Defining event in
51 cases
In the sequence of
61 cases
Fatal cases
21
NTSB code
081

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

When and where

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

Cases per year

2008Defining eventElsewhere in the sequence2026
Cases with AC/prop/rotor contact w person per year: 61 cases
20087
20094
20102
20113
20123
20133
20143
20152
20164
20174
20182
20192
20203
20211
20223
20234
20247
20253
20261
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\" = '081' 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

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"tier2Number\" = '081' 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 · 51

NTSB CEN25LA316Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportXag P100 PRO · Depew, IAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the unmanned aircraft system during takeoff.Aug 12, 2025 · N467GE · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA243Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStinson 108 · Seguin, TXThe pilot’s failure to turn off the magneto switch before repositioning the propeller by hand which resulted in an inadvertent engine start.Jul 8, 2025 · N97577 · No damageNTSB GAA25WA171Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCessna 188 · Trinidad Casanare, ColombiaMay 29, 2025 · HK1817 · Minor damageNTSB CEN25LA028Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 182Q · Rose Hill, KSOn October 26, 2024, about 1440 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q airplane was not damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rose Hill, Kansas. The pilot was not injured, and a passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title…Oct 26, 2024 · N8883X · No damageNTSB ERA25LA032Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAero SP Z O O AT-4 LSA · South Charleston, WVThe pedestrian’s inadequate visual lookout while walking next to an active runway, which resulted in the airplane striking him during taxi.Oct 25, 2024 · N401G · Minor damageNTSB CEN24LA197Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206 · Butler, MOThe jumper’s unintentional deployment of his emergency parachute and subsequent impact with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.May 25, 2024 · N29173 · DestroyedNTSB ERA24LA149Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Apopka, FLThe pilot and the landscape worker’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision.Mar 20, 2024 · N686JA · Minor damageNTSB WPR24LA099Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18A 150 · Dallesport, WAThe pilot’s failure to disengage the ignition prior to moving the propeller by hand resulting in the inadvertent starting of the engine.Feb 27, 2024 · N518SW · Minor damageNTSB WPR23LA259Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A-1B · Las Vegas, NVThe pilot’s unsafe inflight operation of the airplane and failure to maintain clearance from a person on the ground, which resulted in a serious injury.Jun 24, 2023 · N307F · Minor damageNTSB WPR23LA207Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182Q · Kingman, AZThe failure of the passenger to adequately maintain a safe distance from the airplane’s propeller and the determination to let the passenger exit the airplane with the engine running.May 26, 2023 · N94599 · Minor damage
See all 51 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\" = '081')
  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.