NTSB finding · Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection

Cases
167
In the probable cause
143 (86%)
Fatal cases
30
NTSB code
02061520

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 Scheduled/routine inspection per year: 167 cases
200810
200912
201010
20118
201212
201310
201416
201512
20168
20178
20188
20195
20203
202112
20229
20238
20248
20257
20261
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\", '02061520') 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

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\", '02061520'))
  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\", '02061520') 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 · 167

NTSB ERA26LA113Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 320C · Bartow, FLMaintenance personnel’s failure to perform an adequate inspection of the airplane’s landing gear, which resulted in a collapse of the left main landing gear during landing.Feb 9, 2026 · N3034T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA324Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · New Smyrna Beach, FLMaintenance personnel’s failure to detect and address water contamination of the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb.Aug 29, 2025 · N1607F · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25FA146Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 177RG · Grass Valley, CAAn improperly tightened B-nut fitting at the fuel flow divider, which resulted in a fuel leak and loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and the inadequate maintenance inspection, which failed to detect and correct the discrepancy.May 1, 2025 · N52156 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA188Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172RG · Louisburg, NCMaintenance personnel’s failure to identify and remediate water contamination of the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.Apr 23, 2025 · N6386V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA159Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSilvaire Luscombe 8A · New Port Richey, FLMaintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the exhaust system, which allowed exhaust gases to enter the induction system from cracks in the exhaust manifold, resulting in a total loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing.Mar 27, 2025 · N28790 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA141Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Hollywood, FLA total loss of engine power was due to a fracture of the crankshaft at the No. 3 main journal, which originated from a preexisting, thermally induced crack that had gone undetected by maintenance personnel during an inspection performed as part of the…Mar 12, 2025 · N3055B · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA021Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGippsland GA-8 · Lihue, HIThe failure of the right landing gear leg due to a fatigue crack, which resulted in its separation from the airplane during taxi. Contributing to the accident, was the mechanic’s inadequate inspection of the landing gear leg during the last maintenance…Feb 28, 2025 · N699AV · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA157Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech E33 · Lenoir, NCThe mechanic’s inadequate annual inspection of the airplane and failure to comply with an applicable airworthiness directive, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.Feb 25, 2025 · N7697N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA030Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Prescott Valley, AZSeparation of the No. 3 engine cylinder due to a loss of torque on the cylinder base nuts, which resulted in a loss of engine power and in-flight fire. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to ensure the engine case and cylinder…Oct 31, 2024 · N154DC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA029Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCub Crafters Carbon CUB · Ogallala, NEThe improper installation of the elevator control cable hardware, which resulted in the separation of the elevator control cable and a loss of pitch control in flight.Oct 27, 2024 · N257ST · Destroyed
See all 167 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\", '02061520'))
  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.