# Aircraft capability

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106) › Aircraft capability
- NTSB code: 010610
- Cases: 634
- In the probable cause: 519
- Fatal cases: 146
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010610/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010610/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010610

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

- 2008: 20 / 26
- 2009: 31 / 46
- 2010: 39 / 45
- 2011: 40 / 55
- 2012: 34 / 41
- 2013: 34 / 37
- 2014: 33 / 36
- 2015: 50 / 55
- 2016: 41 / 46
- 2017: 31 / 37
- 2018: 27 / 28
- 2019: 24 / 27
- 2020: 25 / 28
- 2021: 15 / 20
- 2022: 16 / 27
- 2023: 22 / 31
- 2024: 15 / 23
- 2025: 17 / 19
- 2026: 5 / 7

## Findings

- [Climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): 183 cases, 146 in the probable cause
- [Maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): 152 cases, 122 in the probable cause
- [Landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): 68 cases, 60 in the probable cause
- [Takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): 67 cases, 54 in the probable cause
- [CG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): 66 cases, 54 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft capability, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): 57 cases, 45 in the probable cause
- [Braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): 57 cases, 51 in the probable cause
- [Maximum crosswind component](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015): 21 cases, 19 in the probable cause
- [Instrument flight capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061055): 10 cases, 6 in the probable cause
- [Engine out capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061020): 8 cases, 5 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 125 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 71 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 63 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 45 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 44 cases
- [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 28 cases
- [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 27 cases
- [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 23 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 19 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 16 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 17 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 17 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 10 cases
- [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 10 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 9 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 7 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 7 cases
- [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23): 7 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 6 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 6 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 253 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 229 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 82 cases
- [High density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020) (Environmental issues): 71 cases
- [Weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015) (Personnel issues): 71 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 58 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 57 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 43 cases
- [Performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010) (Personnel issues): 41 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 35 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA336), Sep 9, 2026: Piper PA-32-300 (N4056W), West Kingston, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to bring the airplane to a stop on the available runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.
- [NTSB ERA26LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA260), Jun 25, 2026: Champion 7EC (N4346C), Highgate, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB WPR26LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA234), Jun 23, 2026: Piper PA-12 (N3013M), Dixie, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.
- [NTSB WPR26LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA193), May 14, 2026: Bellanca 7ACA (N9158L), Pacific City, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during a precautionary landing following a partial reduction in engine rpm.
- [NTSB ANC26LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA031), Apr 23, 2026: Piper PA-28-151 (N44690), Lapeer, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, runway excursion, and on ground collision with an object. Contributing…
- [NTSB CEN26LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA169), Apr 19, 2026: Luscombe 8E (N1398K), Meeker, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from terrain due to the airplane’s encounter with windshear during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR26LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA087), Jan 19, 2026: Kitfox Series 7 (N775DZ), Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain clearance from terrain during a go-around.
- [NTSB CEN26LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA020), Oct 15, 2025: Piper PA18 (N82016), Reserve, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent application of the wheel brakes after touchdown.
- [NTSB WPR26LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA048), Oct 4, 2025: Aviat A1 (N96WJ), Evanston, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with downdrafts in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight through…
- [NTSB ERA26LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA002), Oct 4, 2025: Maule M-7-260 (N368FS), Parkland, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to retract the amphibious airplane’s landing gear before conducting a forced landing on the water, which resulted in a nose over.

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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