# Decision making/judgment - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Action/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0204) › [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020415) › Decision making/judgment - NTSB code: 02041520 - Cases: 3100 - In the probable cause: 2958 - Fatal cases: 966 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 142 / 147 - 2009: 151 / 156 - 2010: 160 / 162 - 2011: 194 / 197 - 2012: 177 / 179 - 2013: 167 / 169 - 2014: 182 / 194 - 2015: 188 / 192 - 2016: 167 / 179 - 2017: 183 / 191 - 2018: 167 / 169 - 2019: 152 / 157 - 2020: 149 / 156 - 2021: 203 / 217 - 2022: 184 / 204 - 2023: 163 / 182 - 2024: 113 / 121 - 2025: 85 / 91 - 2026: 31 / 37 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 463 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 269 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 189 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 189 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 179 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 178 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 140 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 130 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 117 cases - [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 100 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 51 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 43 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 41 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 41 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 38 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 38 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 36 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 33 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 27 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 25 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 1,004 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 358 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 242 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 236 cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 226 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 202 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 193 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 176 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 156 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 147 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA304), Sep 1, 2026: Piper PA-28-161 (N47899), Hudson Oaks, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB ERA26LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA284), Jul 24, 2026: Piper PA28 (N44704), Palmetto, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during low altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with a fence. - [NTSB WPR26LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA268), Jul 18, 2026: Piper PA-18 (N7590K), Colusa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and in-flight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB WPR26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA266), Jul 18, 2026: Maule M-4-180V (N489LA), Creede, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s performance capabilities in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a forced landing. - [NTSB WPR26LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA246), Jul 5, 2026: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N5790S), Lake Elsinore, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath, which resulted in a long landing and collision with a person on the ground. - [NTSB ERA26LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA263), Jul 5, 2026: Ryan Navion A (N5205K), Newport, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain an appropriate touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun. - [NTSB ERA26LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA264), Jun 27, 2026: Cessna 172 (N7764G), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper decision to leave the airplane with the engine running, which resulted in the airplane rolling forward and impacting a hangar. - [NTSB WPR26LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA234), Jun 23, 2026: Piper PA-12 (N3013M), Dixie, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. - [NTSB WPR26LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA229), Jun 23, 2026: Ryan Navion (N4583K), Bismarck, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to remove the maintenance spacer before takeoff, which resulted in restricted flight control movement and a loss of control. - [NTSB WPR26LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA230), Jun 21, 2026: Stephen Aberle Chipper CH-2A (N618SA), Alva, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to taxi the tailwheel-equipped airplane over uneven terrain while operating with limited forward visibility, which resulted in the left main landing gear entering a hole. 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.