NTSB finding · Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation

Cases
77
In the probable cause
65 (84%)
Fatal cases
71
NTSB code
02012025

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 Prescription medication per year: 77 cases
20086
20095
20107
20115
20126
20133
20146
20158
20167
20177
20182
20194
20201
20214
20222
20231
20243
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\", '02012025') 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.

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\", '02012025'))
  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\", '02012025') 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 · 77

NTSB WPR24FA104Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportKolb Firestar KXP · Cave Junction, ORThe pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of potentially impairing substances with bipolar disorder, which resulted in a decreased…Mar 7, 2024 · N4443G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA080Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportSwanson R/Swanson S RV-6 · Concord, CAA total loss of engine power during takeoff due to a separated fuel line and the pilot’s subsequent failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's medical condition and the effects of multiple impairing substances.Jan 30, 2024 · N30AK · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24FA088Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech 95-B55 (T42A) · Leyden, MAThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a stall, which resulted in an inadvertent spin from which the airplane was not recovered. Contributing to the accident were the overall effect of the flight instructor’s use of multiple…Jan 14, 2024 · N7345R · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA258Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 177 · Hot Springs, ARThe pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning and inflight fuel mismanagement, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing, which resulted in the…Jun 26, 2023 · N3138T · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA050Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 170 · Gage, OKThe non-certificated pilots’ loss of airplane control, resulting in an impact with terrain during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the airplane owner’s impairment due to his use of ethanol and depressant medications, in combination with his…Nov 28, 2022 · N2710D · DestroyedNTSB ERA22FA422Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportWren Ronnie D Titan II · Citra, FLThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failure to maintain airspeed while recovering from an aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s use of…Sep 17, 2022 · N709RD · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21FA334Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802 · Benoit, MSThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s takeoff performance capabilities and his failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to his use of ethanol and prohibited medications.Jul 25, 2021 · N363BG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21FA233Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-22-135 · White City, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to his medical conditions and the effects of his medications.Jun 20, 2021 · N2618A · DestroyedNTSB ERA21LA171Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R66 · Palmyra, PAThe pilot’s improper judgment to attempt a flight while impaired by medications, which resulted in the helicopter’s abnormal ground contact, loss of control, and collision with terrain.Apr 3, 2021 · N577DD · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA107Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHawker Beechcraft G58 · Credit, ARA loss of left engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an emergency descent with one engine inoperative and inadvertent collision with transmission lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to respond appropriately to the…Jan 4, 2021 · N325GC · Destroyed
See all 77 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\", '02012025'))
  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.