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

All 933 cases273 in the probable cause
Cases
933
In the probable cause
273 (29%)
Fatal cases
104
NTSB code
03022020

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\", '03022020') 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\", '03022020'))
  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\", '03022020') 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 · 933

NTSB 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 WPR26LA172Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Young, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree stump during landing in mountainous terrain.Apr 29, 2026 · N407BB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA134Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportZlin Aviation Sro Savage CUB-S · Young, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during landing.Mar 20, 2026 · N9111 · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26LA159Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPyka Pelican Cargo · Summit Point, WVThe inaccurate obstacle height entered into mission planning that resulted in the aircraft wing’s impact with a tree during descent, resulting resulted in a loss of control.Mar 17, 2026 · N136ZP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA083Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150 · Round Lake Park, ILThe student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a soft-field takeoff and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.Jan 5, 2026 · N101FA · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA108Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Delta Junction, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an object during takeoff, which resulted in a collision and ground loop. Contributing was the pilot’s selection of an unsuitable takeoff area.Sep 17, 2025 · N7777D · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA119Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Eagle, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from brush during landing.Sep 8, 2025 · N1869W · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA088Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180G · Delta Junction, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear obstacles during takeoff, resulting in a collision with tree-covered terrain.Aug 19, 2025 · N4721U · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA312Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12 · Ozark, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree which resulted in the right wing impacting the tree and a subsequent collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane at a low altitude over…Aug 9, 2025 · N95356 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA106Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBrian Turner Northern Explorer · Delta Junction, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain obstacle clearance during landing, which resulted in an impact with trees.Aug 6, 2025 · N907BT · Substantial damage
See all 933 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\", '03022020'))
  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.