NTSB finding section · Environmental issues › Physical environment

Cases
3,471
In the probable cause
1,660 (48%)
Fatal cases
331
NTSB code
030220

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 Object/animal/substance per year: 3,471 cases
2008319
2009188
2010164
2011116
2012132
2013156
2014233
2015224
2016279
2017319
2018315
2019253
2020158
2021140
2022126
2023115
2024115
202581
202638
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\", '030220') 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 · 22

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\", '030220') 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\", '030220'))
  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\", '030220') 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 · 3,471

NTSB 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 damageNTSB CEN26LA289Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 Raven 1 · Scribner, NEThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low-level altitude during an agricultural operation.Jul 18, 2026 · N26EH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA256Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Coralville, IAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.Jul 16, 2026 · N322TC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA252Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT802 · Whiting, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.Jul 13, 2026 · N808HB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA220Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172S · Morgan Hill, CAAn in-flight collision with a bird.Jun 11, 2026 · N55231 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA234Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Mayesville, SCThe pilot’s failure to remain clear of a power line during an aerial application flight.Jun 8, 2026 · N144CD · Substantial damage
See all 3,471 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\", '030220'))
  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.