# Fuel contamination - Type: NTSB defining event - NTSB code: 193 - CICTT category: Fuel - Defining event in: 202 cases - In the sequence of: 225 cases - Fatal cases: 29 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/cases.md - Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193 ## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence) - 2008: 13 / 17 - 2009: 11 / 14 - 2010: 18 / 18 - 2011: 12 / 12 - 2012: 9 / 10 - 2013: 13 / 13 - 2014: 8 / 8 - 2015: 21 / 22 - 2016: 9 / 11 - 2017: 15 / 15 - 2018: 9 / 10 - 2019: 12 / 13 - 2020: 10 / 11 - 2021: 6 / 10 - 2022: 10 / 12 - 2023: 14 / 14 - 2024: 10 / 11 - 2025: 2 / 4 ## Phase of flight - Initial climb: 69 cases - Enroute-cruise: 24 cases - Takeoff: 24 cases - Maneuvering: 15 cases - Enroute: 13 cases - Prior to flight: 13 cases - Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 12 cases - Approach-VFR pattern final: 10 cases - Approach: 5 cases - Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 4 cases ## In the probable cause of these cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 175 cases - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 96 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 21 cases - [Fuel system, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800) (Aircraft): 20 cases - [Fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810) (Aircraft): 13 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 12 cases - [Water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030) (Aircraft): 10 cases - [Fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322) (Aircraft): 8 cases - [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 7 cases - [Scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010) (Personnel issues): 6 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 11 cases - [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 6 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 4 cases - [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170): 4 cases - [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235): 3 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 3 cases - [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172): 3 cases - [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a): 3 cases - [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 3 cases - [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602): 3 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA084), Dec 26, 2025: Cessna 172 (N172BX), Taylor, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in a loss of engine power due to water contamination. - [NTSB ERA25LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA315), Aug 20, 2025: Patriot CX1900A (N150SP), Centreville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to detect and remove water contamination from the airplane’s fuel system before the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb. - [NTSB WPR25LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA004), Oct 7, 2024: Cessna 172L (N7869G), El Monte, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel. - [NTSB ANC24FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA102), Sep 24, 2024: Cessna 206 (N8255Q), Chalkyitsik, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to ensure replacement filters… - [NTSB CEN24LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA316), Aug 14, 2024: Cessna A185E (N2248T), Eveleth, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Water contamination of the fuel system which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight. - [NTSB CEN24LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA291), Jul 26, 2024: Ayres S2R-G6 (N6136Z), Antioch, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an undetermined source. - [NTSB ERA24LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA257), Jun 8, 2024: Piper PA28 (N15363), Zephyrhills, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel contamination that resulted from corrosion and loose corrosion debris in the carburetor, which restricted fuel flow to the engine. - [NTSB WPR24LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA174), Jun 1, 2024: Beech 35-C33A (N1259M), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. - [NTSB CEN24LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA184), May 13, 2024: Piper PA-22 (N669A), Enderlin, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly inspect and sump the fuel system before the flight and the maintenance personnel’s inadequate maintenance of the fuel system which resulted in fuel starvation and the… - [NTSB ERA24LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA179), Apr 15, 2024: Cessna R172 (N3FR), Rocky Mount, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot and mechanic’s failure to identify and completely eliminate the water and debris contamination present in the airplane’s fuel system before embarking on the flight, which resulted in a… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.