OpenAirDocs.org

Control column section

Open the Markdown

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system

All 21 cases17 in the probable cause
Cases
21
In the probable cause
17 (81%)
Fatal cases
5
NTSB code
01022701

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\", '01022701') 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\", '01022701'))
  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\", '01022701') 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 · 21

NTSB WPR26LA029Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRoderick James Willmore Kitfox S7 Supersport · Kilgore, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the separation of the control stick grip.Oct 18, 2025 · N98RW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA337Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell OH-58A · Caseville, MIThe front seat passenger’s inadvertent movement of the cyclic control resulting in a dynamic rollover after landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to leave the dual flight controls installed with a non-pilot passenger in the front seat.Aug 23, 2025 · N707EE · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA008Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCub Crafters CC18-180 · Anchorage, AKThe incorrect installation of the rear flight control stick, resulting in the pilot’s inability to control the pitch attitude, coupled with the pilot’s inadequate control system check before departure, all which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during takeoff.Nov 2, 2024 · N55PK · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA075Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Talkeetna, AKThe malfunction of the control stick during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.Aug 10, 2021 · N1264A · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA238Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Twisp, WAAn in-flight separation of the control stick from the torque tube assembly, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent on-ground collision.Jun 20, 2021 · N6917Z · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA131Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Lake Placid, FLThe pilot’s failure to ensure that the aft seat cushion was adequately secured, which resulted in its movement, subsequent interference with the flight controls, and a hard landing.Feb 10, 2021 · N8183C · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA024Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Rock Springs, WYThe separation of the control grip which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during takeoff, and collision with terrain.Oct 21, 2020 · N7654S · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA259Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSopwith Type 9400 · Van Alstyne, TXAn inflight loss of aileron control due to movement of a control connector.Jul 3, 2020 · N5539 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA026Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA 18 · Livermore, CAThe improper installation of the flight control stick, which resulted in separation of the flight control stick from the stick stub assembly and an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain.Nov 16, 2019 · N8589D · Substantial damageNTSB WPR19FA109Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 206 · Fort McDowell, AZThe separation of the main rotor head from the mast as a result of a sudden displacement of the cyclic stick during a low-G maneuver, leading to mast bumping. Contributing to the accident were the unsecure positioning of the flight test engineer’s laptop…Apr 16, 2019 · N61PH · Destroyed
See all 21 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\", '01022701'))
  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.