# NTSB investigations: Autopilot system NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB DCA24LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA328.md): Cirrus Design SF50 · Austin, TX · Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 14, 2024 · N442CV · Minor damage > The 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… - [NTSB WPR24FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA257.md): Pilatus PC-12/47E · Recluse, WY · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 26, 2024 · N357HE · Destroyed > The 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… - [NTSB WPR24FA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA124.md): Gulfstream 695A · San Bernardino, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 14, 2024 · N965BC · Destroyed > The 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. - [NTSB ERA23LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA253.md): Beech V35A · Statesboro, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 1, 2023 · N8074R · Substantial damage > Maintenance 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. - [NTSB CEN23FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA190.md): Beech E-90 · Winslow, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 17, 2023 · N522MJ · Destroyed > The 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… - [NTSB ERA23LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA135.md): Bombardier BD-100-1A10 · Windsor Locks, CT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Mar 3, 2023 · N300ER · Minor damage > The 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… - [NTSB WPR23MA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23MA113.md): Pilatus PC-12/45 · Stagecoach, NV · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 2 · Major · Final report · Feb 25, 2023 · N273SM · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB ANC23FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA008.md): Raytheon C90A · Kaupo, HI · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 15, 2022 · N13GZ · Substantial damage > Guardian 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… - [NTSB CEN23FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA045.md): Cirrus Design SF50 · Mount Comfort, IN · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 25, 2022 · N15VJ · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB ERA22LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA007.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429 · Batavia, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 7, 2021 · N505TJ · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to disengage the autopilot prior to climbing out of a fog bank. - [NTSB ERA20LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA129.md): Cirrus SR22 · Conway, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 17, 2020 · N150X · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB CEN19FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA088.md): Piper PA46 · Shreveport, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 28, 2019 · N428CD · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB WPR17IA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17IA086.md): Beech A36TC · Livermore, CA · Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Incident · Final report · Apr 10, 2017 · N755R · Minor damage > A 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… - [NTSB GAA17CA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA108.md): Larson Roger H RV-7 · Casa Grande, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 1, 2017 · N5897R · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadvertent application of the autopilot during short final, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing. - [NTSB ERA16LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA085.md): Cirrus SR22 · Concord, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 8, 2016 · C-GXXJ · Substantial damage > The 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. - [NTSB ERA14LA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA329.md): Flight Design CT-SW 2006 · Gasport, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2014 · N508CT · Substantial damage > The 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. - [NTSB ERA14FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA058.md): Piper PA-46-310P · Dawsonville, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 3, 2013 · N87NF · Destroyed > The 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.… - [NTSB CEN14FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA009.md): Cessna 500 · Derby, KS · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 18, 2013 · N610ED · Destroyed > The 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,… - [NTSB CEN13LA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA376.md): Avery Jack H Glastar GS-1 · Grand Rapids, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 25, 2013 · N103A · Substantial damage > The loss of directional control during landing because the autopilot engaged for undetermined reasons because water and recovery damage precluded detailed examination of system components. - [NTSB ERA13FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA115.md): Pilatus PC-12/45 · Burlington, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 16, 2013 · N68PK · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control due to spatial disorientation during the initial climb after takeoff in night instrument flight rules conditions. - [NTSB ERA13LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA012.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Birmingham, AL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2012 · N80KW · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB CEN12IA554](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12IA554.md): Cessna 560XL · Des Moines, IA · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Aug 15, 2012 · N108EK · Minor damage > A 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. - [NTSB ERA12FA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA385.md): Pilatus PC-12/47 · Lake Wales, FL · Accident · 6 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2012 · N950KA · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB DCA12CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12CA023.md): University Of Kansas Meridian · McMurdo, AY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 19, 2011 · UNREG · Substantial damage > an 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… - [NTSB ERA11FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA185.md): Cessna 310R · Smyrna, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 11, 2011 · N310JR · Substantial damage > The 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. - [NTSB CEN11FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA133.md): Piper PA-46-310P · Milaca, MN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 30, 2010 · N9103N · Substantial damage > The 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… - [NTSB CEN09LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA281.md): Cessna 551 · Stillwater, OK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2009 · N740JB · Substantial damage > The pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB DEN08IA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08IA130.md): Raytheon Cobra · Colorado Springs, CO · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jul 28, 2008 · N601RN · Substantial damage > The 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… ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql 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", '01022210')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022210/cases --- 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.