NTSB investigations, 1985
180,611 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,590 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 ATL86LA013Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M20E · Meridian, MSThe non-instrument rated pilot received a weather briefing before take-off and was advised that VFR flight was not recommended for a flight to chattanooga, TN. The pilot was unable to maintain VFR conditions and attempted a precision approach. While being…NTSB ATL86LA012Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Parkersburg, WVThe acft experienced a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion while on a baseleg for landing. The pilot elected to land in a corn field approx 1.5 miles short of the runway because he did not think he could make it to the runway. The plt was returning…NTSB NYC86LA024Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-38-112 · Norwood, MAThe plt stated a gust of wind was encountered when the acft was 5 ft from touchdown. The gust turned the acft 90 degs from the rwy heading. The plt applied pwr to avoid trees but was unsuccessful and a collision with the trees occurred. Winds were reportedly…NTSB NYC86LA022Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Bangor, METhe acft experienced and eng pwr loss on the return leg of a x-country solo instructional flt. Carb heat was applied and Bangor apch control was notified of the eng problem. The plts attempts to restart the eng failed and a landing was made in a fld where the…NTSB NYC86FA023Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Rochester, NHDuring landing approach to runway 32, the aircraft started to porpoise over the runway. The aircraft continued in this manner until it neared the end of the runway. The aircraft then started a slow climbing right turn just clearing nearby trees. The…NTSB MIA86LA020Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172F · Fort Walton Bch, FLThe acft collided with power lines & crashed to the ground during a forced landing necessitated by an eng failure. The x-country flt had been in the air for 4 hrs and 35 mins. The acft's fuel capacity is 40 gals & the plt stated that fuel consumption was aprx…NTSB LAX86LA028Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportS. Piccolotto/Dave Morss Cassutt SH-1 · San Carlos, CAThe acft experienced a loss of power shortly after departing ry 30, San Carlos airport, San Carlos, CA. The plt reptd that after experiencing the loss of power, he pumped the throttle. This action caused the engine to regain some power but not enough to…NTSB LAX86LA027Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172P · Fullerton, CADuring an instructional flt the student plt, who had a total of 5 hrs of flt time, attempted to land with the flaps extended to the 20 deg position. The acft ballooned, & the CFI took control & elected to complete the landing. Insufficient rwy remained & the…NTSB LAX86FA024Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportChampion 7ECA · Seal Beach, CABased upon prearranged plans, the plt & pax flew over the water for the purpose of photographing friends of theirs in sail boats. The plt rolled his acft into a medium bank & circled over the specified boat while his pax commenced taking photos. The plt,…NTSB CHI86FA017Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 47G-5 · Plainfield, WIThe acft crashed into trees and nosed into the wooded terrain after a loss of powr. The helicopter had been refueled the day before the acc. Normal fuel load was 20 gals. The plt had sprayed 20 acres & flown 9 miles to another field to spray but aborted due…NTSB ATL86MA011Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBeech 58P · Forsyth, GAThe flt was normal until the plt was tracking inbnd on the atlanta (atl) 128 deg radial twd the husky intxn & was told to make a 360 deg turn for spacing. After aprx 270 deg of turn, the plt was clrd to turn back inbnd, join the atl 128 deg radial & cont to…NTSB ANC86LA006Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182L · Anchorage, AKAircraft stalled and crashed into trees at takeoff end of private airstrip. Several witnesses reported seeing big pieces of crusted snow and ice flying off the aircraft during the takeoff run and climb. Takeoff was made up hill contrary to published…NTSB NYC86LA021Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Freeport, PAThe stu plt departed with 10.5 gals of fuel for a 48 mile x-country flt. While en route the plt became lost. Aprx 10 minutes of fuel remained when the plt spotted a arpt. She attempted to land at the arpt. During the apch to the rwy she made a go around when…NTSB NYC86LA020Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-15 · Lee Center, NYThe acft experienced a loss of control during an apch to the plt's pvt airstrip. After a pleasure flt of one-half hour, with no reported problems the acft returned to the arpt. On about a one-half mile final, the acft entered a steep left turn at about a 60…NTSB MKC86FCA01Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBede BD-5B · Cape Girardeau, MOThe owner/builder had hired the plt to test fly the acft on its initial flt. Shortly after takeoff, the plt transmitted that he had an eng problem. He was cleared for an immediate landing & entered a downwind for rwy 28. As he continued & was turning from a…NTSB MIA86LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech G35 · Destin, FLThe acft veered off rwy 14 and struck a rwy light and small trees during an attempted x-wind takeoff. The plt stated that he thought the x-wind was from the right, however, the surface winds were reported as 050 at 9 KTS with gusts 12 to 15 KTS, a left x-wind.NTSB FTW86LPA01Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCessna 