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NTSB defining event · CICTT: Navigation Error

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

All 9 cases52 anywhere in the sequence
Defining event in
9 cases
In the sequence of
52 cases
Fatal cases
1
NTSB code
281

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\" = '281' 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
  • Approach-IFR final approach2
  • Approach-VFR pattern final1
  • Approach-IFR initial approach1
  • Approach1
  • Initial climb1
  • Takeoff1
  • Taxi-from runway1
  • Taxi1
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\" = '281' 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 · 9

NTSB DCA26WA146Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Algiers, AlgeriaFeb 25, 2026 · 7T-VJM · No damageNTSB ERA25FA120Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportRockwell 112 · Covington, GAOn February 15, 2025, about 2300, a Rockwell 112, N1423J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Covington, Georgia. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations…Feb 16, 2025 · N1423J · DestroyedNTSB DCA22WA065Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBombardier CL600 2E25 · Nantes, FranceOct 20, 2021 · F-HMLD · No damageNTSB GAA19WA455Incident · No injuriesForeign investigationCirrus SR22 · Kolding, DenmarkThe government of Denmark has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a CIRRUS SR22 airplane that occurred on July 17, 2019. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Denmark's investigation under the provisions of…Jul 17, 2019 · N830CD · No damageNTSB GAA19CA401Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · Vineyard Haven, MAThe pilot's failure to maintain lateral position in relation to the instrument approach course at night in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with a tree.Jul 11, 2019 · N677DM · Substantial damageNTSB DCA18IA265Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · IncidentFinal reportGulfstream G IV · Philadelphia, PAThe flight crew’s misalignment of the airplane with a taxiway instead of the assigned runway, resulting in a low-altitude go-around late in the final approach and reduced separation with the airplanes on the taxiway.Aug 11, 2018 · N619A · No damageNTSB ERA18LA213Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA46 · West Columbia, SCThe pilot’s inadvertent navigation onto a service road instead of a taxiway, which resulted in a collision with a stop sign.Jul 25, 2018 · C-GRFF · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17IA083Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 560 · Salinas, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a parked helicopter.Nov 29, 2016 · N22AF · Minor damageNTSB WPR12LA048Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32RT-300T · Hailey, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain course heading and terrain clearance because he was distracted by efforts to engage the autopilot shortly after takeoff on a dark night in mountainous terrain.Nov 30, 2011 · N36824 · Substantial damage
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\" = '281')
  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.