Pitch control

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

Cases
528
In the probable cause
500 (95%)
Fatal cases
107
NTSB code
01062022

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 Pitch control per year: 528 cases
200813
200913
201021
201127
201228
201325
201420
201559
201661
201739
201826
201939
202024
202124
202221
202323
202424
202528
202613
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\", '01062022') 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\", '01062022'))
  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\", '01062022') 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 · 528

NTSB ERA26LA301Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSpirit Engineering SE-1 · Ossipee, NHThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing, which resulted in a nose over on the grass runway.Aug 12, 2026 · N5013W · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA273Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Boulder, COThe pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a stall and a hard bounced landing.Jul 7, 2026 · N2793H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA243Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportValerie Westedt Zenith Zodiac 650B · Colorado Springs, COThe pilot’s improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and their subsequent loss control of during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.Jul 5, 2026 · N452VC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA229Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRyan Navion · Bismarck, MOThe pilot’s failure to remove the maintenance spacer before takeoff, which resulted in restricted flight control movement and a loss of control.Jun 23, 2026 · N4583K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA221Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStoddard Hamilton Glastar · Summer Lake, ORThe pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll.Jun 15, 2026 · N399RS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA245Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft DCO-65 · Renovo, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during an off-airport landing.Jun 7, 2026 · N47123 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA199Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206-L4 · Cedar City, UTThe flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control while manipulating the engine governor reference rpm adjustment during hover operations, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the ground.May 23, 2026 · N917SU · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA209Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172S · Harrison, NYThe student pilot’s excessive pitch up attitude during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.May 18, 2026 · N5114Z · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA181Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369HS · Durango, COThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction and the pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.May 7, 2026 · N926ES · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA159Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Fullerton, CAThe pilot’s loss of control during takeoff, due to the seat sliding aft.Apr 13, 2026 · N285AH · Substantial damage
See all 528 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\", '01062022'))
  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.