NTSB investigations, 1986
180,616 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,594 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\") = 1986 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") = 1986 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 ATL87LA043Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLuscombe 8A · Morganton, NCPlt reptd doing LCL flying for about one hr after dept from pvt grass strip. Made apch and ldg at Morganton-lenoir apt. On touchdown plt reptd bouncing, and being unable to recover before lt main gear collapsed and lt wing dragged. Plt stated that he felt…NTSB NYC87LA012Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280C · Newport, RIAircraft descended and collided with water when the pilot attempted to regain visual ground reference when weather deteriorated. No plt acc report was received. Plt time was not reported or available.NTSB MKC87LA031Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Olathe, KSDuring landing airplane ballooned due to wind gust. After touchdown. Airplane veered left and duirng pilot's correction, the left main landing gear leg broke off. Metallurgical evaluation revealed a previous fatigue failure in the fracture surface.NTSB MKC87FA030Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Grain Valley, MOThe pilot stated, after takeoff the engine sputtered and began losing power during initial climb. According to the pilot, he tried to land on a highway but there were numerous vehicles in transit and he decided to attempt an off-airport landing. On initial…NTSB LAX87LA062Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-235 · Hayward, CAA Piper PA-28-235 collided with a dirt bank after a loss of power while on a night VFR pleasure flight. The plt indicated that aprx 3 min after takeoff while cruising at 1,400 ft MSL the engine RPM abruptly decreased to idle. The fuel selector control was…NTSB CHI87LA044Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T303 · Benton Harbor, MIThe plt was flying to Benton Harbor to get work done on a continuing problem with the right eng throttle. On final apch, the plt did not get a gear down indication and tried to cycle the gear. Not sure that the gear was down, the plt choose to go-around. When…NTSB CHI87IA047Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportFairchild SA226TC · Paducah, KYJust after the beginning of a descent for landing a rudder cable failed completely, rendering the rudder inoperative. The aircraft landed uneventfully. Metallurgical analysis revealed that the cable wore severely until it failed. Following an examination of…NTSB CHI87FA048Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · N. Manitou Isl., MIThe plt had recvd an unfavorable wx brief that included a SIGMET on flt icing. Enroute during flt over a large body of water he experienced power loss and was at too low a altitude to glide to shore. The plt attempted to ld on a island but crashed in a lake.NTSB MIA87FA047Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech C-55 · Ivel, KYThe plt who was originally scheduled to make the charter flt to pick up the pax was reluctant to do so due to low ceilings in the mountainous area at the destination. The owner of the company took the flt & the flt was observed by witnesses near the…NTSB CHI87MA053Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Cross Plaines, INThe plt & observer were on a power line patrol flt. While proceeding southbound, they apchd an area were the lines were about 23 ft AGL & were crossed by another set of power lines, oriented in an east-west direction. The other power lines were about 45 ft…NTSB ATL87MA041Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 100 · Windsor, MADrg arr for a LOC rwy 26 apch, the plt was adzd the abyss fan marker was notamed out-of-svc. With abyss inop, min dscnt alt (mda) was 2200'. After N65TD was clrd for the apch, radar svc was terminated & the flt was clrd to adzy freq. The crew contacted UNICOM…NTSB ATL87LA040Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269C · Charlotte, NCWhile flying at 300' to 500' AGL on a cable patrol flt, the plt heard a loud loise. The rotor RPM started to decay & the eng RPM increased sharply. The plt initiated an autorotation to a parking lot, but had to maneuver to avoid trees & a vehicle. The…NTSB MIA87FA046Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369HS · Zephyrhills, FLA witness stated that she heard the eng on the helicopter quit. She looked out her window and watched the helicopter hit the ground, bounce, hit again, flip over and the tail broke off. The helicopter then burst into flames and exploded. Exam of the eng…NTSB LAX87LA060Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M20C · Michigan Bar, CADuring the flare, just prior to touchdown, a deer ran across the runway from the right and subsequently collided with the left wing of the aircraft. The pilot reported there was no time to avoid an impact.NTSB FTW87LA030Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 305A · Mason, TXPrivate pilot of Cessna 305A ferrying aircraft from glascow, MT. To mc allen TX. Engine failed approximately 1 1/2 hours after departure from graham TX. Pilot attempted downwind landing on farm-to-market road and struck tree. Aircraft was destroyed. Pilot and…NTSB ATL87FA039Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Madison, GAAlthough there were no witnesses to the crash, one witness did observe the acft taxiing at a very slow