NTSB finding section · Personnel issues › Action/decision

Cases
3,679
In the probable cause
3,485 (95%)
Fatal cases
1,072
NTSB code
020415

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
Cases with Info processing/decision per year: 3,679 cases
2008173
2009179
2010190
2011231
2012221
2013195
2014233
2015216
2016201
2017220
2018194
2019183
2020187
2021251
2022248
2023218
2024162
2025125
202652
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\", '020415') 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.

Subsections · 5

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 8) AS code, max(f.\"tier4Name\") AS name,
    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
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '020415') AND f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY cases DESC, code"

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

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\", '020415'))
  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\", '020415') 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 · 3,679

NTSB CEN26LA304Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Hudson Oaks, TXThe pilot’s loss of directional control during the rejected takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff after the airplane had accelerated above its normal rotation speed. Also…Sep 1, 2026 · N47899 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA300Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T206H · Marble, COThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the final approach in variable and gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were localized wind effects associated with mountainous terrain and with nearby convective activity.Aug 21, 2026 · N464PM · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA284Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · Palmetto, FLThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with a fence.Jul 24, 2026 · N44704 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA249Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150 · Ellsworth, KSThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight.Jul 10, 2026 · N3773J · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA246Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Lake Elsinore, CAThe student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath, which resulted in a long landing and collision with a person on the ground.Jul 5, 2026 · N5790S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA263Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRyan Navion A · Newport, NHThe pilot’s failure to attain an appropriate touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun.Jul 5, 2026 · N5205K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA244Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCassutt Iiim · Odessa, TXThe 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. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent…Jul 5, 2026 · N45889 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA264Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Greensboro, NCThe flight instructor’s improper decision to leave the airplane with the engine running, which resulted in the airplane rolling forward and impacting a hangar.Jun 27, 2026 · N7764G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA234Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Dixie, IDThe pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.Jun 23, 2026 · N3013M · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA229Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRyan Navion · Bismarck, MOThe pilot’s failure to remove the maintenance spacer before takeoff, which resulted in restricted flight control movement and a loss of control.Jun 23, 2026 · N4583K · Substantial damage
See all 3,679 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\", '020415'))
  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.