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Elevator control system

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system

All 74 cases71 in the probable cause
Cases
74
In the probable cause
71 (96%)
Fatal cases
16
NTSB code
01022730

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\", '01022730') 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\", '01022730'))
  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\", '01022730') 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 · 74

NTSB ERA26LA130Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTextron 680A · Miami, FLThe flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the blast fence during taxi to the runway for departure, and their inadequate inspection of the airplane after it contacted the blast fence.Feb 27, 2026 · N519QS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA092Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · San Marcos, TXThe flight instructor’s failure to properly configure the elevator trim for the takeoff, that resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s failure to follow the before takeoff checklist.Jan 7, 2026 · N5136E · Substantial damageNTSB ENG26LA011Incident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBombardier CL-600-2C11 · Hibbing, MNThe elevator control restriction was caused by the failure of an elevator autopilot servo control cable which failed due to cyclic fatigue. The slack in the cable wrapped around the servo mount in such a way that it interfered with the rotation of the servo…Nov 23, 2025 · N707EV · No damageNTSB ERA25LA303Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCentrair 101A · Springfield, VTThe pilot’s failure to assemble the glider’s elevator control before takeoff.Aug 16, 2025 · N99KG · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA076Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180H · Gulkana, AKThe failure of the left rudder assembly which resulted in a runway excursion and ground loop.Jul 17, 2025 · N91393 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25FA185Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMX Aircraft Tech PTY MXS · Hampton, VAA counterweight plug that loosened during the accident flight, jammed the elevator, and resulted in loss of control during landing.Apr 24, 2025 · N530RH · Substantial damageNTSB ENG25LA009Incident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBombardier CL-600-2C11 · Dulles, VAThe elevator control restriction was caused by the failure of the elevator autopilot servo control cable, which failed due to cyclic fatigue. The slack in the broken cable wrapped around the elevator autopilot servo mount in such a way that it was bound…Nov 20, 2024 · N501GJ · No damageNTSB CEN25LA029Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCub Crafters Carbon CUB · Ogallala, NEThe improper installation of the elevator control cable hardware, which resulted in the separation of the elevator control cable and a loss of pitch control in flight.Oct 27, 2024 · N257ST · DestroyedNTSB DCA24LA245Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 737 · Salt Lake City, UTDelta Air Lines flight 2046 flight crew's incorrect evaluation of the clearance between their airplane and Delta Air Lines flight 2046 as they turned onto a perpendicular taxiway.Jul 27, 2024 · N853DN · 2 aircraft · Minor damageNTSB ERA24LA251Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWilliam Loren Noggle JA30 Superstol · Tennille, GAThe loss of elevator control during flight due to the elevator control rod and its hardware disconnecting from its installation area, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate…Jun 8, 2024 · N719LN · Substantial damage
See all 74 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\", '01022730'))
  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.