OpenAirDocs.org

Flight control sys malf/fail

Open the Markdown

NTSB defining event · CICTT: System/Component Failure (Non-Powerplant)

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

All 355 cases410 anywhere in the sequence
Defining event in
355 cases
In the sequence of
410 cases
Fatal cases
36
NTSB code
333

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\" = '333' 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
  • Takeoff56
  • Enroute-cruise42
  • Initial climb37
  • Maneuvering33
  • Enroute27
  • Approach20
  • Enroute-climb to cruise18
  • Approach-VFR pattern final16
  • Landing14
  • Landing-flare/touchdown12
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\" = '333' 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 · 355

NTSB CEN27LA017AccidentClass 3 · LimitedInvestigation openDonald K Stovall Pietenpol Aircamper · Syracuse, KSOct 13, 2026 · N728MKNTSB DCA27WA010IncidentClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Canberra, AustraliaOct 4, 2026 · VH-VOL · No damageNTSB CEN26LA333Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportFairchild 24H · Indianapolis, INOn September 26, 2026, about 1430 central daylight time, a Fairchild 24H, N16902, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code…Sep 26, 2026 · N16902 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA295Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportAviat A-1B · Pilot Grove, MNOn August 17, 2026, about 1446 central daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B airplane, N299CA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pilot Grove, Minnesota. The two pilots received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as…Aug 17, 2026 · N299CA · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26WA334Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignAirbus A330 · Lubumbashi, Congo - KinshasaAug 14, 2026 · 9S-ABSNTSB WPR26LA302Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 208B · Salmon, IDOn August 9, 2026, at 1420 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 208B airplane, N247JP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Salmon, Idaho. The pilot and eight passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code…Aug 9, 2026 · N247JP · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA258Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportRemos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau Remos GX · Glendale, AZOn July 12, 2026, at 1018 mountain standard time, a Remos GX airplane, N126GX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Glendale, Arizona. The flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title…Jul 12, 2026 · N126GX · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA235Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openBeech V35B · Greeley, COJun 17, 2026 · N4275S · No damageNTSB CEN26LA187Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 172S · Denton, TXOn May 13, 2026, about 1815 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N2134M, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Denton, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part…May 13, 2026 · N2134M · Substantial damageNTSB ENG26WA027Occurrence · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignATR ATR72 · Marseille-Provence, FranceApr 5, 2026 · EC-JXF · No damage
See all 355 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\" = '333')
  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.