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Perception/orientation/illusion

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NTSB finding section · Personnel issues › Psychological

All 601 cases560 in the probable cause
Cases
601
In the probable cause
560 (93%)
Fatal cases
412
NTSB code
020220

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

Where

Open the map
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\", '020220') 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 · 7

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\", '020220') 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

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
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\", '020220'))
  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\", '020220') 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 · 601

NTSB CEN26LA128Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · Larose, LAThe pilot’s improper fuel planning and his failure to adequately monitor the fuel level during flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of attention performing the task,…Mar 1, 2026 · N5063N · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA011Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150K · Anchorage, AKThe flight instructor’s unintentional selection of the wrong, snow-covered landing surface, which resulted in a nose-over.Jan 25, 2026 · N6333G · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26LA047Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEmbraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR · Chicago, ILUnited Airlines flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the parked Envoy Airlines airplane while taxiing in winter weather conditions.Nov 29, 2025 · N317TB · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA053Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTecnam P2008 · Blackfoot, IDThe student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude and clearance from trees while maneuvering at night.Nov 10, 2025 · N208CM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA036Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · Gueydan, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid birds.Nov 5, 2025 · N7315L · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA356Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSikorsky S-76 · Round Mountain, TXThe flight crew’s failure to properly identify the heliport in dark night conditions, which resulted in the flight crew attempting to land and a subsequent impact with trees and terrain.Sep 1, 2025 · N36RP · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA083Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A-1B · Chisana, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.Aug 2, 2025 · N900HY · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA082Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206F · Yakutat, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance during approach in gusting wind conditions to a remote airstrip, resulting in a collision with brush.Aug 2, 2025 · N206GR · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA081Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 208B · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s decision to continue an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a landing touchdown with insufficient runway remaining and a subsequent runway overrun and a collision with a fence.Aug 1, 2025 · N645AT · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA067Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRockwell International 690B · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff resulting in a gear-up landing on the runway. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s momentary distraction from within the airplane.Jul 3, 2025 · N690AX · Substantial damage
See all 601 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\", '020220'))
  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.