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Tower/antenna (incl guy wires)

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

All 55 cases35 in the probable cause
Cases
55
In the probable cause
35 (64%)
Fatal cases
24
NTSB code
03022017

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\", '03022017') 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

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\", '03022017'))
  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\", '03022017') 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 · 55

NTSB 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 CEN24LA175Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · England, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.May 1, 2024 · N8515G · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA101Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportLockwood AIR CAM · Ranchitos Las Lomas, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a meteorological evaluation tower.Jan 29, 2024 · N315GW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA071Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20J · Gaithersburg, MDThe pilot’s visual flight below published altitude minimums, which resulted in collision with a powerline tower structure.Nov 27, 2022 · N201RF · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T210 · Burleson, TXThe pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel supply, which led to fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.Oct 27, 2022 · N36X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA371Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAyres S2R-T65 · Wyman / Washington, IAThe pilot not maintaining sufficient altitude to clear an obstruction during the aerial application flight.Jul 21, 2022 · N9899 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA204Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172A · Stockbridge, GAThe flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during an unstabilized approach, which resulted in an impact with powerlines and a subsequent loss of controlApr 25, 2022 · N7572T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA043Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182Q · Carlsbad, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain separation from an FM tower guy wire while on an aerial survey flight.Nov 19, 2021 · N91AZ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA318Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Nappanee, INThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the tower during low-level agricultural operations.Jul 6, 2021 · N602RE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20LA306Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportThrush S2R-H80 · Hawkinsville, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna tower while maneuvering during an agricultural application flight while flying directly toward the sun.Sep 3, 2020 · N30529 · Substantial damage
See all 55 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\", '03022017'))
  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.