# Physical characteristic

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Physical](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0201) › Physical characteristic
- NTSB code: 020110
- Cases: 12
- In the probable cause: 10
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020110/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020110/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020110

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

- 2010: 1 / 1
- 2013: 1 / 2
- 2015: 1 / 1
- 2018: 2 / 2
- 2021: 2 / 2
- 2022: 1 / 2
- 2025: 2 / 2

## Findings

- [Strength](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011020): 5 cases, 5 in the probable cause
- [Size](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011010): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause
- [Physical limitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011030): 3 cases, 2 in the probable cause
- [Physical characteristic, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011000): 1 cases, 0 in the probable cause
- [Reach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011015): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 5 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110): 2 cases
- [Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282): 1 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 1 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Aerostar International RXS-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rxs-8): 1 cases
- [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8): 1 cases
- [Aerostar International RAVEN S57-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-raven-s57-a): 1 cases
- [Aermacchi IMPALA MB-326M](https://openairdocs.org/model/aermacchi-impala-mb-326m): 1 cases
- [Champion 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ac): 1 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 1 cases
- [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc): 1 cases
- [Arlie L Raber III CHALLENGER 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/arlie-l-raber-iii-challenger-1): 1 cases
- [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/versteeg-robert-h-jr-helicycle): 1 cases
- [Buchanan Dan PULSE 10 METER](https://openairdocs.org/model/buchanan-dan-pulse-10-meter): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Positioning/available space](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041010) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032) (Personnel issues): 1 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [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 ERA25LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA147), Mar 18, 2025: Champion 7AC (N1369E), Palmetto, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inability to overpower control inputs made by the student pilot during initial climb, which resulted in the airplane impacting powerlines and the ground.
- [NTSB CEN22LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA238), Jun 8, 2022: Aerostar International RX 8 (N9158Z), Hot Springs, SD, no damage. Probable cause: The passenger lost her grip during landing in a balloon which resulted in her hitting the ground with her shoulder and suffering a serious injury.
- [NTSB CEN22LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA159), Mar 28, 2022: Aerostar International RXS-8 (N9106Q), Yutan, NE, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper brace during landing which resulted in a serious injury during the landing sequence.
- [NTSB ERA22LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA068), Sep 27, 2021: Cessna 172M (N1401U), Indian Trail, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and initial climb. Contributing was the pilot’s physical limitation which caused an inadvertent application of left rudder.
- [NTSB WPR21LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA123), Mar 5, 2021: Aermacchi Impala MB-326M (N155TP), Edwards, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The flight crew’s restricted rudder inputs while in an inverted spin that precluded spin recovery.
- [NTSB WPR18LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA163), Jun 2, 2018: North Wing Pulse (N62073), Mountain Home, ID, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The hang glider's encounter with a developing vortex or dust devil while maneuvering during an airshow routine, which resulted in a loss of control at an altitude that precluded recovery.…
- [NTSB ERA18LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA087), Feb 24, 2018: Aero Commander Callair A 9 (N8401V), Bunn, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider instructor's delayed remedial action when the glider became out of position during aerotow, which resulted in excessive side-loading of the release hook and a delay in the glider's release…
- [NTSB ERA16FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA043), Nov 20, 2015: Beech A36TC (N7FG), Orlando, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning to join the final approach leg of the airport traffic pattern with full airplane-nose-up trim, which resulted in the airplane exceeding…
- [NTSB ERA14LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA005), Oct 19, 2013: Aerotek Pitts S 1T (N53CG), Punta Gorda, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with known ergonomic restrictions due to his size.

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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