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Ground handling event

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NTSB defining event · CICTT: Ground Handling

CICTT occurrence categories (PDF)CICTT phases of flight (PDF)

All 84 cases
Defining event in
84 cases
In the sequence of
108 cases
Fatal cases
1
NTSB code
080

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

Cases per year

In green, cases where it was the defining event; in gray, cases where it came elsewhere in the sequence. Events are coded with the final report, so the latest years are incomplete.

2008Defining eventElsewhere in the sequence2026
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\") AS defining
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = e.case_mkey
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" = '080' AND e.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In these cases

Phase of flight
  • Prior to flight17
  • Pushback/towing15
  • Standing12
  • Standing-engine(s) operating11
  • Standing-engine(s) start-up10
  • Pushback/tow-engine not oper6
  • Taxi5
  • Standing-engine(s) not oper3
  • Pushback/tow-engine oper2
  • Other1
In the probable cause
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"tier2Number\" = '080' AND \"isDefiningEvent\")
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Phase of flight' AS kind, e.\"tier1Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier1Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM defining e
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Finding in the probable cause', left(f.\"findingCode\", 8), max(f.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f ON f.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND f.aircrafts_position = e.aircrafts_position AND f.\"inProbableCause\"
  WHERE f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey)
  FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND a.position = e.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 84

NTSB DCA26WA330Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignAirbus A321 · Mascot, AustraliaAug 8, 2026 · VH-VQJ · 2 aircraftNTSB ERA26LA288Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openBalony Kubicek Spol Sro BB45Z · Johnstown, PAJul 23, 2026 · N9532Z · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA264Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Greensboro, NCThe flight instructor’s improper decision to leave the airplane with the engine running, which resulted in the airplane rolling forward and impacting a hangar.Jun 27, 2026 · N7764G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA219Accident · 1 fatalClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openCessna 208B · Marana, AZJun 13, 2026 · N593EX · No damageNTSB DCA26WA202Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 747-428F · Ciudad de la Costa, UruguayMay 14, 2026 · N903ARNTSB CEN26LA205Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV4 · Conroe, TXThe pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.May 13, 2026 · N292M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA194Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 · Chapmansboro, TNFailure of the volunteer fire department personnel to properly monitor and secure a stretcher, which resulted in it rolling into the helicopter’s tail rotor.Apr 30, 2026 · N409AE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA085Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai · Brownsboro, ALThe flight instructor’s failure to properly lock the rear canopy prior to flight, which led to the canopy opening during aerotow at low altitude, and a subsequent off-airport landing in a corn field.Nov 26, 2025 · N103T · Substantial damageNTSB DCA25WA296IncidentClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Brisbane, AustraliaJul 26, 2025 · DQ-FAE · Minor damageNTSB DCA25WA247IncidentClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Brisbane, AustraliaJun 18, 2025 · VH-VZG
See all 84 cases
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 c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '080')
  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.