NTSB finding category

Cases
10,288
In the probable cause
5,686 (55%)
Fatal cases
1,606
NTSB code
03

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

Cases per year

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.

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026
Cases with Environmental issues per year: 10,288 cases
2008933
2009669
2010591
2011564
2012566
2013507
2014612
2015568
2016665
2017700
2018663
2019613
2020441
2021463
2022428
2023437
2024424
2025310
2026134
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\", '03') 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.

Subcategories · 4

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 4) AS code, max(f.\"tier2Name\") 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\", '03') 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\", '03'))
  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\", '03') 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 · 10,288

NTSB CEN26LA315Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportProgressive Aerodyne Searey · DeQuincy, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after encountering a wind gust. Contributing to the accident was nearby convective activity.Sep 10, 2026 · N80515 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA307Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna Claassen 305A(0-1A) · Midland, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 29, 2026 · N41362 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA311Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHPH Glasflugel 304CZ · Xenia, OHThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Aug 21, 2026 · N304BS · 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 CEN26LA297Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS · Searcy, ARThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 17, 2026 · N22FC · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA293Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 58 · Carlisle, PAA collision with a deer during landing.Aug 5, 2026 · N29DA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA291Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportVans RV8 · Linden, MIThe collision with a deer during touch-and-go landings.Aug 3, 2026 · N412CV · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA286Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T188C · Randolph, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during a low-level aerial application flight.Aug 1, 2026 · N9998J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA285Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L-3 · Tuscumbia, ALThe pilot’s failure to keep the tail rotor clear of an obstacle while attempting to land.Jul 29, 2026 · N29AE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA299Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Lakeland, FLAn in-flight collision with a bird while on approach.Jul 24, 2026 · N905KS · Substantial damage
See all 10,288 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\", '03'))
  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.