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NTSB finding section · Environmental issues › Physical environment

All 24 cases8 in the probable cause
Cases
24
In the probable cause
8 (33%)
Fatal cases
7
NTSB code
030200

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

Where

Open the map
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\", '030200') 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.

Subsections · 1

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT left(f.\"findingCode\", 8) AS code, max(f.\"tier4Name\") 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\", '030200') 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

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
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\", '030200'))
  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\", '030200') 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 · 24

NTSB DCA25LA102Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 787 · Ojai, CAAn encounter with turbulence during descent, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant.Jan 8, 2025 · JA892A · No damageNTSB DCA25LA055Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 787-9 · Pacific Ocean, Hong Kong SAR ChinaAn encounter with unexpected turbulence during descent.Dec 3, 2024 · N29975 · No damageNTSB ERA24LA227Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBrallier Scott Glasair I · Gulf of Mexico, FLThe non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying over water in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct the overwater flight in conditions conducive to the…May 26, 2024 · N446KW · DestroyedNTSB WPR24LA048Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportFlight Design Ctls · Hungry Horse, MTThe pilot's inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Nov 18, 2023 · N924RD · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA373Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150D · New Haven, INThe pilot’s loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with corn stalks, and subsequent nose over.Aug 20, 2023 · N4150U · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA305Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · San Antonio, TXThe pilot’s improper decision to take off in an airplane over maximum gross weight and with a tailwind, which prevented the airplane from climbing.Jul 25, 2020 · N716RL · DestroyedNTSB CEN20CA230Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportRobinson R22 · El Campo, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the rice vegetation, which resulted in the helicopter's impact with terrain.Jun 16, 2020 · N797SH · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA496Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportMIke Reed Super Cub · Murphy, IDThe pilot’s use of excessive brake pressure during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.Aug 19, 2017 · N7677M · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA179Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBurkhart Grob G 109B · Mokuleia, HIThe failure of the upper rudder hinge during flight due to severe corrosion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and the lack of an annual inspection.Mar 8, 2017 · N109FH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA17LA006Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA24 · Hollywood, ALA failure of the fuel tank selector valve in a partially closed position, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine and a total loss of engine power.Oct 6, 2016 · N8560P · Substantial damage
See all 24 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\", '030200'))
  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.