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

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

All 288 cases563 anywhere in the sequence
Defining event in
288 cases
In the sequence of
563 cases
Fatal cases
40
NTSB code
338

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\" = '338' 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
  • Enroute-cruise58
  • Takeoff36
  • Enroute34
  • Initial climb29
  • Landing-landing roll23
  • Maneuvering23
  • Maneuvering-low-alt flying14
  • Landing-flare/touchdown12
  • Enroute-climb to cruise11
  • Landing7
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\" = '338' 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 · 288

NTSB CEN26LA318Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportVans RV4 · Harrisonville, MOOn September 13, 2026, about 0930 central daylight time, a Vans Aircraft Inc, RV-4, N254MM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Harrisonville, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a…Sep 13, 2026 · N254MM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA289Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A36 · Weston, CTThe in-flight opening of the engine cowling, which resulted in engine baffling separating from the airplane and impacting the right elevator.Jul 30, 2026 · N9144Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA249Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Ogden, UTOn July 7, 2026, about 1259 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor, Inc. AT-502B airplane, N647LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ogden, Utah. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14…Jul 7, 2026 · N647LA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26FA239Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportBlessing RV-3A · Lakeland, FLOn June 15, 2026, about 1955 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Van’s RV-3A, N696DB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida. The pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…Jun 15, 2026 · N696DB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA232Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportNorth American SNJ-5C · Midland, VAOn June 6, 2026, about 0940 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-5C, N98RJ was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Midland, Virginia. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…Jun 6, 2026 · N98RJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA179Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 421C · Kirksville, MOOn May 4, 2026, about 1759 central daylight time, a Cessna 421C airplane, N6161X, was substantially damaged during an accident near Kirksville, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91…May 4, 2026 · N6161X · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA193Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell UH1 · Enterprise, ALThe in-flight separation of a turn lock fastener stud, which resulted in substantial damage to one tail rotor blade.Apr 4, 2026 · N75140 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA131Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportQuad City Challenger · Van Burensburg, ILPropeller separation due to failure of the propeller attachment bolts.Feb 28, 2026 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA041Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportBessler Duane Lynn Savannah · Pacific, WAOn November 7, 2025 at 1331 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur-built ICP Savannah amphibious airplane, N358D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pacific, Washington. The pilot and the passenger were not injured. The…Nov 7, 2025 · N358D · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26MA024Accident · 14 fatalClass 1 · MajorPreliminary reportMcdonnell Douglas MD-11F · Louisville, KYOn November 4, 2025, about 1714 eastern standard time (EST), United Parcel Service (UPS) flight 2976, a Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) MD-11F airplane, N259UP, was destroyed after it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff from runway 17R at Louisville Muhammad…Nov 4, 2025 · N259UP · Destroyed
See all 288 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\" = '338')
  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.