NTSB investigations

42 cases where NTSB found Auto flight system.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 42 cases
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Latest 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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '010222'))
  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.

NTSB DCA24LA328Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SF50 · Austin, TXThe unintended activation of the Emergency Autoland button on the overhead panel due to the airplane’s collision with an unknown object. Contributing to the incident was the pilot’s inability to initially deactivate the Emergency Autoland system due to a…Sep 14, 2024 · N442CV · Minor damageNTSB CEN24LA380Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportXag P100 PRO · Francesville, INThe remote pilot’s in-flight loss of control of the unmanned aircraft due to GPS signal fluctuations, which resulted in a collision with, and serious injury to, a person assisting the operation.Aug 7, 2024 · N268MQ · Minor damageNTSB WPR24FA257Accident · 7 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPilatus PC-12/47E · Recluse, WYThe pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction from the autopilot disconnecting due to an…Jul 26, 2024 · N357HE · DestroyedNTSB WPR24FA124Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGulfstream 695A · San Bernardino, CAThe pilot’s continued use of the airplane’s autopilot after flight into moderate to severe icing conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.Apr 14, 2024 · N965BC · DestroyedNTSB ERA24FA003Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Croydon, NHThe pilot’s loss of control during the initial climb in dark night conditions due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a steep banking descent into trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent night flight experience,…Oct 8, 2023 · N802JR · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA253Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech V35A · Statesboro, GAMaintenance personnel’s improper installation of the pitch servo bridle cable clamp, which led to binding in the elevator control system that restricted aft yoke movement during the landing approach.Jun 1, 2023 · N8074R · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA190Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech E-90 · Winslow, ARThe pilot’s poor preflight decision to depart into known instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without a functional autopilot system, which resulted in spatial disorientation and his failure to maintain aircraft control while flying in IMC during the…May 17, 2023 · N522MJ · DestroyedNTSB CEN23LA135Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron APT70 · Mineral Wells, TXThe flight crew’s loss of control of the unmanned aircraft due to software limitations. Contributing to the accident was the overly restrictive low voltage threshold limits.Mar 14, 2023 · N314AL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA135Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · LimitedFinal reportBombardier BD-100-1A10 · Windsor Locks, CTThe flight crew’s failure to remove the right side pitot probe cover before flight, their decision to depart with a No-Go advisory message following an aborted takeoff, and their selection of the incorrect non-normal checklist in flight, which resulted in an…Mar 3, 2023 · N300ER · Minor damageNTSB WPR23MA113Accident · 5 fatalClass 2 · MajorFinal reportPilatus PC-12/45 · Stagecoach, NVThe pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the disengagement of the autopilot for undetermined reasons, as…Feb 25, 2023 · N273SM · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23FA008Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRaytheon C90A · Kaupo, HIGuardian Flight’s inadequate pilot training and performance tracking, which failed to identify and correct the pilot’s consistent lack of skill, and which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain his position inflight using secondary instruments to…Dec 15, 2022 · N13GZ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA045Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCirrus Design SF50 · Mount Comfort, INThe uncommanded activation of the CAPS autopilot mode due to corrosion of the system’s electrical components. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to identify the CAPS autopilot mode and promptly follow the procedures in the airplane flight…Nov 25, 2022 · N15VJ · Substantial damageNTSB ENG22LA004Occurrence · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech F33 · Bellefontaine, OHThe internal failure of the autopilot pitch servo actuator that caused the autopilot to command a nose down movement of the pitch trim.Nov 12, 2021 · N9035Q · Minor damageNTSB ERA22LA007Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 429 · Batavia, NYThe pilot’s failure to disengage the autopilot prior to climbing out of a fog bank.Oct 7, 2021 · N505TJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA129Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Conway, SCThe pilot’s incorrect use of the autopilot while approaching the initial approach fix and his subsequent improper primary pitch control input while a pitch mode of the autopilot was engaged, which resulted in pitch excursions and subsequent departure from…Mar 17, 2020 · N150X · Substantial damageNTSB DCA20CA003Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportKitty Hawk Heaviside2 · Tres Pinos, CAa software timing error initiated by a battery charging script that was not properly terminated prior to the test flight due to operator error.Oct 17, 2019 · N221HV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19FA201Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportBeech E55 · Hope Mills, NCThe pilot's failure to disengage an uncommanded nose-down pitch input. Contributing to the accident was improper maintenance of the pitch trim servo, which would have precluded a physical override of the pitch servo.Jun 27, 2019 · N664AR · DestroyedNTSB DCA19LA154Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAurora PAV · Manassas, VAa loss of hover lift thrust provided by the eight lift motors due to a false on-ground rotor speed reduction command, resulting from excessive vibration.Jun 4, 2019 · N83AU · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19FA088Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA46 · Shreveport, LAThe pilot's conduct of a departure into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's poor instrument flying skills and his decision…Feb 28, 2019 · N428CD · Substantial damageNTSB DCA19MA086Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 767 · Trinity Bay, TXThe inappropriate response by the first officer as the pilot flying to an inadvertent activation of the go-around mode, which led to his spatial disorientation and nose-down control inputs that placed the airplane in a steep descent from which the crew did…Feb 23, 2019 · N1217A · DestroyedNTSB ERA19FA049Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportLancair Legacy RG · Gainesville, GAThe pilots’ failure to execute a go-around when the nighttime autopilot-coupled approach became unstable, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot and…Nov 17, 2018 · N8448J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18FA400Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico)The pilot's incapacitation resulted in impact with the Gulf of Mexico. The reason the hypoxia recognition system did not descend the airplane as designed could not be determined as the airplane was not located.Jan 3, 2018 · N325JK · DestroyedNTSB WPR17IA086Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · IncidentFinal reportBeech A36TC · Livermore, CAA mistrim condition while the autopilot was engaged for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence, and the pilot’s subsequent failure to confirm the command bar status before disengaging the autopilot. Contributing to the accident were…Apr 10, 2017 · N755R · Minor damageNTSB GAA17CA108Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLarson Roger H RV-7 · Casa Grande, AZThe pilot’s inadvertent application of the autopilot during short final, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing.Jan 1, 2017 · N5897R · Substantial damageNTSB DCA16CA197Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportFacebook UK Aquila · Yuma, AZa structural failure of the wing as a result of exceeding the airspeed envelope due to wind gusts which were beyond the capabilities of the autopilot. Contributing to the accident was an insufficient amount of drag to track the glideslope in the presence of…Jun 28, 2016 · N565AQ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16LA085Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Concord, NCThe pilot’s inadequate management of the airplane’s automated systems, which resulted in a loss of control during an instrument approach and necessitated his subsequent deployment of the airplane’s parachute system.Jan 8, 2016 · C-GXXJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14LA329Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportFlight Design CT-SW 2006 · Gasport, NYThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed following a left turn during takeoff, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.Jul 5, 2014 · N508CT · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14FA058Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46-310P · Dawsonville, GAThe pilot’s in-flight loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while operating in dark night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s design stress limitations and a subsequent in-flight breakup.…Dec 3, 2013 · N87NF · DestroyedNTSB CEN14FA009Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 500 · Derby, KSThe airplane's encounter with severe icing conditions, which resulted in structural icing, and the pilot's increased workload and subsequent disorientation while maneuvering in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with malfunctioning flight instruments,…Oct 18, 2013 · N610ED · DestroyedNTSB DCA13MA120Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportBoeing 777-200ER · San Francisco, CAThe flight crew's mismanagement of the airplane's descent during the visual approach, the pilot flying's unintended deactivation of automatic airspeed control, the flight crew's inadequate monitoring of airspeed, and the flight crew's delayed execution of a…Jul 6, 2013 · HL7742 · DestroyedNTSB CEN13LA376Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAvery Jack H Glastar GS-1 · Grand Rapids, MNThe loss of directional control during landing because the autopilot engaged for undetermined reasons because water and recovery damage precluded detailed examination of system components.Jun 25, 2013 · N103A · Substantial damageNTSB ERA13FA115Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPilatus PC-12/45 · Burlington, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control due to spatial disorientation during the initial climb after takeoff in night instrument flight rules conditions.Jan 16, 2013 · N68PK · Substantial damageNTSB ERA13LA012Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · Birmingham, ALThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's overreliance on the autopilot system and his inability to hand-fly the airplane once the autopilot…Oct 6, 2012 · N80KW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12IA554Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportCessna 560XL · Des Moines, IAA temporary loss of control during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postincident examination of the autopilot, pitch trim systems, and horizontal stabilizer revealed no anomalies consistent with a loss of control.Aug 15, 2012 · N108EK · Minor damageNTSB ERA12FA385Accident · 6 fatalField investigationFinal reportPilatus PC-12/47 · Lake Wales, FLThe failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane while climbing to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) following disconnect of the autopilot. The reason for the autopilot disconnect could not be determined during…Jun 7, 2012 · N950KA · Substantial damageNTSB DCA12CA023Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportUniversity Of Kansas Meridian · McMurdo, AYan aerodynamic stall induced by an inadvertent autopilot Home command. The Home command was entered following a loss of the direct radio link due to improperly set failsafe settings, and an unintentional latching of Home mode from an earlier functionality…Dec 19, 2011 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11FA185Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 310R · Smyrna, TNThe pilot's improper response to a known autopilot pitch divergence anomaly. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform a test flight on a system for which he lacked a complete working knowledge.Mar 11, 2011 · N310JR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA133Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-46-310P · Milaca, MNThe pilot did not recover from an unusual attitude while operating in instrument meteorological conditions following a disconnect of the autopilot system for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s lack of recent flight experience…Dec 30, 2010 · N9103N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09LA281Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 551 · Stillwater, OKThe pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons.May 5, 2009 · N740JB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09MA117Accident · 8 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportSikorsky S-76C · Morgan City, LA(1) the sudden loss of power to both engines that resulted from impact with a bird (red-tailed hawk), which fractured the windshield and interfered with engine fuel controls, and (2) the subsequent disorientation of the flight crewmembers, which left them…Jan 4, 2009 · N748P · DestroyedNTSB DEN08IA130Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportRaytheon Cobra · Colorado Springs, COThe flight team's failure to program the UAS with flight-tested parameters that could tolerate the high density altitude and tailwind conditions encounted during the flight, which resulted in two undershoot approaches, and the existence of an undiscovered…Jul 28, 2008 · N601RN · Substantial damageNTSB NYC08LA124Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRockwell 112TCA · West Chester, PAThe pilot's failure to ensure that the pitch trim was properly set for takeoff.Mar 6, 2008 · N4623W · Substantial damage