Switching

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system

Cases
9
In the probable cause
6 (67%)
Fatal cases
3
NTSB code
01057430

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 Switching per year: 9 cases
20101
20112
20121
20171
20181
20222
20241
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\", '01057430') 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\", '01057430'))
  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\", '01057430') 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 · 9

NTSB WPR24LA099Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18A 150 · Dallesport, WAThe pilot’s failure to disengage the ignition prior to moving the propeller by hand resulting in the inadvertent starting of the engine.Feb 27, 2024 · N518SW · Minor damageNTSB CEN22LA423Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8 · Kingsbury, TXA total loss of engine power due to a failure of the ignition switch from carbon tracking, which resulted in a forced landing and a subsequent impact with trees.Sep 10, 2022 · N25144 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA335Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRutan Varieze · Columbia, CAThe pilot’s improper maintenance of the ignition system, which led to an ignition system failure and a loss of engine power.Sep 5, 2022 · N10EZ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA18LA199Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Cleveland, TNThe undetected wear of the ignition switch and key, which allowed removal of the key from an intermediate position and subsequently led to an unintended engine start-up. Contributing to the undetected wear of the 42-year-old ignition switch was the lack of…Jul 26, 2018 · N1311S · No damageNTSB WPR18CA028Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportStill Michael J Titan T-51 · Chandler, AZThe pilot's inadvertent contact with the engine control unit toggle switch during flight, which resulted in the engine shutting down.Oct 28, 2017 · N651P · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12LA085Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-200 · San Diego, CAThe pilot's failure to turn the magneto switch to the off position before moving the propeller to start the engine by hand.Jan 30, 2012 · N746R · No damageNTSB ANC11FA093Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · McGrath, AKThe pilot inadvertently switched off the engine magnetos during short final approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer's placement of the magneto switches in the cabin.Sep 4, 2011 · N13973 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC11CA089Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Cape Yakataga, AKThe pilot inadvertently switching off the engine magnetos during the initial climb, resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer's placement of the magneto switches.Aug 30, 2011 · N82448 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA398Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBradshaw Quicksilver MX II · Newark, ILA total loss of engine power during cruise when the ignition switch vibrated into the "off" position, leading to the airplane's impact with a ditch during the off-field landing.Jul 1, 2010 · N4469N · Substantial damage
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\", '01057430'))
  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.