# Personnel issues

- Type: NTSB finding category
- Path: Personnel issues
- NTSB code: 02
- Cases: 18969
- In the probable cause: 18421
- Fatal cases: 3454
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02

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

- 2008: 1,084 / 1,113
- 2009: 1,203 / 1,219
- 2010: 1,132 / 1,155
- 2011: 1,244 / 1,262
- 2012: 1,242 / 1,264
- 2013: 1,013 / 1,025
- 2014: 1,052 / 1,068
- 2015: 1,025 / 1,038
- 2016: 1,036 / 1,051
- 2017: 1,055 / 1,072
- 2018: 1,063 / 1,079
- 2019: 1,030 / 1,051
- 2020: 867 / 908
- 2021: 869 / 938
- 2022: 932 / 999
- 2023: 846 / 918
- 2024: 821 / 873
- 2025: 635 / 655
- 2026: 272 / 281

## Subcategories

- [Task performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0206): 13,661 cases, 13,200 in the probable cause
- [Action/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0204): 7,288 cases, 6,975 in the probable cause
- [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202): 2,517 cases, 2,348 in the probable cause
- [Experience/knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0203): 1,090 cases, 692 in the probable cause
- [Physical](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0201): 674 cases, 491 in the probable cause
- [Miscellaneous](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0205): 78 cases, 64 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 3,377 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 2,968 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1,068 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 895 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 802 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 639 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 639 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 588 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 568 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 555 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 333 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 267 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 263 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 239 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 223 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 209 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 201 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 186 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 175 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 155 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3,554 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 1,577 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 1,488 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 1,231 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 1,140 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 1,140 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 1,101 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 967 cases
- [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 928 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 757 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA315), Sep 10, 2026: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N80515), DeQuincy, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after encountering a wind gust. Contributing to the accident was nearby convective activity.
- [NTSB ERA26LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA336), Sep 9, 2026: Piper PA-32-300 (N4056W), West Kingston, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to bring the airplane to a stop on the available runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.
- [NTSB ERA26LA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA327), Sep 3, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N276SH), McMinnville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA26LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA323), Sep 1, 2026: Mooney M-20 (N3706N), Stanfield, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB CEN26LA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA304), Sep 1, 2026: Piper PA-28-161 (N47899), Hudson Oaks, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB CEN26LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA307), Aug 29, 2026: Cessna Claassen 305A(0-1A) (N41362), Midland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB ERA26LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA315), Aug 25, 2026: Piper PA-22-150 (N6157D), Rural Retreat, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB ERA26LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA313), Aug 24, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta (N979SH), Milton, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB ERA26LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA314), Aug 21, 2026: Cessna 421 (N28RH), Fulton, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB CEN26LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA300), Aug 21, 2026: Cessna T206H (N464PM), Marble, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

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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