Pole

NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance

Cases
142
In the probable cause
53 (37%)
Fatal cases
14
NTSB code
03022010

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 Pole per year: 142 cases
200812
20099
20105
201110
20126
20135
20148
20158
201613
20178
201818
201911
20206
20219
20222
20234
20243
20254
20261
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\", '03022010') 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.

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\", '03022010'))
  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\", '03022010') 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 · 142

NTSB WPR26LA099Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada BHT407 · Libby, MTThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a light post during landing.Feb 5, 2026 · N407VS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA074Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPitts S1S · Carbondale, ILA loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from an uncommanded change to the fuel servo mixture position due to the improperly installed mixture cable.Dec 31, 2025 · N401MS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA065Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150F · Temecula, CAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Dec 20, 2025 · N8155S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA068Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Fort Pierce, FLThe pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while taxing, which resulted in the airplane striking a light pole.Dec 11, 2025 · N620AC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA359Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Nashville, ARThe pilot’s inadequate fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the landing zone being unlit.Aug 31, 2025 · N442PR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA037Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A36 · Pineville, LAThe airplane’s collision with a stake on a closed runway. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and failure to see the closed runway markings.Oct 27, 2024 · N3046K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA338Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Camden, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power transformer that was mounted to a power pole during an aerial application flight.Sep 5, 2024 · N602BA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA283Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Fallbrook, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi operations.Aug 9, 2024 · N56631 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA386Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Greensboro, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during taxi.Sep 30, 2023 · N9522L · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA428Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 17-31A · Maurice, IAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing.Aug 30, 2023 · N14723 · Substantial damage
See all 142 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\", '03022010'))
  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.