NTSB investigations, 2020
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\") = 2020 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") = 2020 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 ERA21WA034AccidentClass 4 · ForeignRobinson R44 · Cervinia, ItalyNTSB ERA21LA030Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman AA5 · Baxley, GAA partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA21FA029Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Dunnellon, FLA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing was the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.NTSB CEN21FA026Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGrumman AA5 · Woodbranch, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation.NTSB WPR21LA028Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T210K · Los Alamos, NMThe pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in the airplane landing with the landing gear retracted.NTSB WPR21LA023Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Carefree, AZThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.NTSB WPR21FA025Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportLancair 235 · Cordes Lakes, AZThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin and a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of aerobatic experience in the accident…NTSB DCA21WA010Accident · Minor injuriesClass 5 · ForeignEmbraer EMB145 · Freeport, BahamasNTSB CEN21LA057Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Tishomingo, OKThe pilot’s improper adjustment of the engine mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was a disconnected oil temperature connector, which was likely damaged during maintenance before the accident flight…NTSB CEN21LA029Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Geuda Springs, KSThe pilot’s failure to determine the airplane’s takeoff performance from an off-airport field which resulted in an aborted takeoff and impact with a fence and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the delayed aborted takeoff.NTSB CEN21LA027Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCcx-2000-0081 CCX-2000 · Longmont, COThe pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane during landing.NTSB WPR21WA089Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCessna 182 · Cheworez, ZimbabweNTSB WPR21LA022Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3-C65 · El Cajon, CAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.NTSB ENG21WA004IncidentClass 5 · ForeignAirbus A320 · Brisbane, AustraliaNTSB WPR21WA026AccidentClass 4 · ForeignPiper PA46 · Limpopo Province, South AfricaNTSB DCA21LA011Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLearjet 60 · Wheeling, ILThe flight crew's misidentification of the landing runway, which resulted in a runway overrun and the airplane’s impact with the airport perimeter fence.NTSB CEN21LA041Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Xenia, OHThe airplane’s impact with a deer during takeoff.NTSB WPR21LA024Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Rock Springs, WYThe separation of the control grip which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during takeoff, and collision with terrain.NTSB WPR21LA020Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Show Low, AZA partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve.NTSB WPR21LA019Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGlasair III · Hayward, CAA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because of a clogged fuel filter. Contributing to the accident was the improper maintenance and inspection of the fuel filter.NTSB ERA21LA028Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Point Lookout, NYThe pilot’s decision to depart on a visual flight rules flight, and to continue that flight into forecasted and deteriorating instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in a helicopter that was not equipped for flight in IMC, which resulted in the pilot’s…NTSB CEN21LA031Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Buda, TXAn improperly torqued oil line fitting during an engine overhaul, which resulted in oil exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.NTSB CEN21FA025Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech V35 · Slidell, LAThe pilot’s loss of control shortly after departure for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.NTSB ENG21WA050Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignSikorsky S92 · Sola, NorwayNTSB DCA21WA008Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 727 · Valencia, VenezuelaNTSB CEN21FA024Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGlasair III · Ford Heights, ILThe loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.NTSB ANC21LA002Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 185 · Anchorage, AKThe pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion onto soft terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot while…NTSB WPR21LA017Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Puyallup, WAA partial loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing and the flight instructors failure to use carburetor heat.NTSB WPR21LA016Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A1 · Moses Lake, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from telephone wires while on final approach for landing which resulted in a collision.NTSB ERA21LA025Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAero Bristell Bristell LSA · Carlisle, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an attempted go-around in gusty crosswinds.NTSB ERA21LA024Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R22 · Winder, GAMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the engine cooling fan attachment bolts, leading to vibration of the cooling fan, the overextension of the tension belt actuator, the failure of the drive system vee-belts, and the loss of power to the rotor…NTSB CEN21LA022Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182Q · Spearfish, SDThe snowplow driver’s failure to see the airplane which resulted in a collision with the airplane.NTSB CEN21LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Washington, WIThe pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during a hover and improper recovery action after the helicopter contacted the ground, which resulted in a dynamic rollover sequence and an impact with terrain.NTSB GAA21WA115Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignRobinson R44 · Melili, KenyaNTSB CEN21LA032Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Columbus, MSThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing.NTSB WPR21LA021Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson R44 · Pahrump, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while hovering low over a body a water while facing into the sun, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent impact with the lake surface.NTSB ERA21LA023Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Zephyrhills, FLImproper torquing of the “B” nut at the fuel control unit, which led to a total loss of engine power and subsequent autorotation that resulted in substantial damage.NTSB CEN21LA020Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28 · Beloit, OHThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and inflight planning that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.NTSB CEN21LA018Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T182 · Houma, LAImpact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined with the available information.NTSB WPR21LA015Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 152 · South Hill, WAThe pilot’s failure to ensure that the fuel supply had been completely drained of water, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to water contamination.NTSB GAA21WA002Accident · 2 fatalClass 5 · ForeignRobinson R44 · Passa Tres, Rio Claro, BrazilNTSB ERA21LA027Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMuse Stol CH 750 · Sewanee, TNThe airplane’s encounter with a downdraft during the initial climb, which resulted in an impact with trees.NTSB ERA21LA022Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportChampion 7FC · Moneta, VAThe fight instructor’s failure to ensure that the fuel selector handle was in the correct position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation.NTSB ERA21LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 99 · Waterville, MEA failure of the right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket as a result of multiple areas of fatigue cracking.NTSB ERA21LA020Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAero Commander 100 · Citra, FLThe student pilot’s inadequate preflight planning likely due to impairment from ethanol, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing was his improper decision to depart from an unlit airstrip in dark night conditions.NTSB GAA21WA001Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · ForeignPiper PA28RT · Ubate-Cundinamarca, ColombiaNTSB ERA21LA032Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172N · Williston, FLThe pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB CEN21LA016Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportKitfox Classic 4 · New Carlisle, OHThe pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control of the airplane during landing, which caused the airplane to nose over during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the main landing gear modification which increased the airplane’s tendency to nose over…NTSB ERA21LA018Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportZenith Stol CH801 · Apison, TNA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of an incorrectly placarded fuel selector.NTSB WPR21LA012Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150 · Bishop, CAA loss of engine power due to the pilot’s inadvertent closure of the mixture control which starved the engine of fuel and resulted in a hard landing and collision with terrain.