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
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\") = 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 NYC85LA172Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech 36 · Calverton, NYThe pilot of N9031S was advised that nantucket memorial airport was in IFR conditions and decided to turn back towards long island. During the flight to long island, N9031S lost radio communications and soon electrical power to the navigational equipment. The…NTSB NYC85LA170Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301T · Provincetown, MADuring arrival, the acft was vectored for an ILS rwy 7 apch which was made with a tail wind. On his 1st attempt, the plt made a missed apch & was vectored for another ILS. After making a 2nd apch, he landed. The plt stated that while he was landing, he…NTSB NYC85FA166Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-250 · Tioga, PAThe plt initiated a downwind landing on a grass rwy that sloped mostly uphill, but began sloping downhill at its departure end. A witness near the apch end of the 2150 ft rwy watched the acft touch down beyond its midpoint, then disappear over its crested…NTSB MKC85LA165Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportde Havilland DH 82A · Ames, IAThe owner had given the plt permission to fly the acft & the plt elected to take a passenger in the front seat. After the accident, the plt stated that he was making a hi speed taxi run on the grass on the right side of the rwy. He reported that the lower…NTSB MKC85LA155Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech 95-A55 · Salina, KSThe plt stated that he was receiving a multi-engine flight check from a designated flt examiner. They were still rolling after a landing when the examiner requested a go-around. The plt said that after advancing the throttles, he reached for the flap switch &…NTSB MKC85LA154Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 170A · Camdenton, MON5593C took off on rwy 25 which has a hill off the west end. The wind was from the west at 10 to 13 knots and the temperature was 95 deg f. the plt said the acft encountered a downdraft as it approached the hill during the initial climb. The plt became…NTSB MIA85LA210Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 177B · Cedar Key, FLThe plt reported that shortly after taking off, while flying at 1400 ft, there was a strong odor of fuel in the cabin, then the eng lost power. He was unable to restart the eng & subsequently ditched the acft in the gulf of Mexico about 1/4 mi south of Cedar…NTSB LAX85LVM04Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportLarry Robbins Bakeng Duce · Gilroy, CAThe acft crashed after circling a ground fire at about 500 ft AGL. The plt said that she was watching the grnd fire when suddenly the acft dropped to the left. She added power and applied opposite rudder but the acft did not recover. She does not remember…NTSB LAX85LA317Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R-22A · Piru, CAThe flight instructor instructed the 25-hour student plt to perform an autorotation with a pwr recovery at 20 ft AGL. The instructor became aware too late that the student was 'dead locked' on the controls and he was unable to recover prior to touchdown. A…NTSB FTW85LA285Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRyan ST3KR (PT-22) · Hondo, TXThe plt was on a x-country flt. Near the destination the eng experienced sudden seizure and all eng pwr was lost. The plt attempted an emergency landing but collided with a pwr line which resulted in substantial damage to the acft. The cause of the loss of…NTSB DEN85LA188Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301T · Glen Canyon, UTThe plt said that during the takeoff roll at night from an unlit runway, he was distracted when the engine overboost light illuminated. The investigation revealed, however, that the plt was actually trying to avoid colliding with an airplane at the other end…NTSB CHI85LA286Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · Appleton, WIAs the plt applied brakes during a full stop landing, the right brake failed. The plt then maneuvered the acft off the paved landing surface in an attempt to get it to roll to a stop. The right landing gear strut collapsed. The acft then slid into a fence and…NTSB CHI85FA284Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportEipper MX Super · Almont, MIWitnesses reported the acft was in an inverted flight aprx 60 to 70 ft AGL before it entered a split 's' maneuver and descended to ground impact. The plt was performing aerobatics in an airshow when the accident occurred. The plt's aerobatic waiver had…NTSB ATL85LA212Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182C · Lugoff, SCThe plt transported a load of skydivers to alt & was returning to the airstrip. During arrival, he decided to practice a simulated eng out landing. While on an apch with full flaps, the plt elected to slip the acft. As he was transitioning from a side slip to…NTSB ATL85LA211Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 M · Statesville, NCWhile en route, the plt encountered reduced visibility & had difficulty finding the airstrip. His 1st apch to land was high & he made a go-around. The plt landed on his 2nd attempt, but was unable to stop on the wet grass rwy. He delayed attempting a…NTSB SEA85LA163Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38-112 · American Falls, IDThe student solo x-country flt departed ogden, UT, at aprx 1130 MDT and made a touch & go at black foot, ID, at aprx 135 MDT. The plt stated the landing was a little rough and due to the distraction, he forgot to switch fuel tanks. Fuel exhaustion occurred at…NTSB