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NTSB finding category

All 18,969 cases18,421 in the probable cause
Cases
18,969
In the probable cause
18,421 (97%)
Fatal cases
3,454
NTSB code
02

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\", '02') 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.

Subcategories · 6

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 4) AS code, max(f.\"tier2Name\") AS name,
    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
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '02') AND f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY cases DESC, code"

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\", '02'))
  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\", '02') 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 · 18,969

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 ERA26LA336Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · West Kingston, RIThe pilot’s failure to bring the airplane to a stop on the available runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.Sep 9, 2026 · N4056W · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA327Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · McMinnville, TNThe flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 3, 2026 · N276SH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA323Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M-20 · Stanfield, NCThe pilot’s failure to adequately manage the available fuel onboard the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing on uneven terrain.Sep 1, 2026 · N3706N · 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 ERA26LA313Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Milton, FLThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a low hover over a grass area, which resulted in left skid contact with the ground and a dynamic rollover to the left.Aug 24, 2026 · N979SH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA314Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 421 · Fulton, KYThe misfuelling of the airplane by the refueler. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to verify that the airplane had been properly fueled prior to departing on the accident flight.Aug 21, 2026 · N28RH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA300Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T206H · Marble, COThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the final approach in variable and gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were localized wind effects associated with mountainous terrain and with nearby convective activity.Aug 21, 2026 · N464PM · Substantial damage
See all 18,969 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\", '02'))
  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.