NTSB investigations
180,658 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,636 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 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 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 LAX04CA122Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMcDonnell Douglas 369FF · Mesa, AZthe pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind gusts and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter, which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was a wind gust.NTSB DEN04LA044Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · West Jordan, UTthe failure of the exhaust valve for the engine's number one cylinder, resulting in the exhaust valve/piston contact and the subsequent total loss of engine power. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing and the snow…NTSB ATL04FA075Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Alma, GAThe pilot's inadequate in-flight decision, and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in continued VFR flight into IMC and the subsequent collision with trees during approach.NTSB ANC04FA021Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech J35 · Pensacola, FLThe pilot's improper decision to conduct flight that exceeded his demonstrated skills/ability. Also causal was his failure to properly execute the instrument approach. Contributing factors were low ceiling, fog, and the pilot's lack of the appropriate…NTSB MIA04CA053Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAmerican Champion 7GCAA · Sebring, FLThe pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing rollout which resulted in the airplane ground looping and incurring damage.NTSB LAX04CA121Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 47-G3B2 · Salome, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from trees while approaching the landing zone.NTSB IAD04CA010Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-20 · West Ossipee, NHThe pilot's inability to maintain runway alignment during the landing rollout. Factors included the night lighting conditions and the snow banks that prevented visual reference to the runway lights.NTSB SEA04LA040Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLancair LC42-550FG · Redmond, ORThe pilot rated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Inadequate supervision by the pilot-in-command (CFI) and a taxiway sign were factors.NTSB DCA04WA026Accident · 46 fatalForeign investigationFokker 50 · Sharjah AirportNTSB ANC04LA032Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Toksook Bay, AKThe pilot's inadequate planning and decision to initiate a takeoff into a crosswind that exceeded the airplane's demonstrated crosswind component, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, and subsequent collision with terrain…NTSB NYC04LA071Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Collegeville, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during approach to the runway. Factors in the accident were the dark night and snowbank.NTSB NYC04CA066Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Grt. Barrington, MAThe pilot's misjudgment of the airplane's distance/speed and failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an overrun. A factor was the cross wind.NTSB LAX04WA128Accident · Serious injuriesForeign investigationRobinson R22 · Bribie Island, AustraliaNTSB CHI04LA065Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 402B · Sturgis, MIThe failure to maintain obstacle clearance during an intentional low altitude maneuver and the ostentatious display by the pilot-in-command. A factor to the accident was the tree.NTSB ANC04LA031Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182M · Yakutat, AKThe pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat, which resulted in an engine power loss during takeoff-initial climb, a forced landing, and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of carburetor icing conditions.NTSB SEA04LA039Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · McCall, IDThe failure of the right rear ski cable and the owner's improper substitution of the right rear ski cable with an unapproved ski cable. A factor was the slushy snow.NTSB FTW04LA071Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech BE-23 · Mena, ARThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's misjudgment of altitude and distance during the forced landing which resulted in a collision with trees and transmission wires.NTSB CHI04LA063Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA 28-161 · Lansing, ILThe improper flare by the pilot due to his diverted attention during landing. Factors were the pilot's failure to execute a go-around, the overload of the right main landing gear, and the snowbank.NTSB NYC04LA065Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150F · Suffolk, VAThe failure of the number four cylinder barrel due to fatigue which originated from a corrosion pit at the base of a cooling fin.NTSB NYC04CA064Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172M · Cumberland, MDThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind while landing. A factor was the crosswind.NTSB LAX04WA120Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-28R-200 · Lake Eildon, AustraliaNTSB LAX04CA134Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Groveland, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path and misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a loss of directional control and collision with terrainNTSB LAX04CA118Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMooney M20C · Mesa, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with an airport sign.NTSB LAX04CA117Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna A185F · Fowler, CAthe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.NTSB FTW04LA072Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172-SP · McKinney, TXThe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the take-off roll.NTSB CHI04LA064Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Lone