Fuel storage

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system

Cases
60
In the probable cause
55 (92%)
Fatal cases
12
NTSB code
01022810

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 storage per year: 60 cases
20087
20096
20103
20113
20123
20132
20143
20153
20161
20174
20181
20191
20203
20213
20226
20235
20244
20252
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\", '01022810') 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\", '01022810'))
  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\", '01022810') 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 · 60

NTSB CEN26LA084Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Taylor, TXThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in a loss of engine power due to water contamination.Dec 26, 2025 · N172BX · 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 ERA24LA359Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportChampion 7ECA · Sussex, NJThe pilot’s failure to properly secure the left wing fuel cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Aug 27, 2024 · N9580S · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA316Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna A185E · Eveleth, MNWater contamination of the fuel system which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight.Aug 14, 2024 · N2248T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA232Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172P · Citronelle, ALA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a fuel vent line that was clogged by an insect nest.May 27, 2024 · N658NV · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24FA029Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportDouglas C54D · Fairbanks, AKA loss of power of the No. 1 engine for reasons that could not be determined, and the incorrect installation of a B-nut fitting in the propeller feathering system, which allowed engine oil to spray onto the exhaust system when the propeller was feathered…Apr 23, 2024 · N3054V · DestroyedNTSB WPR24LA009Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportStephen D Phillabaum Helicycle · Deer Park, WAA loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from contamination of the fuel system during low-level flight.Oct 1, 2023 · N519SP · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA349Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172N · Compton, CAThe total loss of engine power on takeoff due to water-contaminated fuel. Contributing to the accident was the inadequately maintained fuel system, which resulted in water entering the fuel tanks through the filler caps.Sep 20, 2023 · N733ZN · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA336Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182P · North Myrtle Beach, SCThe pilot’s failure to properly secure the left wing fuel cap, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Aug 13, 2023 · N22RE · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA192Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportViking Air DHC-6-400 · Half Moon Bay, CAThe failure of the ferry fuel tank system to transfer fuel during a trans-Pacific flight for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent ditching into the water.May 20, 2023 · N153QS · Substantial damage
See all 60 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\", '01022810'))
  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.