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Recent instrument experience

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NTSB finding · Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications

All 40 cases28 in the probable cause
Cases
40
In the probable cause
28 (70%)
Fatal cases
39
NTSB code
02031050

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '02031050') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '02031050'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '02031050') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 40

NTSB ERA24FA294Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Rutherfordton, NCThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from clouds, resulting in controlled flight into terrain due to mountain obscuration.Jul 8, 2024 · N2198G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA037Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna P210N · San Diego, CAA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate flight and fuel planning and his decision to fly in night instrument meteorological conditions despite his lack of recent instrument flight.Nov 16, 2023 · N1400 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA095Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Hooker, OKThe pilot’s decision to depart and continue the visual flight rules flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.Jan 29, 2023 · N6482B · DestroyedNTSB ERA23FA001Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172S · Hermantown, MNThe pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during initial climb in dark night and low instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a descent into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue due to a long…Oct 2, 2022 · N262TA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21FA270Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 421C · Monterey, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control due to spatial disorientation during an instrument departure procedure in instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of…Jul 13, 2021 · N678SW · DestroyedNTSB CEN21LA075Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA32 · Windom, MNThe pilot’s spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in loss of airplane control and subsequent impact with terrain.Dec 6, 2020 · N8178Y · DestroyedNTSB ERA20FA014Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA32 · Raleigh, NCThe pilot’s failure to maintain a safe glidepath during final approach to the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of recent instrument flight experience.Oct 20, 2019 · N534Z · DestroyedNTSB CEN19FA088Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA46 · Shreveport, LAThe pilot's conduct of a departure into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's poor instrument flying skills and his decision…Feb 28, 2019 · N428CD · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19LA012Accident · 3 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA34 · Westhampton Beach, NYThe instructor's decision to conduct and continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions with a known flight instrument anomaly, which resulted in spatial disorientation, causing a loss of airplane control and subsequent…Oct 13, 2018 · N593MS · DestroyedNTSB ERA18FA167Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRaytheon 58 · Springfield Township, NJA loss of control due to spatial disorientation while climbing after departure in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent instrument experience.Jun 13, 2018 · N218BL · Destroyed
See all 40 cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '02031050'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.