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Directional control

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

All 3,958 cases3,826 in the probable cause
Cases
3,958
In the probable cause
3,826 (97%)
Fatal cases
86
NTSB code
01062020

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\", '01062020') 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

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\", '01062020'))
  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\", '01062020') 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 · 3,958

NTSB CEN26LA315Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportProgressive Aerodyne Searey · DeQuincy, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after encountering a wind gust. Contributing to the accident was nearby convective activity.Sep 10, 2026 · N80515 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA304Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Hudson Oaks, TXThe pilot’s loss of directional control during the rejected takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff after the airplane had accelerated above its normal rotation speed. Also…Sep 1, 2026 · N47899 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA307Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna Claassen 305A(0-1A) · Midland, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 29, 2026 · N41362 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA315Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-22-150 · Rural Retreat, VAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.Aug 25, 2026 · N6157D · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA297Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS · Searcy, ARThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 17, 2026 · N22FC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA298Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRotor Effects M24 Plus · Waelder, TXThe pilot’s improper execution of rejected takeoff procedures, which resulted in loss of control and subsequent runway excursion.Aug 15, 2026 · N91JL · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA282Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Champion 7GCBC · Sanford, METhe pilot’s loss of directional control during landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop.Jul 27, 2026 · N291CA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA279Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A23-24 · Middlefield, OHThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.Jul 23, 2026 · N3661Q · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA276Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportChristen Industries Pitts S-2 · Porter Center, NYThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.Jul 17, 2026 · N7RN · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA272Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 170B · Hartwell, GAThe pilot’s failure to compensate for the gusty and variable wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with trees during takeoff.Jul 10, 2026 · N1838C · Substantial damage
See all 3,958 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\", '01062020'))
  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.