Rock, WIThe pilot's continued flight into icing conditions resulting in ice accretion on the wing and his failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall.NTSB CHI04CA067Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172N · Cahokia, ILThe inadequate supervision by the certified flight instructor which lead to the student pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the snowbank during the landing. The snowbank was a factor.NTSB ATL04LA074Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Summerville, SCThe pilot's inadequate start procedure, which resulted in a run-away airplane.NTSB LAX04LA119Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182S · Phoenix, AZthe pilot's misjudged landing flare, which led to a hard touchdown and a porpoise.NTSB DEN04FA043Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T206H · Walcott, WYThe pilot not following proper IFR procedures for tracking a VOR radial while on an IFR flight plan in IMC conditions, and not maintaining clearance with terrain during cruise flight. Contributing factors were the mountain, and the cloudy weather condition.NTSB IAD04CA009Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172R · Fredrick, MDThe student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. A factor was the snow bank.NTSB MIA04LA050Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M20K · Immokalee, FLA loss of engine power due to the airplane mechanic's improper maintenance/installation and failure to ensure that the B-nut on the inlet side of the fuel manifold was properly tightened, which resulted in a fuel leak, and fuel starvation.NTSB ATL04IA073Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 208B · Auburn, ALThe fatigue fracture of the wire rope portion on the rudder control cable assembly due to improper installation and inadequate procedures by the aircraft manufacturer.NTSB LAX04LA112Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Palmdale, CAloss of engine power for undetermined reasons.NTSB FTW04LA070Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-235 · Knox City, TXThe pilot's attempt to land on terrain not suitable for landing. A contributing factor was the soft terrain.NTSB NYC04LA063Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSaab-Scania 340A · Pittsburgh, PAThe failure of the baggage cart E-hitch pin, which resulted in the baggage cart separating from its tug, and subsequently impacting a parked airplane.NTSB LAX04LA111Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T210L · Goodyear, AZThe pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.NTSB MIA04FA049Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech C90 · Homestead, FLThe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in an encounter with rain showers and turbulence, a loss of aircraft control, and overstress of the airframe.NTSB LAX04LA110Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportTailwind W-8 · San Pedro, CAThe pilot's incapacitation during descent, which resulted in a loss of control and an in-flight collision with water.NTSB LAX04FA113Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 414A · Laupahoehoe, HIthe pilot's disregard for an in-flight weather advisory, his likely encounter with marginal VFR or IMC weather conditions, his decision to continue flight into those conditions, and failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude resulting in an…NTSB NYC04LA062Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 35A · Akron, OHAn improperly maintained ramp area, which resulted in a loss of airplane control while taxiing on ice. Factors in this accident were, high winds, and the down-sloping ramp.NTSB LAX04CA115Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Placerville, CAthe pilot's failure to attain a proper glide path during the final approach and delayed go-around, resulting in an undershoot of the runway. The inadequate supervision of the flight and flight instructor's delayed remedial action was also causal.NTSB ATL04LA072Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-135 · Indian Trail, NCThe pilot's attempted lift off without adequate airspeed resulting in a stall/mush and collision with trees while transitioning from an aborted landing to takeoff climb. A factor was the crosswind condition.NTSB SEA04LA038Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Rigby, IDThe flight instructor's failure to follow procedures, i.e., operating the non-icing certified aircraft in known icing conditions contrary to the pilot operators handbook which resulted in ice accretion and ultimately a stall and loss of control in flight.…NTSB FTW04LA067Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206-L4 · Patterson, LAThe in-flight separation of the helicopter's left winglet due to pre-existing cracks resulting in the winglet striking the tail rotor in-flight, and subsequent loss of directional control.NTSB CHI04LA062Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Jeffersonville, INThe pilot selecting a closed runway for landing and the collapse of the nose landing gear. Factors were the pilot's failure to obtain NOTAM information and the snowbank across the closed runway.NTSB MIA04WA051Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationAir Tractor AT-802 · Los Angeles, ChileNTSB DEN04LA046Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Bountiful, UTthe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and adequate visual outlook during the landing flare. Contributing factors include the pilot's lack of recent experience, the snow bank, and the snow-covered runway.NTSB ATL04FA071Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150G · High Falls, GAThe pilot's impairment due to alcohol which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, inadvertent stall, and subsequent in-flight collision with trees.NTSB SEA04LA036Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Turner, ORThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect contaminated fuel. A collapsed fuel screen was a contributing factor.