# Experience/qualifications

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Experience/knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0203) › Experience/qualifications
- NTSB code: 020310
- Cases: 860
- In the probable cause: 541
- Fatal cases: 378
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020310/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020310/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020310

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

- 2008: 59 / 79
- 2009: 37 / 66
- 2010: 42 / 64
- 2011: 44 / 65
- 2012: 51 / 76
- 2013: 37 / 60
- 2014: 34 / 52
- 2015: 28 / 48
- 2016: 32 / 51
- 2017: 27 / 48
- 2018: 27 / 42
- 2019: 37 / 51
- 2020: 20 / 29
- 2021: 14 / 29
- 2022: 17 / 27
- 2023: 16 / 30
- 2024: 11 / 27
- 2025: 5 / 9
- 2026: 3 / 7

## Findings

- [Qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): 280 cases, 140 in the probable cause
- [Total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): 269 cases, 186 in the probable cause
- [Total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): 126 cases, 79 in the probable cause
- [Recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): 76 cases, 55 in the probable cause
- [Total instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030): 66 cases, 51 in the probable cause
- [Recent instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031050): 40 cases, 28 in the probable cause
- [Recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): 31 cases, 21 in the probable cause
- [Total experience in position](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031020): 19 cases, 12 in the probable cause
- [Experience/qualifications, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000): 18 cases, 14 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 297 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 103 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 60 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 48 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 39 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 36 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 31 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 29 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 26 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 18 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 13 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 11 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 10 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 8 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 8 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 8 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 7 cases
- [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172): 7 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20): 6 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 6 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 484 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 220 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 127 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 118 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 107 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 83 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 69 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 63 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 59 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 55 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA246), Jul 7, 2026: Rotec Engineering Rally 3 (UNREG), Hooker, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to an engine seizure for undetermined reasons because the wreckage was disposed of before it could be examined.
- [NTSB CEN26LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA244), Jul 5, 2026: Cassutt Iiim (N45889), Odessa, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which led to an aerodynamic stall and a loss of airplane control at too low of an altitude to recover.…
- [NTSB CEN26LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA245), Jul 2, 2026: Xag P150 MAX (None), Wolcott, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the UAS during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR26LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA182), May 12, 2026: American AA-5 (N5832L), Jurupa Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to land at night on a runway without illuminated runway lights. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to review NOTAMs for a nightly airport closure.
- [NTSB WPR26LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA148), Mar 23, 2026: Quicksilver GT-400 (N120LF), Chula Vista, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and a subsequent runway excursion.
- [NTSB WPR26LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA084), Jan 17, 2026: Maule M-7-235B (N116G), Cody, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
- [NTSB CEN26LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA085), Jan 6, 2026: Quad City Challenger (N194JR), Greenbrier, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the landing.
- [NTSB WPR26LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA055), Dec 9, 2025: Maule M-5-210C (N339X), Eureka, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flight experience.
- [NTSB CEN26LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA002), Oct 1, 2025: Champion 7GC (N621E), Haskell, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience with the recently installed brakes and tundra…
- [NTSB ANC25LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA121), Sep 18, 2025: Maule M-4-210C (N4612T), Lime Village, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A collision with terrain during takeoff.

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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