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Towing

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing

All 10 cases8 in the probable cause
Cases
10
In the probable cause
8 (80%)
Fatal cases
1
NTSB code
01010910

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 NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01010910') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  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 the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '01010910'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.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
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '01010910') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  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 · 10

NTSB ERA20LA237Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA46 · Titusville, FLThe loss of directional control during landing due to the fracture of the steering horn bolts, which rendered the nosewheel steering ineffective and resulted from the airplane being towed over the left turn limits at an undetermined time before the accident.Jul 3, 2020 · N89MA · Substantial damageNTSB DCA19CA186Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportBoeing 757 · San Francisco, CAfailure of the ground crew to maintain clearance from the parked airplane during pushback.Jul 23, 2019 · N57852 · Substantial damageNTSB DCA19CA079Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportAirbus A320 · Denver, COloss of control of the tug by the driver during pushback operations as a result of the contaminated ramp, angle of the towbar, and the airplane engines being at idle thrust.Jan 28, 2019 · N220FR · Substantial damageNTSB DCA16CA207Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 737 3H4 · Baltimore, MDthe tug operators excessive speed during pushback.Aug 5, 2016 · N368SW · Substantial damageNTSB DCA16CA139Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBombardier CL 600 2B19 · San Francisco, CAThe tug driver's failure to comply with the wing walkers direction to stop, which resulted in the towed airplane colliding with N961SW.Apr 29, 2016 · N961SW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15IA206Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 525B · Teterboro, NJThe overstress fracture of the nose landing gear actuator (NLG) attachment lug during tow operations, which resulted in the collapse of the NLG.May 3, 2015 · N784JS · Minor damageNTSB DCA15CA012Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportEmbraer-Empresa Brasileira De ERJ 170 200 LR · Minneapolis, MNthe B757 Captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance between his wing and the wingtip of the ERJ-170. Contributing to the accident was the positioning of the ERJ-170 by the Compass ground personnel.Oct 23, 2014 · N622CZ · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA605Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBurkhart Grob G 103 Twin II · El Paso, TXThe pilot‘s failure to maintain glider control while attempting to take off using a ground winch, which resulted in an inadvertent stall low to the ground. Contributing to the accident was the ground winch, which was unable to produce enough speed for a…Sep 1, 2012 · N5489X · Substantial damageNTSB ERA12CA038Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas MD-88 · Atlanta, GAThe tug driver's inadequate control of the tug while maneuvering the airplane during pushback.Oct 7, 2011 · N922DL · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09LA093Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-50 · Madison, WIThe collision between the tug and the airplane during towing as a result of sliding on the snow covered runway.Dec 3, 2008 · N782NC · Substantial damage
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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01010910'))
  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.