# Course deviation

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 281
- CICTT category: Navigation Error
- Defining event in: 9 cases
- In the sequence of: 52 cases
- Fatal cases: 1
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281

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

- 2008: 0 / 2
- 2011: 1 / 3
- 2012: 0 / 4
- 2013: 0 / 3
- 2014: 0 / 2
- 2015: 0 / 3
- 2016: 1 / 11
- 2017: 0 / 2
- 2018: 2 / 3
- 2019: 2 / 6
- 2020: 0 / 1
- 2021: 1 / 3
- 2022: 0 / 1
- 2023: 0 / 2
- 2024: 0 / 3
- 2025: 1 / 1
- 2026: 1 / 2

## Phase of flight

- Approach-IFR final approach: 2 cases
- Approach-VFR pattern final: 1 cases
- Approach-IFR initial approach: 1 cases
- Approach: 1 cases
- Initial climb: 1 cases
- Takeoff: 1 cases
- Taxi-from runway: 1 cases
- Taxi: 1 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 1 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 1 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Rockwell International 112A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-112a): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t): 1 cases
- [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-aerospace-g-iv): 1 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 1 cases
- [Cessna 560](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-560): 1 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB DCA26WA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA146), Feb 25, 2026: Boeing 737 (7T-VJM), Algiers, Algeria, incident, no damage
- [NTSB ERA25FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA120), Feb 16, 2025: Rockwell 112 (N1423J), Covington, GA, destroyed, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB DCA22WA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22WA065), Oct 20, 2021: Bombardier CL600 2E25 (F-HMLD), Nantes, France, incident, no damage
- [NTSB GAA19WA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19WA455), Jul 17, 2019: Cirrus SR22 (N830CD), Kolding, Denmark, incident, no damage
- [NTSB GAA19CA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA401), Jul 11, 2019: Cessna 172 (N677DM), Vineyard Haven, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB DCA18IA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18IA265), Aug 11, 2018: Gulfstream G IV (N619A), Philadelphia, PA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB ERA18LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA213), Jul 25, 2018: Piper PA46 (C-GRFF), West Columbia, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent navigation onto a service road instead of a taxiway, which resulted in a collision with a stop sign.
- [NTSB GAA17IA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17IA083), Nov 29, 2016: Cessna 560 (N22AF), Salinas, CA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a parked helicopter.
- [NTSB WPR12LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA048), Nov 30, 2011: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N36824), Hailey, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

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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