# Communication (personnel) - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Task performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0206) › Communication (personnel) - NTSB code: 020635 - Cases: 211 - In the probable cause: 176 - Fatal cases: 43 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020635/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020635/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020635 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 30 / 32 - 2009: 18 / 20 - 2010: 7 / 7 - 2011: 11 / 12 - 2012: 11 / 12 - 2013: 8 / 10 - 2014: 11 / 13 - 2015: 9 / 11 - 2016: 13 / 16 - 2017: 10 / 11 - 2018: 6 / 8 - 2019: 11 / 13 - 2020: 5 / 8 - 2021: 6 / 7 - 2022: 2 / 8 - 2023: 8 / 9 - 2024: 7 / 9 - 2025: 1 / 2 - 2026: 2 / 3 ## Findings - [Lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): 84 cases, 72 in the probable cause - [Following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): 31 cases, 29 in the probable cause - [Issuing instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538): 26 cases, 20 in the probable cause - [CRM/MRM techniques](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063540): 26 cases, 23 in the probable cause - [Accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): 25 cases, 21 in the probable cause - [Communication (personnel), general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063500): 17 cases, 11 in the probable cause - [Interpretation/understanding](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063530): 10 cases, 8 in the probable cause - [Common phraseology](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063520): 4 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Language/accent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063525): 2 cases, 0 in the probable cause - [Readback](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063535): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Crew/duty change-over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063545): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 21 cases - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 20 cases - [Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250): 13 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 11 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 11 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 11 cases - [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 10 cases - [Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320): 10 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 9 cases - [Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100): 9 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 9 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 4 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 4 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 4 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 3 cases - [Airbus Industrie A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-232): 3 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 3 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 3 cases - [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 3 cases - [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 54 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 26 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 24 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 22 cases - [Monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540) (Personnel issues): 22 cases - [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 18 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 15 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 14 cases - [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 13 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 13 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA260), Jul 20, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N224RH), Emerson, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to verify the loading hose had been disconnected before taking off and the failure of the loader to disconnect the fuel hose from the helicopter. - [NTSB CEN26LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA233), Jun 3, 2026: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir (N4101M), Gregory, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper planning during the simulated aborted launch which resulted in a touchdown on unsuitable terrain. - [NTSB ERA26LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA187), Apr 24, 2026: Cessna 172 (N99467), Quakertown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain aircraft directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing was the flight crew’s failure to ensure a positive exchange of flight controls… - [NTSB WPR25LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA284), Sep 15, 2025: Cameron Balloons US A-225 (N980VA), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon pilot’s improper landing, which resulted in serious injury to a passenger. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to brief the proper landing procedure. - [NTSB WPR25LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA087), Feb 1, 2025: American Legend AL3 (N79LC), Upland, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation during landing, which resulted in a runway collision with another airplane. - [NTSB CEN25FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA019), Oct 21, 2024: Robinson R44 (N881KE), Houston, TX, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a lighted radio tower during a visual night flight. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to issue a safety alert… - [NTSB DCA24LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA318), Sep 25, 2024: Embraer ERJ 170-100 LR (N772MR), Chicago, IL, incident, no damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s misidentification of the intended landing runway, which resulted in an approach to and landing on the wrong runway due to their planned continuation bias. Contributing to the… - [NTSB ERA24LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA351), Aug 18, 2024: Cessna 680 (N680SA), Washington, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s failure to properly configure the airplane before landing and the captain’s subsequent failure to recognize the landing gear aural warning, which resulted in a gear-up landing.… - [NTSB ERA24LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA352), Jul 19, 2024: Cessna 172 (N9991E), Danville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing and his inadequate communication to the pilot-rated passenger of her role during the flight. - [NTSB DCA24LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA241), Jul 17, 2024: Airbus A320-232 (N633NK), Orlando, FL, no damage. Probable cause: The captain’s inadvertent aggressive application of the brakes during taxi which resulted in a sudden stop. Contributing to the accident was the flight attendants’ failure to notify the flight crew… 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.