# Cognitive limitation - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202) › Cognitive limitation - NTSB code: 020230 - Cases: 14 - In the probable cause: 11 - Fatal cases: 9 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020230/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020230/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020230 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 2 / 2 - 2010: 1 / 1 - 2011: 1 / 1 - 2013: 1 / 1 - 2015: 1 / 1 - 2017: 1 / 1 - 2019: 1 / 1 - 2023: 0 / 2 - 2024: 2 / 3 - 2025: 1 / 1 ## Findings - [Cognitive overload](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02023015): 9 cases, 7 in the probable cause - [Cognitive limitation, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02023000): 5 cases, 4 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 7 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 1 cases - [Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332): 1 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 1 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 1 cases - [Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284): 1 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Trusty THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/trusty-thorp-t-18): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 1 cases - [Pilatus PC-12/45](https://openairdocs.org/model/pilatus-pc-12-45): 1 cases - [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec-135-p2): 1 cases - [Embraer ERJ 170-100 LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-erj-170-100-lr): 1 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22t): 1 cases - [Cessna 414A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414a): 1 cases - [Boeing 737-81Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-81q): 1 cases - [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407): 1 cases - [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Issuing instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037) (Aircraft): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA071), Dec 23, 2025: Cirrus Design SR22T (N272HM), Lake Elsinore, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s intentional deployment of the airframe parachute system due to task-saturation in instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB DCA24LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA318), Sep 25, 2024: Embraer ERJ 170-100 LR (N772MR), Chicago, IL, incident, no damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s misidentification of the intended landing runway, which resulted in an approach to and landing on the wrong runway due to their planned continuation bias. Contributing to the… - [NTSB WPR24LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA265), Aug 3, 2024: Bell 407 (N20BH), Raft River, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s misdiagnosis of an erroneous engine instrument indication and his subsequent decision to enter an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing due to degraded visual cues and low… - [NTSB WPR24FA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA238), Jul 10, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802A (N10122), Helena, MT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of situational awareness during the water scoop due to task overload while operating in a multi-airplane tactical firefighting environment, which resulted in the pilot’s failure to… - [NTSB CEN24FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA064), Dec 14, 2023: Pilatus PC-12/45 (N188PC), Christoval, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal - [NTSB WPR24FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA001), Oct 1, 2023: Cubcrafters CCK-1865 (N56DV), Twisp, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a rock during an aborted landing on a hillside, the collision with which resulted in damage to the aileron system that precluded subsequent control of the… - [NTSB DCA19MA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19MA143), May 4, 2019: Boeing 737 (N732MA), Jacksonville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An extreme loss of braking friction due to heavy rain and the water depth on the ungrooved runway, which resulted in viscous hydroplaning. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s inadequate… - [NTSB ERA17FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA190), May 25, 2017: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 (N62UP), New Castle, DE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of helicopter control during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation and the cumulative effects of task saturation. - [NTSB CEN15FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA190), Apr 7, 2015: Cessna 414A (N789UP), Bloomington, IL, substantial damage, 7 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the instrument approach in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of… - [NTSB ERA14LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA057), Nov 30, 2013: Piper PA-28-161 (N8878E), Elkmont, AL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A stuck exhaust valve, which resulted in a total loss of engine power at low altitude. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s decision to fly at a low altitude, which reduced his forced… 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.