# Qualification/certification

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Experience/knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0203) › [Experience/qualifications](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020310) › Qualification/certification
- NTSB code: 02031010
- Cases: 280
- In the probable cause: 140
- Fatal cases: 123
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010

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

- 2008: 5 / 17
- 2009: 5 / 23
- 2010: 3 / 16
- 2011: 9 / 19
- 2012: 13 / 22
- 2013: 9 / 16
- 2014: 10 / 17
- 2015: 11 / 18
- 2016: 12 / 21
- 2017: 7 / 20
- 2018: 6 / 11
- 2019: 6 / 12
- 2020: 14 / 16
- 2021: 11 / 19
- 2022: 4 / 4
- 2023: 5 / 10
- 2024: 6 / 13
- 2025: 2 / 4
- 2026: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 105 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 24 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 18 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 16 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 15 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 12 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 11 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 11 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 8 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 5 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 6 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 5 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172): 3 cases
- [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l): 3 cases
- [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151): 2 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 138 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 98 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 48 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 27 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 25 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 21 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 21 cases
- [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 20 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 20 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 18 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 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 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 WPR25LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA287), Sep 13, 2025: Briseno Samuel Kolb Firefly (N139SB), Cave Junction, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-certificated pilot's improper landing flare in turbulent wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA25LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA256), Jul 3, 2025: Kyle Koncak Aventura II (N508K), DeLand, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The uncertificated pilot’s failure to remove an improvised gust lock which resulted in a loss of aircraft control at an altitude too low to recover.
- [NTSB CEN25LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA161), Apr 19, 2025: Champion Aeronca 7AC (N83871), Estherwood, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering at low altitude that resulted in a descent and impact into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN25LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA074), Dec 27, 2024: Cessna 560 (N753MB), Pagosa Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and poor preflight inspection and decision-making, which led to a takeoff attempt above the airplane’s certified maximum takeoff weight with…
- [NTSB CEN25LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA024), Oct 19, 2024: Pitts S-2A (N11JC), Stoughton, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
- [NTSB ERA25LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA019), Oct 18, 2024: Cessna 150 (N11519), Gainesville, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s sudden incapacitation due to an in-flight cardiac arrest, which necessitated a landing by a non-pilot passenger and resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear.
- [NTSB ERA25LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA034), Oct 17, 2024: Hunt Exec 162F (N162AP), North East, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing following an encounter with an unanticipated wind gust, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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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