150M · Arlington, TXThe acft nosed over over in a fld during a forced landing. The plt reported that the cockpit began filling with smoke shortly after takeoff. Shortly thereafter the eng quit. The acft traveled aprx 700 ft during the landing roll before the nose gear dug into…NTSB FTW86IA020Incident · Minor injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportLockheed L-1011-385-1 · Dallas/Ft.Worth, TXNo. 3 eng developed an exhaust stack fire during the second attempted start following taxi out. The 1st start was aborted when crew became aware of a 15 minute delay before takeoff. During the 2nd start, excess fuel torched in the combustors and the exhaust…NTSB CHI86LA020Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150L · Ashland, OHThe student pilot was on his second solo flt after he made six landings with his instructor. On the third touch and go the acft hit hard, bounced, stalled, and contacted the rwy in a nose down attitude. The student plt attempted recovery from the hard landing…NTSB CHI86LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Clinton, INBoth student plts were making an apch to the same rwy at the time. The Cessna 152 touched down and was in its landing roll when the Cessna 150 landed on top with its nose wheel and prop in the 152'S rear window.NTSB ANC86LAG04Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCessna 177 · Soldotna, AKThe plt stated that during the preflight inspection the right wing tank quick drain was frozen and the fuel strainer was not working correctly. After consulting with a mechanic, a takeoff was performed and the eng quit during initial climb. The acft contacted…NTSB NYC86LA025Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172N · Great Valley, NYAcft experienced windshear while landing at Great Valley, n.y. the plt attempted to make a go around, but was unsuccessful and landed in a corn field. The acft was substantially damaged, however, the private certificated plt was uninjured.NTSB NYC86FA017Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchweizer SGS-1-35C · North Conway, NHDuring an off airport landing attempt in a cleared corn field, the glider was approaching a treeline at an altitude of 10 to 20 ft AGL. Witnesses observed the glider pull up and bank to the left before falling nose first into the ground. The pilot's log book…NTSB MKC86LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Weeping Water, NEThe pilot stated that he was going too fast when he touched down on the short runway and should have made a go around. The airplane went off the end of the runway, went down a slope and impacted a piloe of rocks.NTSB MKC86LA016Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 7AC · Ogallala, NEWhile practicing touch and go landings the plt rptd that during the landing roll the left brake locked. The plt applied opposite rudder, but the acft veered off the left side of the rwy until striking a ditch which collapsed the gear. Inspection of the gear…NTSB MKC86LA015Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney MK21 · Warren, ARAt cruise level flt the plt rptd a malfunctioning engine. The plt was cleared to descend to an airport in the vicinity. The precautionary landing was initiated due to an oil pressure decline. Approaching for the landing the plt rptd the engine completely quit…NTSB MKC86FA017Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportSilvaggio Cassutt 111M · Plattsburg, MOThe acft was level, in cruise when the plt noticed high eng temperatures. He stated that he started a shallow climb and headed for the nearest arpt. En route to nearest arpt, smoke came into the cockpit and the plt heard a loud noise that was accompanied by…NTSB MIA86IA018Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportGrumman American AA-5 · Live Oak, FLThe acft made a downwind landing touching down long on the rwy. The acft could not be stopped & ran off the end of the rwy. The plt stated that he misread the windsock.NTSB MIA86IA017Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 402C · Miami, FLThe plt stated that he made a normal apch to rwy 12 buy on landing rollout as the nose of the acft touched down the nose gear ass'y folded & the acft slid to a stop, post crash examination of the acft revealed that the green light for the nose gear remained…NTSB LAX86LA026Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman American AA-5A · Flagstaff, AZThe plt reported that while sight-seeing in the vicinity of the grand canyon, he became disoriented and lost. The fuel in the left tank was exhausted and the right fuel tank contained minimum fuel. The pilot negotiated a precautionary landing on the hard…NTSB LAX86FA025Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportCessna 182P · Sacramento, CAAs the Cessna 182P pilot flew through a control zone without establishing communications at an altitude of 3,500 ft, a Piper PA28 was beginning its approach for landing. The Piper's pilot was practicing instrument flight using a hood and a safety pilot. The…NTSB FTW86LQG01Accident · No injuriesFinal reportPiper PA-36-300 · Fluvanna, TXThe acft contacted a cattle guard during an attempted takeoff for an aerial application flt. The plt reported the acft was overloaded for the length of rwy being used for the takeoff. He continued to report he was too late in dumping the chemical load. The…NTSB FTW86LPJ01Accident · No injuriesFinal reportCessna 172 · Kremlin, OKThe acft landed in a wheat field adjacent to the sod rwy. The acft nosed over in a small ditch during rollout. The plt said he mistook the green winter wheat for the sod rwy which was now brown dormant grass from a frost and not green as it was when the plt…NTSB