NYC85LA171Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBurkhart Grob G-109B · Pittstown, NJThe approach to runway 08 was normal, however it was long. Although the approach was not too long to land, the student applied full power and decided to go around. The ins tructor took control of the aircraft after realizing that clearing the trees would be…NTSB NYC85LA167Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA28-151 · Chatham, MADuring the final approach to runway 24, the aircraft was too high and fast. The pilot decided to land on the runway instead of going around. According to the pilot, the aircraft landed too FAR down the runway and went over the end.NTSB MKC85LA157Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoeing A75N1 · Earle, ARThe plt reports that the propeller ran away when the acft was at 75 ft AGL on final apch for landing at a pvt airstrip. The plt said he was to low to correct the propeller malfunction and was forced to land in a bean field adjacent to the strip. An FAA…NTSB LAX85LA318Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman AA-1B · Paso Robles, CAThe Paso Robles (prb) flight service station air traffic control specialist reptd that the pilot radioed that the aircraft ran out of fuel abt 5 miles so of prb. Examination of the wreckage disclsed both wing fuel tanks contained less that 1 gallon of fuel in…NTSB DEN85LA187Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Kiowa, COThe acft collided with a telephone wire and crashed. The plt admitted he had been flying over a boy scout ranch at 7500 ft MSL (about 500 ft AGL). He could not recall any other details. One witness said he saw the acft cross in front of his pickup truck at…NTSB CHI85LA297Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22 · Iola, WIUpon takeoff at approximately 100 ft AGL the pilot experienced a partial power loss which necessitated a forced landing in a soft, wet potato field. The pilot had time to switch fuel tanks and magnetos prior to touchdown, but the power loss remained constant.…NTSB CHI85LA287Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Stoughton, WIUpon landing following a normal 70 knot final approach the aircraft initially touched down one-third of the way down the 2500 ft grass runway. A bounce carried the aircraft to a point halfway down the runway where the aircraft landed in a full stall. The…NTSB CHI85LA285Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · North Canton, OHThe preflight, engine runup and initial takeoff were uneventful. At approx 600 ft AGL the engine sputtered for two or three seconds then stopped. The pilot turned back toward the runway but was too low. He crash landed in a gravel quarry after clipping power…NTSB BFO85LA058Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-260 · Middletown, DEFollowing takeoff, at about 350 feet AGL, the engine quit abruptly. The plt attempted to land in a field which was located about 15 degrees east of the acft's heading. While attempting to avoid pwr lines near the field, the right wing collided with the wires.…NTSB ATL85LA217Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Franklin, NCWhile in cruise flt eng RPM decreased. Plt actions to recover RPM were unsuccessful and eng eventually quit. A forced landing was made to an empty fld. On roll out the acft hit a concealed ditch resulting in substantial damage. Later, exmination of the eng…NTSB ATL85LA215Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech 95-B55 · Owensboro, KYThe plt had a single eng land rating & was preparing for a multi-eng check ride. While practicing a touch-&-go landing, the acft bounced. The plt applied power, made a go-around & landed without further incident. However, during a post-flt exam, substantial…NTSB ANC85LA131Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Barrow, AKThe plt reported that when he returned to the arpt, he made a 3-point landing in gusty x-wind conditions. Reportedly, the acft then ground looped & was damaged. At 1534 adt, the wind at Barrow was from 050 deg at 13 gusting 18 KTS.NTSB SEA85FA162Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B36TC · Idaho City, IDThe plt failed to obtain a preflt wx briefing prior to departing both butte, MT, and salmon, ID. En route at FL180 he entered instrument and icing conditions which he attempted to avoid by climbing to FL200. During the climb, the plt reported encountering…NTSB NYC85LA169Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Cherry Valley, NYDurng a climb to cruise, theengine RPM dropped to 2000. The pilot check the carburetor heat and other instruments and did not find any abnormalities. The engine RPM dropped a second time to 1800 a sound described by the pilot as a loud band was heard and the…NTSB MIA85LA209Accident · 4 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Bahamas, BahamasThe acft failed to arrive at it's intended destination on a flt from nassau, Bahamas to opa locka arpt, miami, FL. The acft was reported missing by the miami fss. The U.S. Coast guard initiated a search on 07-12-85 at about 1831 EDT & search was suspended on…NTSB LAX85FA315Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206-B · Page, AZOn July 12, 1984, a Bell 206B helicopter collided with a steel bridge 10 miles so of Page, AZ. The helicopter was being filmed in flt during the making of a movie. VMC existed at the time. The helicopter was destroyed and the plt and pax, an italian actor,…NTSB FTW85LA291Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A185F · Patterson, LAThe acft was substantially damaged when it was rammed by a speed boat after it had landed on a canal and was water taxiing to its tie down area. The boat came out of a crossing canal at high speed and struck the amphib in the area of the left float. The boat…NTSB FTW85LA286Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T210N · College Station, TXAbout 25 minutes after takeoff from a planned intermediate stop, the right fuel tank ran dry. After switching tanks, theplt decided to divert to a nearby arpt to refuel. During the descent, the left fuel tank ran dry and the eng quit due to fuel exhaustion.