# Ground handling event

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 080
- CICTT category: Ground Handling
- Defining event in: 84 cases
- In the sequence of: 108 cases
- Fatal cases: 1
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md?event=080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080

## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence)

- 2008: 5 / 6
- 2009: 2 / 4
- 2010: 9 / 9
- 2011: 10 / 11
- 2012: 3 / 3
- 2013: 1 / 2
- 2014: 2 / 4
- 2015: 3 / 5
- 2016: 6 / 7
- 2017: 10 / 10
- 2018: 3 / 4
- 2019: 5 / 7
- 2020: 2 / 7
- 2021: 4 / 5
- 2022: 3 / 4
- 2023: 2 / 3
- 2024: 4 / 4
- 2025: 3 / 4
- 2026: 7 / 9

## Phase of flight

- Prior to flight: 17 cases
- Pushback/towing: 15 cases
- Standing: 12 cases
- Standing-engine(s) operating: 11 cases
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: 10 cases
- Pushback/tow-engine not oper: 6 cases
- Taxi: 5 cases
- Standing-engine(s) not oper: 3 cases
- Pushback/tow-engine oper: 2 cases
- Other: 1 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 11 cases
- [Tie-down/mooring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020) (Aircraft): 9 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 8 cases
- [Task performance, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Use of equip/info, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010910) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Adequacy of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021015) (Organizational issues): 3 cases
- [Use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032) (Personnel issues): 3 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19): 4 cases
- [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4): 4 cases
- [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88): 3 cases
- [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 3 cases
- [Bombardier CL-600-2C10](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2c10): 3 cases
- [Boeing 737-3H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3h4): 3 cases
- [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a): 1 cases
- [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a): 1 cases
- [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB DCA26WA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA330), Aug 8, 2026: Airbus A321 (VH-VQJ), Mascot, Australia
- [NTSB ERA26LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA288), Jul 23, 2026: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB45Z (N9532Z), Johnstown, PA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA264), Jun 27, 2026: Cessna 172 (N7764G), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper decision to leave the airplane with the engine running, which resulted in the airplane rolling forward and impacting a hangar.
- [NTSB WPR26LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA219), Jun 13, 2026: Cessna 208B (N593EX), Marana, AZ, no damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB DCA26WA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA202), May 14, 2026: Boeing 747-428F (N903AR), Ciudad de la Costa, Uruguay, incident
- [NTSB CEN26LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA205), May 13, 2026: Vans RV4 (N292M), Conroe, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA26LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA194), Apr 30, 2026: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 (N409AE), Chapmansboro, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the volunteer fire department personnel to properly monitor and secure a stretcher, which resulted in it rolling into the helicopter’s tail rotor.
- [NTSB ERA26LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA085), Nov 26, 2025: Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai (N103T), Brownsboro, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB DCA25WA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25WA296), Jul 26, 2025: Boeing 737 (DQ-FAE), Brisbane, Australia, incident, minor damage
- [NTSB DCA25WA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25WA247), Jun 18, 2025: Boeing 737 (VH-VZG), Brisbane, Australia, incident

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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