# Loss of control in flight

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 240
- CICTT category: Loss Of Control (Inflight)
- Defining event in: 3,835 cases
- In the sequence of: 5,002 cases
- Fatal cases: 1848
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240

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

- 2008: 253 / 333
- 2009: 231 / 307
- 2010: 200 / 266
- 2011: 247 / 313
- 2012: 241 / 320
- 2013: 213 / 282
- 2014: 246 / 311
- 2015: 216 / 298
- 2016: 217 / 284
- 2017: 215 / 283
- 2018: 194 / 261
- 2019: 231 / 287
- 2020: 198 / 261
- 2021: 188 / 254
- 2022: 195 / 244
- 2023: 171 / 216
- 2024: 141 / 203
- 2025: 155 / 183
- 2026: 83 / 96

## Phase of flight

- Takeoff: 596 cases
- Initial climb: 595 cases
- Maneuvering: 356 cases
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 333 cases
- Landing: 236 cases
- Landing-flare/touchdown: 229 cases
- Approach-VFR go-around: 217 cases
- Approach-VFR pattern final: 201 cases
- Enroute-cruise: 179 cases
- Enroute: 147 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 2,249 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 611 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 565 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 436 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 396 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 380 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 259 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 203 cases
- [Lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023) (Aircraft): 201 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 173 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 58 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 55 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 52 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 41 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 39 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 37 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 32 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 32 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 31 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20): 30 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA27LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA27LA008), Oct 14, 2026: Zielke Ronald W Zenith 750 (N203RZ), Marysville, OH, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB CEN27FA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27FA016), Oct 14, 2026: Piper PA 46-350P (N931TT), Reedsburg, WI, 5 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB WPR27FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR27FA015), Oct 12, 2026: Bertling Courtney MXL-2 (N947BX), Newberg, OR, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB CEN26FA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA325), Sep 27, 2026: EXP PA-18 Replica (N43LK), Buffalo, MN, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB WPR26LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA360), Sep 26, 2026: Cessna A185F (N185BZ), Livingston, MT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB WPR26FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA355), Sep 24, 2026: Aeronca 7AC (N12DF), Hesperia, CA, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26FA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA338), Sep 15, 2026: Reed Julian Estill RV-4 (N469TW), Albertville, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB WPR26LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA344), Sep 14, 2026: Taylorcraft BC12D (N96888), Nibbe, MT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB CEN26LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA317), Sep 13, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N7527L), Natchez, MS, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26FA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA329), Sep 6, 2026: Piper PA-28-181 (N7653F), Ludlow, MA, destroyed, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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