NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system

Cases
181
In the probable cause
165 (91%)
Fatal cases
22
NTSB code
01022800

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
Cases with Fuel system, general per year: 181 cases
200820
200912
20107
201115
201215
201312
20149
201512
20168
201710
201810
20192
202011
20216
20227
202314
20248
20252
20261
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\", '01022800') 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

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\", '01022800'))
  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\", '01022800') 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 · 181

NTSB CEN26LA221Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRockwell International S-2R · Gause, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the separated wing fuel tank screen and sealant debris in the fuel tank.May 20, 2026 · N4990X · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA188Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172RG · Louisburg, NCMaintenance personnel’s failure to identify and remediate water contamination of the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.Apr 23, 2025 · N6386V · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA101Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 177A · Farlinville, KSA loss of engine power that resulted from fuel contamination when it was treated with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution (antiseptic) that contained water. Contributing to the accident were vague fuel treatment instructions provided by the operator.Feb 20, 2025 · N30413 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA046Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · Gillette, WYA loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from a loose B-nut at the engine-driven fuel-pump inlet.Nov 24, 2024 · N55641 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA009Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportQuicksilver GT 400 · Garden Ridge, TXA loss of engine power that resulted from improper fuel system maintenance and the subsequent fuel starvation due to the leaking fuel pump outlet fuel line.Oct 8, 2024 · N2490H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA344Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7GCAA · Rifle, COA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Sep 8, 2024 · N36008 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA281Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEvektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA · Grants, NMA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined.Aug 15, 2024 · N272JT · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA216Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402 · Perryton, TXThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a low-level turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at too low of an altitude to recover.Jun 6, 2024 · N45123 · DestroyedNTSB WPR24LA148Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportKjelsrud Gary Kitfox · Powell, WYThe pilot’s adjustment of the carburetor to an incorrect setting, which resulted in partial loss of engine power during takeoff.May 10, 2024 · N605GK · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA152Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Opelika, ALA partial loss of engine power due to a combination of fuel/oil contamination in the fuel injector assembly.Mar 24, 2024 · N863AU · Substantial damage
See all 181 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\", '01022800'))
  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.