Altitude

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters

Cases
1,310
In the probable cause
1,235 (94%)
Fatal cases
478
NTSB code
01062012

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 Altitude per year: 1,310 cases
200897
200973
201063
201175
201281
201364
201497
201565
201671
201778
201880
201968
202071
202163
202265
202366
202467
202546
202620
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\", '01062012') 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\", '01062012'))
  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\", '01062012') 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 · 1,310

NTSB ERA26LA311Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHPH Glasflugel 304CZ · Xenia, OHThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Aug 21, 2026 · N304BS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA304Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Miramar, FLThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover, which resulted in the left skid contacting ground and a subsequent dynamic rollover.Aug 15, 2026 · N8316N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA286Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T188C · Randolph, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during a low-level aerial application flight.Aug 1, 2026 · N9998J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA285Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Tuscumbia, ALThe pilot’s failure to keep the tail rotor clear of an obstacle while attempting to land.Jul 29, 2026 · N29AE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA284Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Palmetto, FLThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with a fence.Jul 24, 2026 · N44704 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA289Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 Raven 1 · Scribner, NEThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low-level altitude during an agricultural operation.Jul 18, 2026 · N26EH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA256Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Coralville, IAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.Jul 16, 2026 · N322TC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA209Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Jonesboro, ARThe student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to practice slow flight maneuvers at an…May 30, 2026 · N90932 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA196Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGuenther Glen A Searey LSX · Briarcliff, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude and aircraft control during the base to final turn, which resulted in the airplane impacting the water. Contributing to the accident was reported downdraft wind conditions.May 24, 2026 · N379GG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA196Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDiamond DA40 · Wells, NVThe pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from mountainous terrain due to a downdraft.May 17, 2026 · N787PV · Substantial damage
See all 1,310 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\", '01062012'))
  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.