DEN86LA014Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGlobe GC-1B · Albuquerque, NMThe wife of the plt radioed her husband had become incapacitated. Two flt instructors departed in another acft to assist the non-rated wife, after being contacted by Albuquerque apch control. The flt instructors were able to assist the non-rated wife through…NTSB ATL86LA015Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Marietta, GADuring an attempted touch and go landing the student plt lost directional control of the acft. The acft ballooned during touchdown, veered off the rwy and nosed over.NTSB NYC86LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech BE-95-100 · Grove City, PAAfter turning on to final for rwy 270 transition/upgrade pilot observed he was high. Power was then reduced aircraft was then on short final a power adjustment was made causing aircraft to land 400/500 feet pass rwy threshold. On contact with rwy nose gear…NTSB NYC86IA019Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportFokker F-28 · Flushing, NYThe F-28 acft was holding on taxiway bb. The B-767 acft was taxiing behind the F-28 on taxiway e which is perpendicular to taxiway bb. The r wing of the B-767 struck the rudder of the F-28.NTSB LAX86LA023Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper J3 · Green Valley, AZOn oct 24, 1985, a Piper J3 cub,N33461, made an emergency landing in rough, open terrain near Green Valley, AZ. After experiencing a loss of engine power the ac sustained substantial damage and the pvt plt was not injured. The investigation revealed that the…NTSB LAX86IA021Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 727-200 · Oakland, CAOn October 24, 1985, an American airlines 727 collided with a parked united airlines 727 during a power back operation at Oakland, CA. IMC existed at the time with visibility limited to 0 ft due to fog. The aa ac sustained minor damage to its left wing and…NTSB FTW86MA018Accident · 2 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportBell 222UT · East CameronThree pax rprtd that just prior to reaching the helipad, the helicopter's forward movement stopped and the helicopter wobbled or yawed from side to side. The pax's rprted that the pilot appeared to be trying to gain altitude and go forward when they heard a…NTSB FTW86FA019Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportGulfstream American AA-5B · Ozona, TXThe acft was observed apchg the destination while flying under a cloud cover of aprx 1000 ft AGL. When it reached the vicinity of the arpt, the plt made a turn & subsequently entered the clouds. A witness heard what he described as variations in eng power.…NTSB CHI86LA016Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech A23.19 · Decatur, INThe student pilot on an unauthorized xcountry flt was attempting to ld on a 2600'-115' sod strip. On his fifth approach the 90 deg xwind drifted him into a tree line on the downwind side of the strip.NTSB CHI86LA015Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 152 · Cahokia, ILThe student pilot was practicing touch and go landings in preparation for a solo cross country. The pilot was compensating for a crosswind when he landed the aircraft on its nose resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.NTSB SEA86MA018Accident · 4 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportGates Learjet 24D · Juneau, AKDrg arrival to pick up a med-evac patient, the flt was clrd for an LDA-1 rwy 8 apch via the asort transition. Thus, the plt should have contd se on J-541 twd the ssr VORTAC & intercepted the localizer (LOC) at asort; then track inbnd on theloc (062 deg),…NTSB NYC86LA026Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · Block Island, RIThe floatplane experienced a pwr loss about 15 miles south of martha's vineyard VOR. The eng manifold pressure dropped and the RPM became erratic. The plt attempted to restart the eng using primary and emergency fuel pumps but the eng would not restart. The…NTSB NYC86FA027Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23-250 · Landisburg, PAThe non-instrument rated pilot took off on a VFR crosscounty flight with no weather briefing. He flew into an area of adverse weather including low clouds, fog, drizzle & haze. The aircraft impacted near the top of a 2100 ft high hill in forested terrain.NTSB FTW86LRG01Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 206B · Port O'Conner, TXThe acft rolled over after a forced lndg due to loss of power. The eng lost about 60 percent of its power during cruise at about 250 ft AGL. Post acc inspection showed that fuel line p/n 685481 b-nut had backed off the fuel control end of line 250C20 ipc. The…NTSB DEN86LA013Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 170B · Coloradosprings, COThe pilot took off on runway 17. The wind was reported to be from 130 degrees at 10 knots. After liftoff the left wing rose abruptly and the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot stated that because of his low altitude he could not regain control of the…NTSB CHI86LA014Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Toronto, OHThe acft touched down hard and bounced during the student plts second solo landing of the day. Recovery was made by initiating a go around. The acft touched down hard and bounced again on the third landing. Directional control of the acft was lost and it…NTSB ATL86FLQ03Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportPiper PA-28RT-201T · Hopkinsvile, KYThe acft had electrical failure during an IFR flt and radio/radar contact was lost. The plt said he was in & out of the clouds during the final stages or the x-country flt. The cloud ceiling was about 800 ft where he finally descended & landed in a soybean…