NTSB finding subcategory · Environmental issues

Cases
293
In the probable cause
176 (60%)
Fatal cases
48
NTSB code
0301

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 Operating environment per year: 293 cases
200873
200919
201019
201112
201219
201313
201419
201517
201613
201710
20185
201910
20204
202113
202212
202310
202411
202510
20264
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\", '0301') 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.

Sections · 8

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 6) AS code, max(f.\"tier3Name\") 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\", '0301') 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\", '0301'))
  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\", '0301') 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 · 293

NTSB WPR26LA182Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican AA-5 · Jurupa Valley, CAThe pilot’s decision to land at night on a runway without illuminated runway lights. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to review NOTAMs for a nightly airport closure.May 12, 2026 · N5832L · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA031Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Lapeer, MIThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, runway excursion, and on ground collision with an object. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to…Apr 23, 2026 · N44690 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA122Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182M · Flagstaff, AZMaintenance personnel’s decision to conduct an engine run at takeoff power in front of an active taxiway, and their failure to notify ATC, which resulted in the accident pilot’s loss of control during taxi due to an encounter with a jet blast.Mar 6, 2026 · N71518 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA102Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · New Castle, DEThe pilots’ failure to properly identify the assigned runway during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane landing on a closed, snow-covered runway. Contributing was the illumination of the closed runway’s edge lighting.Jan 29, 2026 · N969FG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA015Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSocata TB 10 · New Milford, CTThe pilot’s decision to depart from an unlit turf runway at night, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and subsequent runway excursion.Oct 10, 2025 · N28170 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA354Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 152 · Baldwin City, KSThe pilot’s decision to continue the night landing without runway lights which resulted in the runway overrun.Aug 30, 2025 · N89585 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA331Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportElmwood Christavia · South Saint Paul, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface.Aug 20, 2025 · N383JA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA267Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402B · Wyoming, ILThe pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate due to airplane’s improper takeoff configuration.Jul 15, 2025 · N647RA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA251Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-22-135 · Elberta, ALPilot’s decision to take off from a wet and unmaintained field that was unsuitable for airplane operations, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight.Jun 27, 2025 · N3228B · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA029Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172N · Manley Hot Springs, AKThe student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a snow and ice-covered runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.Mar 29, 2025 · N733KV · Substantial damage
See all 293 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\", '0301'))
  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.