# NTSB findings

What NTSB found in 24,564 investigations, coded as category › subcategory › section › finding. Counts are cases; "in the probable cause" counts cases where NTSB made a finding under it part of the probable cause. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

## [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01): 19,179 cases, 18,377 in the probable cause

- [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106): 12,313 cases, 11,794 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0102): 3,618 cases, 3,197 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0105): 2,721 cases, 2,526 in the probable cause
- [Fluids/misc hardware](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0107): 2,049 cases, 1,947 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103): 652 cases, 538 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft propeller/rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0104): 476 cases, 432 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft handling/service](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0101): 357 cases, 276 in the probable cause

## [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02): 18,969 cases, 18,421 in the probable cause

- [Task performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0206): 13,661 cases, 13,200 in the probable cause
- [Action/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0204): 7,288 cases, 6,975 in the probable cause
- [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202): 2,517 cases, 2,348 in the probable cause
- [Experience/knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0203): 1,090 cases, 692 in the probable cause
- [Physical](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0201): 674 cases, 491 in the probable cause
- [Miscellaneous](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0205): 78 cases, 64 in the probable cause

## [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03): 10,288 cases, 5,686 in the probable cause

- [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302): 5,692 cases, 2,550 in the probable cause
- [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303): 5,625 cases, 3,312 in the probable cause
- [Operating environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0301): 293 cases, 176 in the probable cause
- [Task environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0304): 113 cases, 72 in the probable cause

## [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05): 2,247 cases, 2,176 in the probable cause

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0500): 2,247 cases, 2,176 in the probable cause

## [Organizational issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04): 504 cases, 388 in the probable cause

- [Support/oversight/monitoring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0403): 242 cases, 167 in the probable cause
- [Management](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0402): 198 cases, 153 in the probable cause
- [Development](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0401): 152 cases, 129 in the probable cause

## Most often in the probable cause

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 9,103 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3,826 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 2,956 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 2,176 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 1,630 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 1,610 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 1,345 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 1,320 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 1,235 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 1,234 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 1,227 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 958 cases
- [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 858 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 788 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 759 cases
- [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 754 cases
- [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030) (Personnel issues): 699 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 570 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 519 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 504 cases

## Most often in fatal cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 1,795 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 966 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 655 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 591 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 574 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 483 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 478 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 334 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 253 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 237 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 203 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 187 cases

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.