Defining event in
524 cases
In the sequence of
10,189 cases
Fatal cases
216
NTSB code
470

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
Cases with Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) per year: 10,189 cases
2008763
2009598
2010672
2011783
2012766
2013625
2014671
2015674
2016697
2017653
2018669
2019622
2020329
2021325
2022315
2023318
2024324
2025244
2026141
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\" = '470' 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

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"tier2Number\" = '470' 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 · 524

NTSB WPR26LA164Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 172S · Pacoima, CAOn April 20, 2026, about 1107 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N2126F, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Whiteman Airport (WHP), Pacoima, California. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated…Apr 20, 2026 · N2126F · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA167Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Topeka, KSThe student pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness while taxiing which resulted in a collision with fence poles on either side of a gate which was not intended for airplanes.Apr 17, 2026 · N84794 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA26WA142Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCessna 172 · Ausnek, NamibiaMar 29, 2026 · D-EGZE · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA123Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBrunner Donald G Kitfox · Rock Crossing, AZAn encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with terrain.Mar 10, 2026 · N104DG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA137Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportPiper PA-12 · Lockhart, TXOn March 7, 2026, about 1323 central standard time, a Piper PA-12, N2511M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lockhart, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…Mar 7, 2026 · N2511M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA141Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Charleston, WVThe pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a helicopter dolly during taxi.Mar 5, 2026 · N2648Y · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA118Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLindstrand 260A · Casa Grande, AZThe hot air balloon’s encounter with downdraft wind conditions in mountainous terrain and subsequent impact with terrain.Mar 2, 2026 · N261RR · Substantial damageNTSB GAA26WA102Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignBeech 200 · Normanton, AustraliaFeb 6, 2026 · VH-PUY · DestroyedNTSB WPR26FA097Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportSocata TB21 · Prescott, AZOn February 4, 2026, about 1950 mountain standard time, a Socata TB21, N967WM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91…Feb 5, 2026 · N967WM · DestroyedNTSB CEN26LA112Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSocata TBM 700 · Crockett, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around that resulted in a collision with terrain.Feb 5, 2026 · N313BP · Destroyed
See all 524 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\" = '470')
  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.