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Fuel starvation

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NTSB defining event · CICTT: Fuel

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

All 571 cases733 anywhere in the sequence
Defining event in
571 cases
In the sequence of
733 cases
Fatal cases
61
NTSB code
191

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

Where

Open the map
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\" = '191' 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
  • Initial climb124
  • Enroute-cruise110
  • Enroute61
  • Approach-VFR pattern final49
  • Approach49
  • Takeoff39
  • Maneuvering25
  • Enroute-descent22
  • Approach-VFR pattern downwind20
  • Approach-VFR pattern base15
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\" = '191' 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 · 571

NTSB CEN27LA012Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openDiamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1 · Flint, MIOct 10, 2026 · N96YY · Substantial damageNTSB WPR27LA018Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openChristen Industries Pitts S-2B · Yuma, AZOct 5, 2026 · N12CKNTSB CEN26LA319Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportBeech K35 · Wausau, WIOn September 12, 2026, about 2049 central daylight time, a Beech K35 airplane, N6071E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wausau, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14…Sep 13, 2026 · N6071E · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA323Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M-20 · Stanfield, NCThe pilot’s failure to adequately manage the available fuel onboard the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing on uneven terrain.Sep 1, 2026 · N3706N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA280Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openHarmon Rocket II · Glasgow, MTJul 24, 2026 · C-FCPGNTSB ANC26LA076Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openCessna 180K · Anchorage, AKJul 22, 2026 · N180LW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA250Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportGlasair I RG · Utica, MNOn July 9, 2026, about 1805 central daylight time, a Glasair 1RG airplane, N141CG, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Utica, Minnesota. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…Jul 9, 2026 · N141CG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA240Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Santa Paula, CAThe pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.Jun 27, 2026 · N501CR · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26FA230Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportCessna 150 · Kissimmee, FLOn June 6, 2026, about 1458 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N156KA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM), Kissimmee, Florida. The commercial pilot and student pilot were seriously injured.…Jun 6, 2026 · N156KA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA221Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRockwell International S-2R · Gause, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the separated wing fuel tank screen and sealant debris in the fuel tank.May 20, 2026 · N4990X · Substantial damage
See all 571 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\" = '191')
  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.