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Descent/approach/glide path

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

All 810 cases760 in the probable cause
Cases
810
In the probable cause
760 (94%)
Fatal cases
84
NTSB code
01062040

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\", '01062040') 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\", '01062040'))
  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\", '01062040') 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 · 810

NTSB ERA26LA307Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Altoona, PAThe pilot’s descent below the glidepath and collision with trees during a missed approach.Aug 14, 2026 · N586MA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA286Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportInterstate S-1A · Blackfoot, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath during the landing approach, which resulted in a touchdown prior to the runway threshold, impact of the main landing gear with the pavement edge.Aug 1, 2026 · N37248 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA259Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMaule M-5-235C · Hickman, KYThe pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glide path, which resulted in a runway undershoot.Jul 6, 2026 · N9103E · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA246Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Lake Elsinore, CAThe student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath, which resulted in a long landing and collision with a person on the ground.Jul 5, 2026 · N5790S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA263Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRyan Navion A · Newport, NHThe pilot’s failure to attain an appropriate touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun.Jul 5, 2026 · N5205K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA234Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Dixie, IDThe pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.Jun 23, 2026 · N3013M · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA206Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 177 · Cascade, IDThe pilot’s improper approach, which resulted in a faster than normal touchdown and subsequent runway overrun.May 28, 2026 · N13430 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA220Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-180 · Chesapeake, VAThe pilot’s improper decision to continue with an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and collision with a runway marker light and sign.May 28, 2026 · N55739 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA124Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T210 · Upland, CAThe pilot’s improper approach, which resulted in a long landing, runway excursion, and a nose over.Mar 11, 2026 · N29138 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA122Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182 · Golden, MOThe pilot’s failure to establish stabilized approach that would have allowed the airplane to touch down with adequate runway remaining. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to execute a go-around.Feb 21, 2026 · N7276V · Substantial damage
See all 810 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\", '01062040'))
  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.