NTSB finding section · Personnel issues › Physical

Cases
15
In the probable cause
9 (60%)
Fatal cases
6
NTSB code
020100

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
Cases with Physical, general per year: 15 cases
20091
20106
20112
20151
20161
20212
20241
20251
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\", '020100') 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.

Subsections · 1

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 8) AS code, max(f.\"tier4Name\") 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\", '020100') 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

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\", '020100'))
  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\", '020100') 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 · 15

NTSB CEN25LA390Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCameron Balloons US Z-90 · Cedar Springs, MIThe passenger’s loss of balance during landing that resulted in a serious injury.Sep 9, 2025 · N418RX · No damageNTSB CEN24LA250Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Fayetteville, ARThe pilot’s loss of directional control due to a muscle spasm.Jul 4, 2024 · N669CB · Substantial damageNTSB DCA21LA184Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus A321-211 · Romulus, MIWhile conducting the safety briefing, the forward flight attendant was thrown backwards into the flight deck door due to the sudden stopping of the airplane by the flight crew to prevent a collision with a bus. Contributing to this accident was the bus…Jul 22, 2021 · N376DN · No damageNTSB CEN21LA158Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150H · Paris, TXThe pilot’s decision to takeoff with known obstacles on the runway and his subsequent failure to avoid the windsock on takeoff.Mar 13, 2021 · N50326 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA428Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrumman American Avn. AA 5A · Reno, NVThe pilot's failure to see and avoid fence posts during landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings.Aug 12, 2016 · N26104 · Substantial damageNTSB DCA15CA146Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 767 432ER · Atlanta, GAthe flight attendant inadvertently slipped off a worn tread descending the crew rest ladder.Jun 29, 2015 · N825MH · No damageNTSB CEN12CA024Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWaco Classic YMF-F5C · Moriarty, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll.Oct 16, 2011 · N415WW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA253Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA46-350P · Monroe, MIThe pilot's demonstration of poor judgment by attempting a high-speed pass several feet above the runway and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the runway.Mar 29, 2011 · N619VH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11CA046Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBombardier CL-600-2B19 · Pittsburgh, PAThe ground crew’s failure to detach the air-starter hose from the airplane before moving the cart away resulting in structural damage to a skin panel.Nov 2, 2010 · N454SW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11GA020Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportBell 206B · Clarkson Valley, MOThe total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and decision-making, and his improper control inputs following the loss of engine power, which resulted in mast bumping and separation of the…Oct 15, 2010 · N96MP · Substantial damage
See all 15 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\", '020100'))
  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.