# Planning/preparation

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Task performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0206) › Planning/preparation
- NTSB code: 020610
- Cases: 1343
- In the probable cause: 1260
- Fatal cases: 291
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020610/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020610/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020610

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

- 2008: 85 / 85
- 2009: 90 / 93
- 2010: 88 / 92
- 2011: 104 / 109
- 2012: 72 / 73
- 2013: 80 / 83
- 2014: 88 / 94
- 2015: 74 / 79
- 2016: 67 / 70
- 2017: 53 / 57
- 2018: 68 / 74
- 2019: 55 / 55
- 2020: 64 / 70
- 2021: 50 / 55
- 2022: 55 / 67
- 2023: 68 / 74
- 2024: 45 / 51
- 2025: 44 / 50
- 2026: 10 / 12

## Findings

- [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): 719 cases, 699 in the probable cause
- [Flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): 179 cases, 168 in the probable cause
- [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): 156 cases, 130 in the probable cause
- [Performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): 114 cases, 108 in the probable cause
- [Planning/preparation, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): 113 cases, 104 in the probable cause
- [Weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): 110 cases, 95 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 474 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 120 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 117 cases
- [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 103 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 71 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 59 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 48 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 37 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 36 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 26 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 34 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 25 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 18 cases
- [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 17 cases
- [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 15 cases
- [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177): 15 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 14 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 14 cases
- [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f): 14 cases
- [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 13 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 687 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 330 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 181 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 89 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 81 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 77 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 77 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 70 cases
- [High density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020) (Environmental issues): 61 cases
- [Maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035) (Aircraft): 57 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA273), Jul 15, 2026: Piper PA-28-180 (N9758J), Linneus, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight and in-flight monitoring of the fuel quantity, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB WPR26LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA240), Jun 27, 2026: Bellanca 17-30A (N501CR), Santa Paula, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN26LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA225), Jun 15, 2026: Piper PA-30 (N8143Y), Meridian, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to verify the airplane’s fuel quantity before departure.
- [NTSB CEN26LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA194), May 20, 2026: Lockwood AIR CAM (N32F), Hutchinson, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA26LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA190), Apr 26, 2026: Piper PA-30 (N8432Y), Enterprise, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing into trees.
- [NTSB CEN26LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA165), Apr 14, 2026: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer (N495LP), Peyton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing to a field.
- [NTSB ERA26LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA171), Apr 12, 2026: Cessna 150 (N6586S), Naples, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA26LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA135), Mar 3, 2026: Cessna 152 (N588BR), Thonotosassa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN26LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA128), Mar 1, 2026: Air Tractor AT-502 (N5063N), Larose, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel planning and his failure to adequately monitor the fuel level during flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB ERA26LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA108), Feb 6, 2026: Stinson 108-3 (N528C), Palmetto, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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