# Mental/emotional state, general - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202) › [Mental/emotional state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020225) › Mental/emotional state, general - NTSB code: 02022500 - Cases: 21 - In the probable cause: 16 - Fatal cases: 14 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2009: 2 / 2 - 2010: 1 / 1 - 2011: 1 / 1 - 2012: 2 / 3 - 2013: 2 / 2 - 2014: 3 / 3 - 2015: 2 / 4 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2017: 1 / 2 - 2018: 1 / 1 - 2025: 0 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 8 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 3 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 1 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 1 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases - [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 1 cases - [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [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 - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 1 cases - [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65): 1 cases - [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e): 1 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 1 cases - [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h): 1 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 1 cases - [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 12 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 11 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 5 cases - [Prescription medication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012025) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 3 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010) (Personnel issues): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [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 ERA19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA003), Oct 6, 2018: Piper J3C (N38811), Fancy Gap, VA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to undertake a flight into forecast instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and his subsequent decision to continue the flight after encountering… - [NTSB ERA18FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA005), Oct 5, 2017: Bryant C Crosby BC Ultra PUP (N484HC), Bardstown, KY, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to initiate a flight in an airplane he had never flown and with no currency in any airplane nor a medical certificate, which resulted in his loss of airplane control.… - [NTSB CEN17FA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA138), Mar 24, 2017: Beech V35 (N2053Y), Union City, OK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a spin. - [NTSB WPR17FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA029), Nov 25, 2016: Bellanca 7GCAA (N88373), Glamis, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to attempt a downwind landing and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering during a go-around and subsequent landing attempt, which resulted in… - [NTSB WPR16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA014), Oct 17, 2015: Piper PA 28R-180 (N4972J), Morongo Valley, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot's improper inflight decision-making to attempt to outclimb clouds along his planned route rather than reverse course, which resulted in his inadvertent entry into… - [NTSB ERA15LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA366), Sep 21, 2015: Cessna 172 (N347SP), Bally, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during low-level aerobatic maneuvers. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper decision to attempt the low-level aerobatic maneuvers and his… - [NTSB ERA15FA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA330), Aug 28, 2015: Cirrus Design SR22 (N1116C), Alabaster, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures… - [NTSB CEN15LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA122), Jan 25, 2015: Cessna 172F (N8368U), Routt County, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain. - [NTSB ERA14FA461](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA461), Sep 28, 2014: Eagle R&D Helicycle (N7062U), Gallatin, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly the improperly balanced helicopter at high speed and low altitude, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident were the… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.