about 20 ft from touchdown point the plt noticed a decrease in RPM and realized that they…