# Heading/course

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106) › [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010620) › Heading/course
- NTSB code: 01062047
- Cases: 82
- In the probable cause: 78
- Fatal cases: 15
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047

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

- 2008: 4 / 4
- 2010: 2 / 2
- 2011: 1 / 1
- 2012: 4 / 4
- 2013: 2 / 2
- 2015: 4 / 4
- 2016: 3 / 3
- 2017: 7 / 8
- 2018: 18 / 18
- 2019: 20 / 20
- 2020: 4 / 4
- 2021: 3 / 3
- 2022: 3 / 3
- 2023: 2 / 3
- 2024: 0 / 1
- 2025: 0 / 1
- 2026: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 37 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 8 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 7 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 4 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 4 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 3 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250): 2 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 2 cases
- [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 3 cases
- [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases
- [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1): 2 cases
- [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r): 2 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 58 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 16 cases
- [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 13 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 11 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 7 cases
- [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 6 cases
- [Lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023) (Aircraft): 5 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA131), Mar 1, 2026: Cessna 150L (N10310), Okeechobee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR25LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA241), Jul 28, 2025: Cessna 182M (N71879), Inhama, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while taxiing, which resulted in a wing strike.
- [NTSB ANC24LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA101), Apr 15, 2024: Piper PA-18-105 Special (N303T), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR23LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA357), Sep 27, 2023: Cessna 172R (N17274), Redding, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s loss of airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in a bounced landing and impact with the airport’s windsock.
- [NTSB ANC23LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA029), Apr 3, 2023: Cessna 170 (N4464B), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintained directional control and the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision, which resulted in a loss of control during takeoff.
- [NTSB ANC23LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA026), Mar 7, 2023: Cessna A185F (N9697Q), Homer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA370), Aug 4, 2022: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N2055T), Shirley, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to ensure clearance from an electrical junction box during takeoff, which resulted in a collision.
- [NTSB CEN22LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA171), Apr 8, 2022: Cirrus Design SR22 (N248G), Peyton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to not activate the runway lighting and misjudged the runway location, which resulted in a collision with a windsock.
- [NTSB CEN22FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA131), Feb 23, 2022: Piper PA-32-260 (N3952W), Fostoria, OH, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control in night instrument meteorological conditions during the procedure turn of an instrument approach due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in a collision…
- [NTSB ERA22LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA081), Dec 4, 2021: Globe GC-1B (N7824S), Bennettsville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, resulting in a takeoff attempt from a grass parking area instead of the runway and subsequent impact with a pole.

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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