NTSB defining event · CICTT: Medical Event
CICTT occurrence categories (PDF)CICTT phases of flight (PDF)
- Defining event in
- 52 cases
- In the sequence of
- 63 cases
- Fatal cases
- 25
- NTSB code
- 850
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
| 2009 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Where
Open the mapQuery 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\" = '850' 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.
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" = '850' 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
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
In these cases
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\" = '850' 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.
WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "tier2Number" = '850' 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 DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
Newest cases · 52
NTSB DCA26LA203Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openShield Ai V-BAT · Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico)NTSB CEN26LA156Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportCessna 150G · Ellicott, COOn March 21, 2026, about 1023 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150G airplane, N6305S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ellicott, Colorado. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…NTSB DCA26WA152Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignAirbus A321 · Málaga, SpainNTSB DCA26WA174Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Karmelava, LithuaniaNTSB DCA26WA122Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Jasionka, PolandNTSB ERA26LA005Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Reedville, VAThe pilot’s sudden incapacitation by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.NTSB WPR25FA253Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPitts S-1T · Goodyear, AZOn August 12, 2025, about 1019 mountain standard time, a Pitts S-1T, N51HC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Goodyear, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…NTSB DCA25WA326Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Bologna, ItalyNTSB WPR25FA062Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAmerican Eurocopter AS350B3 · Potrero, CAThe pilot’s loss of control during cruise flight due to incapacitation for reasons that could not be determined.NTSB DCA25WA018Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Alicante, Spain
See all 52 casesQuery 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\" = '850') 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.
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" = '850') ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.