speed toward the dept end of the rwy. Abt 30 mins later the wreckage was fd in a fld east of the airstrip. Exam indicated it collided w the gd in a near…NTSB CHI87LA042Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152II · Anoka, MNThe acft was on the fifth touch & go of the student plt training flt when a loss of power occurred at 100-200 ft AGL during climbout. The CFI had to land the acft in unsuitable terrain which resulted in substantial damage to the acft. Examination of eng and…NTSB SEA87MA035Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna TU206G · Jean, NVWhile en route at night on an IFR flt plan, the acft ran out of fuel. Subsequently, the plt was provided vectors toward a hiway for a forced lndg. However, before reaching the area of the hiway, the acft crashed on rising terrain at an elev of about 4000 ft.…NTSB SEA87LA020Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 414A · Murtaugh, IDDuring the transition from a DME arc to the ILS final apch course, the plt allowed the acft to prematurely descend into the ground. The reason for the descent could not be determined. However, no pre-impact mechanical malfunction with the acft was found nor…NTSB NYC87LA046Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech B23 · Trenton, METhe plt rprtd that after takeoff, the acft had climbed to 600 ft & was climbing at 300 ft/min, when the eng 'started to labor,' then quit running. He used carburetor heat & 'primed through power reduction,' but the eng would not restart. During an emerg lndg…NTSB MIA87FA045Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportNorth American Rockwell 112 · Jacksonville, FLThe acft, being flown by a non-instrument rated plt, appeared over the arpt without making contact with the tower while the arpt was under instrument flt conditions and the control zone was in operation. After making several erratic passes the plt contacted…NTSB LAX87LA059Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Davis, CAA Cessna 152 nosed over in a rough plowed field after a partial loss of power while on a night VFR pleasure flight. The pilot indicated that he was on a date with his girl friend and offered to demonstrate negative gravity to her. He slowed the aircraft and…NTSB FTW87FA029Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Petersburg, TXAcft impacted in a 95 deg nose down attitude following a loss of control in IMC conditions while the non-instrument rated pvt plt was being vectored to the final app crs. Plt had filed IFR and had experienced difficulties thru out the flt. As he was given…NTSB ATL87LA037Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Cullowhee, NCAfter not flying for about 7 yrs, the plt obtained flt instruction in preparation for a biennial flt review. His 1st flt was completed 4 days prior to the acdnt. The acdnt flt was to be devoted primarily to takeoffs & landings. The student plt was rprtd to…NTSB ATL87FA038Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 185D · Hammonton, NJThe mid-air collision occurred while the Cessna 185 was attempting a steep climbout during takeoff from rwy 21 and the Mooney was making a landing to the same runway. Another aircraft attemped to warn both aircraft over the UNICOM freq. Neither aircraft…NTSB ANC87LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Shageluk, AKThe pilot stated he encountered freezing rain and due to the build-up on the aircraft, he stalled and crashed in an open area next to the airport.NTSB NYC87LA048Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Poestenkill, NYThe pilot touched down hard, added power for a go around. Sluggish engine did not have enough power to clear trees at the end of the runway. Aircraft collided with trees. The plt after the acc said that after cutting off the carb head the eng seemed sluggish.…NTSB NYC87LA047Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J-3 · East Moriches, NYDuring the takeoff roll on an instructional solo flight, the flight encountered a crosswind which pushed the Piper off the runway to the left colliding with trees and bush.NTSB NYC87FA045Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Carlisle, PAThe student pilot flying a Cessna 152 scheduled his flight period so it coincided with another student pilot flying a Cessna 172. The pilot of the Cessna 172 reported seeing the Cessna 152 enter a two turn spin and recover. He then said he lost sight of the…NTSB MIA87LA044Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150K · Apollo Beach, FLWhile in cruise flt at 600 feet a sudden loss of engine power occurred. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and the aircraft was ditched. Post accident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The icing…NTSB MIA87LA042Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T210L · Miami, FLThe eng lost power while the acft was in cruise flt at 6000' over the atlantic ocean, aprx 6 hrs & 32 min after takeoff. Subsequently, the acft was ditched in the ocean when the eng could not be restarted. The acft then sank & was not recovered. Calculations…NTSB LAX87LA061Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182Q · San Rafael, CADuring an instructional flight, the student pilot was not aligned properly with the runway. The flight instructor (CFI) took control of the aircraft on final, but he stated that it did not respond when he applied rudder control. After touchdown, the aircraft…NTSB FTW87LA028Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-180 · Montgomery, TXA private pilot check ride was interrupted by a forced landing on a golf course after having experienced severe vibrations and a loss of power. During the forced landing the acft collided with a 10 ft tall tree and nosed down to terrain impact. Investigation…NTSB FTW87LA027Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150K · Georgetown, TXThe plt experienced a loss of pwr due to fuel exhaustion during the x-country flt. The plt elected to divert to Georgetown, TX, during the flt to refuel. The engine quit aprx 4 to 6 miles north of the aprt. The plt attempted to make the arpt with inadequate…NTSB DEN87LA029Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Havre, MTThe plt inadvertently stalled the acft during pull-up after making a pass 20 ft above coyotes on the ground. The acft impacted level terrain and slid through a wire fence.NTSB CHI87LA043Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA28-151 · Marquette, MIWhile on landing rollout the student pilot skidded off the left side of the runway and collided with a snowbank. The student stated he was holding excessive left rudder and brake pressure.NTSB CHI87DEM05Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportCessna T210L · Lawton, MIThe plt experienced a loss of control shortly after takeoff which resulted in an uncontrolled descent. The acft struck the ground with its left wingtip causing it to flip over onto its side. The plt reported that the auto-plt had been worked on after having…NTSB ATL87LA036Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSikorsky UH-19D · Roanoke Rapids, NCThe plt said he was spreading fertilizer on trees when he heard a loud noise from the eng & the helicopter yawed left. At that time, the helicopter's alt & speed were about 100 ft & 40 KTS. Collective was raised to clear tree tops & reach a clearing. Before…NTSB MIA87WA043Accident · Minor injuriesForeign investigationBeech 95-B55 · Cay Sal, BahamasNTSB LAX87DUJ02Accident · No injuriesFinal reportGrumman G-164 · Chandler, AZThe acft collided with power lines during an aerial application flight. The pilot had made several passes prior to the accident and noticed the wires each time. Visibility was good, it was daylight conditions, and there were no mechanical problems.NTSB CHI87LA041Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Vergenns, ILAccording to the student pilot, while practicing emergency landings, he descended to about 250 feet AGL and then surrendered the controls to the instructor. The student pilot stated that the instructor immediately added full power and banked the acft to the…NTSB SEA87MA034Accident · 3 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Pendleton, ORThe helicopter departed Pendleton on an emerg med svc/med-evac (EMS) flt to transport a patient to portland. After delivering the patient, the plt took off on the rtn flt with 2 med psnl aboard. Drg arrival at 1658 PST, he requested a special VFR (svfr)…NTSB FTW87LA026Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Durant, OKThe student plt noted a partial power loss while practicing multiple touch-and-go landings. She stated that after she had turned on a downwind, she heard 'a different sound' from the eng and it appeared to lose power. During an apch for an off arpt landing,…NTSB ANC87LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna U206G · Uganik Pass, AKThe pilot stated that he encountered a complete white-out condition; he started a turn to the left and struck the top of the ridge at the 1780 foot level.NTSB NYC87DNC03Accident · No injuriesFinal reportAero Commander 680 · Barre, VTWitness observed the acft touchdown about 2000 feet down 5001 foot rwy. The rwy was reported wet and icy in spots at the north end only. The acft overran the rwys end and went down into a ravine about 25 ft below rwy level. There was no indication of…NTSB MKC87LA028Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman-Schweizer G-164B-600 · Earle, ARThe pilot stated that the powerplant was performing normally during initial climb when, suddenly, the engine experienced a power loss after backfiring. Immediate remedial action resulted in a partial power output but not enough to sustain flight. Emergency…NTSB FTW87FA025Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Baytown, TXThe plt took off from a decommissioned, unlighted arpt at night after telling friends in a bar that he was going to new orleans. Later, witnesses observed the acft as the plt made several low passes over an interstate highway near the departure arpt. While…NTSB ATL87MA035Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 206L-1 · Jamestown, TNThe helicopter was being used in an emerg med svc/med-evac (EMS) opn. At 0230, the plt obtained a partial wx briefing. He was advised of flt prctns for IFR wx thru-out the area with low ceilings, fog, precip & mtns obscd. The flt departed nashville at 0245 &…NTSB ATL87IA034Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportde Havilland DHC-8-101 · Atlanta, GAAt about 4,000 ft MSL, cpt on sch dom flt reported loud pop and sub shutdown of rt eng. Smell of smoke and visual confirmation of fire in rt nacelle. Ships fire ext activated during return to dept. Arpt. Landed without further incident. Investigation revld…NTSB ANC87LA017Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Skwentna, AKThe pilot lost directional control of the aircraft on touchdown. Examination of the brake system revealed the left brake was frozen.