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Perception

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NTSB finding · Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion

All 61 cases48 in the probable cause
Cases
61
In the probable cause
48 (79%)
Fatal cases
8
NTSB code
02022040

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\", '02022040') 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

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\", '02022040'))
  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\", '02022040') 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 · 61

NTSB CEN25LA140Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · Cash, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an excavator during low-altitude aerial application operations.Mar 28, 2025 · N41687 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA110Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Las Vegas, NVThe pilot’s loss of helicopter control after the door opened during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to confirm that the door was properly closed before departure.Mar 10, 2025 · N44KY · Substantial damageNTSB DCA25LA117Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 737-832 · Seattle, WAThe Japan Airlines flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the parked Delta Air Lines aircraft while taxiing in congested ramp conditions.Feb 5, 2025 · N3737C · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA036Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Owinza, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a low pass over a lake.Oct 13, 2024 · N9493CNTSB CEN24LA279Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEvolution Revolt · Rochelle, ILThe pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during a low-level turn, that resulted in an impact with the ground.Jul 21, 2024 · N798EE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24FA104Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech V35 · Clearwater, FLAn in-flight engine compartment fire due to a partially loose flexible fuel hose b-nut at the fuel metering unit. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the pilot’s inability to visually identify the destination airport at night, which prolonged the…Feb 2, 2024 · N6659L · DestroyedNTSB DCA24LA043Incident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 787 · Chicago, ILThe flight crew’s misperception of the distance required to safely pass the hangar and failure to request additional ground handling support while taxiing, which resulted in a collision with a hangar. Contributing to the accident was United Airlines…Oct 19, 2023 · N30913 · Minor damageNTSB CEN23LA377Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · Great Bend, NDThe pilot’s hard landing on a road and subsequent loss of control, resulting in the airplane impacting a ditch.Aug 15, 2023 · N9082C · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA357Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA25 · Hartington, NEThe pilot’s misperception of the rising terrain resulting in a collision with crops and terrain.Aug 8, 2023 · N8847L · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA350Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Carthage, ILA collision with a fence during landing due to the crew’s reduced distance estimation and depth perception while using night vision goggles. Contributing to the accident was the low moon angle, which made viewing the fence more challenging.Aug 6, 2023 · N288AE · Substantial damage
See all 61 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\", '02022040'))
  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.