…NTSB FTW85FA283Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 35A · Fort Worth, TXThis acft ran off the departure end of the 4001' runway following a normal approach, touchdown and initial braking. After about 1000' of norm braking, the acft began a drift to the right which was partially overcome by full left rudder and asymmetrical…NTSB DEN85FA186Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Aspen, COCFI and student departed Aspen, Colorado, on a dual x-country flt. The density altitude at the time of departure was calculated to be 9954 feet. The CFI directed student to fly up a canyon in an area of rising terrain. The CFI took control of acft and was…NTSB DEN85FA179Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper J3C-65 · Columbus, MTAfter making a low pass over his pax home, the plt pulled the acft up abruptly and stalled at a very low altitude. The alt was too low for the plt to effect a successful recovery before ground impact.NTSB CHI85LA289Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBensen B8M · Hebron, OHThe gyrocopter lost partial pwr while in the traffic pattern and the plt executed an autorotation into a corn field. The throttle cable was found loose after the accident.NTSB SEA85LA161Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M20-F · Salem, ORThe acft was substantially damaged during an inadvertant gear-up landing. Inspection of the acft revealed the landing gear circuit breaker was popped. When functionally tested, the landing gear operated normally. The gear warning horn was found to be…NTSB NYC85LA194Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMaule MX-7-235 · Savoy, MAThe pilot was attempting to land on a dirt runway approximately 800 feet long with a small dirt embankment at the threshold. During the approach, the aircraft landed short and the landing gear collided with the embankment. The aircraft nosed over and came to…NTSB NYC85LA165Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech C23 · Penn Yan, NYThe plt was familiar with the arpt, during the landing the plt observed the wind sock indicating calm winds and the acft was landed into the sun. During the landing roll, pwr was added for takeoff. When the acft was aprx 2/3 the way down the rwy, the plt…NTSB NYC85LA164Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182M · Block Island, RIThe plt was checked out in the C-182 on July 9, 1985 and had flown this acft for 1 hr in the previous year. During a normal power off landing with ten degrees of flaps extended, the plt added power and noticed no change in performance. The acft touched down…NTSB NYC85FA163Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportMitsubishi MU-2B-26 · Southbridge, MADuring lndg the acft impacted hard and skidded down the rwy before it went off the left side of the rwy. The left main wheel separted and the nose gear collapsed. Both plts stated the lndg apch was normal until the acft was aprx 15 ftabove the rwy at which…NTSB MKC85LA153Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Olathe, KSPlt stated that she used left aileron and right rudder for x-wind correction and did not release the rudder pressure on touchdown. The acft went off side of rwy, crossed a taxiway, went down an embankment and through a fence into a plowed field where it nosed…NTSB MKC85FCQ05Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportCessna 150M · Manhattan, KSThe acft contacted the terrain aprx 175 yds short of rwy 21 and aprx 50 ft right of the centerline. A witness reported the acft appeared slow on final apch and it was rolling slightly from side to side. The nose of the acft then suddenly dropped and the acft…NTSB LAX85LA313Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Sawmill, AZDuring the plt's preflight inspection of his acft, he removed the fuel caps to examine the quantity of fuel in the acft's tanks. Thereafter, he failed to securely refasten the caps. At 0700 MST the plt & his 2 pax departed for a planned flt from AZ to co. 56…NTSB LAX85FA314Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20J · Antioch, CAThe acft crashed into a reservoir shortly after departing the Antioch arpt. There were no eye witnesses to the crash. However, an ear witness stated that he heard the acft skipping along the water like the sound of a hydro-plane. He did not hear the eng, but…NTSB FTW85LA284Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman AA5B · Sonora, TXWhile landing at an unfamiliar strip, the plt observed a rough surface at the apch end, and landed one halfway down the down-sloping 2300 ft rwy. He tried to go around, but could not accelerate enough, and the acft rolled thru 2 fences, trees, then stopped…NTSB FTW85FA282Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale AS-350D · Matagorda Islng, LAThe acft touched down hard during an attempted autorotation to an abandoned air base. Initial touchdown occurred on the stinger and the acft yawed to the left of rwy heading 30 to 40 degrees. The next touchdown was on the skids and the acft yawed further to…NTSB ANC85FA125Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Big Lake, AKThe glider plt was in training for a single eng land rating & was indorsed for solo flt. During her training, she & her instructor plt had landed at the Big Lake arpt. She thought that that was her approval to land there solo. However, there were sandy soft…