# Mental/emotional state

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202) › Mental/emotional state
- NTSB code: 020225
- Cases: 47
- In the probable cause: 32
- Fatal cases: 24
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020225/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020225/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020225

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

- 2008: 2 / 2
- 2009: 2 / 2
- 2010: 2 / 2
- 2011: 3 / 4
- 2012: 3 / 4
- 2013: 2 / 3
- 2014: 6 / 6
- 2015: 2 / 4
- 2016: 1 / 2
- 2017: 2 / 3
- 2018: 1 / 3
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2021: 1 / 2
- 2022: 1 / 2
- 2023: 1 / 2
- 2025: 0 / 3
- 2026: 1 / 1

## Findings

- [Mental/emotional state, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500): 21 cases, 16 in the probable cause
- [Stress](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510): 14 cases, 10 in the probable cause
- [Anxiety/panic](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022515): 10 cases, 6 in the probable cause
- [Confusion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022520): 2 cases, 0 in the probable cause
- [Boredom](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022525): 1 cases, 0 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 18 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 5 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 3 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 3 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 2 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 2 cases
- [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 2 cases
- [Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095): 2 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 2 cases
- [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 2 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 2 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases
- [Piper PA46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46-500tp): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 23 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 16 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 6 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 6 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 5 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 4 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Prescription medication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012025) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 4 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA255), Jun 30, 2026: Cessna 172M (N6814H), Lafayette, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s abrupt manipulation of the flight controls during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a fence.
- [NTSB CEN26LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA057), Dec 6, 2025: Zenith Stol CH701 (N701SA), Weatherford, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot being in a rush and failing to note the wind direction and speed.
- [NTSB WPR25LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA110), Mar 10, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N44KY), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB DCA25LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA114), Feb 2, 2025: Airbus Industrie A319 (N837UA), Houston, TX, occurrence, no damage. Probable cause: The failure of the cabin crew to activate the evacuation alarm and to maintain coordinated communication with the flight crew following the cabin crew’s decision to command an evacuation, which…
- [NTSB WPR23LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA212), Jun 4, 2023: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N6750K), Colusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.
- [NTSB WPR23LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA154), Apr 16, 2023: Cessna T337G (N38C), Upland, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly flare the airplane, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly a nonstandard traffic pattern, which resulted in an…
- [NTSB WPR22FA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA338), Sep 8, 2022: Czech Sport Piper Sport (N126WK), Santa Monica, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane during the landing flare due to the passenger’s excessive control inputs, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of…
- [NTSB ERA22LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA228), May 14, 2022: Cessna 172M (N20459), Lancaster, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s excessive pitch during takeoff resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing was the student’s failure to relinquish the controls when ordered by the…
- [NTSB CEN22LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA043), Nov 21, 2021: Cessna 172P (N99715), Wheeling, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing was the student pilot’s self-induced pressure to land after being admonished by the controller.
- [NTSB WPR21LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA269), Jul 10, 2021: Cessna 172R (N996RA), Petaluma, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing following a partial loss of electrical power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction and hampered visual function.

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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