# Physical

- Type: NTSB finding subcategory
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › Physical
- NTSB code: 0201
- Cases: 674
- In the probable cause: 491
- Fatal cases: 490
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0201/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0201/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0201

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

- 2008: 32 / 50
- 2009: 31 / 45
- 2010: 42 / 50
- 2011: 48 / 62
- 2012: 35 / 48
- 2013: 34 / 45
- 2014: 34 / 47
- 2015: 42 / 56
- 2016: 19 / 43
- 2017: 29 / 39
- 2018: 20 / 25
- 2019: 26 / 31
- 2020: 19 / 24
- 2021: 13 / 21
- 2022: 31 / 36
- 2023: 13 / 22
- 2024: 13 / 18
- 2025: 8 / 9
- 2026: 2 / 3

## Sections

- [Impairment/incapacitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020120): 423 cases, 363 in the probable cause
- [Health/Fitness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020130): 131 cases, 34 in the probable cause
- [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020135): 97 cases, 77 in the probable cause
- [Sensory ability/limitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020115): 45 cases, 31 in the probable cause
- [Physical, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020100): 15 cases, 9 in the probable cause
- [Physical characteristic](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020110): 12 cases, 10 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 220 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 57 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 47 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 38 cases
- [Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850): 33 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 28 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 22 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 18 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 16 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 16 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 11 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 9 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 8 cases
- [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 8 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 7 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 6 cases
- [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350): 6 cases
- [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 6 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 6 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 6 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 261 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 167 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 111 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 88 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 67 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 48 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 44 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 38 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 37 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 32 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB WPR26LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA167), Apr 24, 2026: Czech Sport Piper Sport (N610PS), Crownpoint, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to correctly identify the runway, which resulted in a landing on a residential driveway and collision with a gate.
- [NTSB CEN26LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA145), Mar 24, 2026: Classic Waco YMF (N43000), Galveston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxiing, which included the failure to perform S-turns to compensate for limited forward visibility.
- [NTSB CEN26LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA105), Jan 31, 2026: Cessna 441 (N441EC), Pflugerville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a rejected takeoff due to a flat nose wheel tire which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was…
- [NTSB WPR26LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA046), Nov 9, 2025: Michael W Verzwyvelt SS-7 Super Sport (N14PM), Boise, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s operation of the airplane while intoxicated, resulting in its impact with obstacles while on approach.
- [NTSB CEN26LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA033), Oct 30, 2025: Cessna 182H (N2040X), Lakeview, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach path during landing which resulted in a collision with terrain short of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the improper flap position…
- [NTSB ERA26LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA005), Oct 4, 2025: Bellanca 7GCBC (N289PS), Reedville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s sudden incapacitation by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.
- [NTSB CEN25LA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA390), Sep 9, 2025: Cameron Balloons US Z-90 (N418RX), Cedar Springs, MI, no damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s loss of balance during landing that resulted in a serious injury.
- [NTSB DCA25LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA308), Aug 31, 2025: Airbus Canada BD500 (C-GYLQ), Denver, CO, no damage. Probable cause: Unidentified burned debris in an aft galley oven, which generated smoke and odor in the cabin and led to an air turnback and subsequent evacuation, during which a serious injury occurred.
- [NTSB ERA25LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA197), May 4, 2025: Arlie L Raber III Challenger 1 (N59BR), Crestview, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to take off despite having problems controlling the airplane due to his physical stature.
- [NTSB ANC25LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA036), Apr 25, 2025: Stinson 108 (N9308K), North Pole, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. Contributing to the accident was his impairment from the effects of alcohol consumption.

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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