# Pitot/static system

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft systems](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0102) › [Navigation system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010234) › Pitot/static system
- NTSB code: 01023411
- Cases: 7
- In the probable cause: 5
- Fatal cases: 1
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023411

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2009: 0 / 2
- 2011: 1 / 1
- 2017: 1 / 1
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2025: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Flight instrument malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/334): 3 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j): 1 cases
- [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e): 1 cases
- [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b): 1 cases
- [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l): 1 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 1 cases
- [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35): 1 cases
- [Hawkins August E AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/hawkins-august-e-aventura-ii): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 3 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Airspeed/mach indicating](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Instrument panel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Freezing rain/sleet](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035040) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB WPR25LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA226), Jul 27, 2025: Cessna 182L (N42725), Tucson Estates, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to stop the airplane on the runway during a rejected takeoff for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with a ditch.
- [NTSB ERA19LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA269), Sep 12, 2019: Mooney M20J (N202JB), Bowie, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: A blockage of the pitot static system that preclude the airspeed indicator from displaying speeds greater than 40 mph, which led the pilot to abort the landing and overrun the runway.
- [NTSB CEN19FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA100), Mar 17, 2019: Cessna 421 (N424TW), Plain City, OH, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of airspeed indication due to icing of the airplane's pitot probe, and the pilot's loss of control while maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN17LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA184), May 15, 2017: Mooney M20E (N9265M), Dowling, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: Innacurate airspeed indications due to contamination of the pitot-static system with insect remains, which resulted in a high approach and landing speed and subsequent runway overrun.
- [NTSB WPR11FA415](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA415), Aug 29, 2011: Cessna 172M (N5155Q), Santa Monica, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s misjudged approach and landing attempt. Contributing to the accident was a lack of airspeed due to a blocked pitot tube.
- [NTSB CEN09CA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA342), Jun 5, 2009: Beech S35 (N8636Q), Decatur, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots' inadequate preflight inspection and failure to identify the presence of dirt and insect larvae in the pitot tube, and the owner-pilot's attempt to turn off the runway and onto the…
- [NTSB CEN09LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA276), May 2, 2009: Hawkins August E Aventura II (N20GH), Griffith, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the airspeed indicator due to separation of the pitot-static line…

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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