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NTSB finding subcategory · Aircraft

All 652 cases538 in the probable cause
Cases
652
In the probable cause
538 (83%)
Fatal cases
209
NTSB code
0103

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\", '0103') 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.

Sections · 8

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 6) AS code, max(f.\"tier3Name\") AS name,
    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
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '0103') AND f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY cases DESC, code"

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\", '0103'))
  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\", '0103') 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 · 652

NTSB ERA26LA292Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportExtra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LT · Whitehouse, OHThe pilot’s failure to ensure the canopy was properly locked before flight, which resulted in the canopy opening during takeoff.Aug 4, 2026 · N330SB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA289Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A36 · Weston, CTThe in-flight opening of the engine cowling, which resulted in engine baffling separating from the airplane and impacting the right elevator.Jul 30, 2026 · N9144Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA203Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPzl-Swidnik PW-5 · Soap Lake, WAThe pilot’s failure to ensure the proper preflight assembly of the glider's wing attachment system, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure during flight.May 23, 2026 · N157AJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA205Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV4 · Conroe, TXThe pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.May 13, 2026 · N292M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA131Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportQuad City Challenger · Van Burensburg, ILPropeller separation due to failure of the propeller attachment bolts.Feb 28, 2026 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26LA142Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 787 · Houston, TXThe captain’s inadvertent activation of the takeoff/go around switch at touchdown that caused an increase in the airplane pitch attitude that was not corrected before the lower fuselage contacted the runway.Feb 27, 2026 · JA873A · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26LA115Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus A321-271NX · San Francisco, CAThe first officer’s excessive aft sidestick input combined with decaying airspeed during initiation of a go-around, resulting in an increase in the airplane pitch attitude and subsequent lower fuselage contacting the runway.Feb 9, 2026 · N2188J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA085Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai · Brownsboro, ALThe flight instructor’s failure to properly lock the rear canopy prior to flight, which led to the canopy opening during aerotow at low altitude, and a subsequent off-airport landing in a corn field.Nov 26, 2025 · N103T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA337Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLarocca Roch B Eracer MK II · Mount Pleasant, SCThe failure of the nose gear actuator bolt during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and subsequent runway excursion.Sep 5, 2025 · N382RB · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA096Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna A185F · Haines, AKThe pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing area resulting in an on-ground collision with an obscured log and a main landing gear separation.Aug 18, 2025 · N9BB · Substantial damage
See all 652 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\", '0103'))
  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.