NTSB investigations, 1997
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\") = 1997 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") = 1997 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 SEA97FA043Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R · Fort Smith, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Factors include the pilot inadvertently becoming lost/disoriented, the dark night (minimum ambient light), and mountainous/hilly terrain.NTSB LAX97LA083Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182H · Burbank, CAthe pilot's improper planning/decision concerning landing and taxiing in high wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavorable wind conditions, and the lack of crosswind limit information in the Cessna 182H Pilot's Operating Handbook…NTSB FTW97LA078Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportConsolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200 · Channelview, TXLoss of aircraft control due to the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. Factors were the crosswind, and the muddy terrain.NTSB LAX97FA082Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportFairchild SA227-AC · Bullhead City, AZfailure of the pilot(s) to use 'override' ignition as prescribed by checklist procedures during an encounter with icing conditions, which subsequently led to ice ingestion and dual engine flame-outs. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather…NTSB SEA97LA045Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportStinson 108-2 · Richland, WAfailure of the pilot to see-and-avoid an ultralight aircraft that was taxiing and had stopped in front of him.NTSB SEA97LA042Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150K · Helena, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control.NTSB FTW97TA075Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCessna 182Q · Cleburne, TXthe pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind, and the dirt bank which was parallel to the runway.NTSB FTW97LA076Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 140A · Albuquerque, NMThe fracture of the right main landing gear for an undetermined reason.NTSB NYC97LA041Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206A · Linden, NJthe pilot allowing the rotor RPM to decay and his failure to take remedial action in time to recover the autorotation.NTSB IAD97FA039Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerostar 601P · Chesapeake, VAfailure of the pilot to maintain proper altitude/clearance above the ground after takeoff. A related factor was the pilot's self-induced pressure to depart before the arrival of bad weather.NTSB SEA97FA041Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna P210N · Cambridge, IDthe pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Flight into adverse weather and turbulence were factors.NTSB MIA97LA056Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 441 · Lakeland, FLFailure of the electronic engine control, which caused an overtorque condition in the right engine that made directional control of the airplane not possible by the pilot when the power to the left engine was retarded to idle during the takeoff roll.NTSB MIA97FA057Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Edenton, NCthe pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors in this accident were: fog, the low ceiling, and the dark night.NTSB FTW97LA074Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech C90A · Rio Grande City, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the tower. Factors were the low ceilings and the pilot's diverted attention to his navigation.NTSB ATL97LA032Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Anderson, SCThe pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's improper level off.NTSB ANC97LA017Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185F · Nome, AKthe pilot's failure to properly verify the position of a fractured fuel selector handle, which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor related to the accident was: the fractured handle that allowed the fuel selector to be…NTSB MIA97LA058Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWaco WMF-5 · Kissimmee, FLthe pilot's failure to maintain direction control of the airplane after applying the brakes. A factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with this make and model airplane.NTSB MIA97LA055Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Florence, SCThe pilot-in-command's improper management of fuel resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.NTSB MIA97LA054Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150K · Daytona Beach, FLthe pilot's improper planning/decision, by failing to ensure there was sufficient fuel for continued flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent collision with objects (concrete blocks) during a forced landing. Factors relating to the accident…NTSB IAD97FA038Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Bittinger, MDVFR flight by the noninstrumented-rated pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which lead to spatial disorientation of the pilot, his loss of aircraft control, and an uncontrolled collision with the terrain. Factors relating to the accident…NTSB CHI97LA049Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGates Learjet LR35 · Kansas City, MOthe flightcrew's excessive airspeed and failure to attain a proper touchdown point on the runway. Factors were: the fog, wet runway, tailwind and improper procedures by the flight crew.