# Prior to flight - Type: NTSB phase of flight (CICTT main phase) - CICTT code: 100 - Cases: 137 - Fatal cases: 8 - In the older codes (1982 to 2007): 0 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100/cases.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100 ## Cases per year (current codes / all) - 2008: 2 / 2 - 2009: 4 / 4 - 2010: 10 / 10 - 2011: 3 / 3 - 2012: 6 / 6 - 2013: 10 / 10 - 2014: 7 / 7 - 2015: 6 / 6 - 2016: 9 / 9 - 2017: 13 / 13 - 2018: 11 / 11 - 2019: 8 / 8 - 2020: 7 / 7 - 2021: 11 / 11 - 2022: 4 / 4 - 2023: 7 / 7 - 2024: 8 / 8 - 2025: 6 / 6 - 2026: 5 / 5 ## CICTT sub-phases (1962 to 1981, 2008 on) - Prior to flight (100): 137 cases ## Defining events in this phase (2008 on) - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 17 cases - [Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080): 17 cases - [Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010): 15 cases - [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 13 cases - [Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150): 13 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 11 cases - [Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020): 9 cases - [Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110): 8 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 7 cases - [Wrong fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194): 5 cases ## In the probable cause (2008 on) - [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): 17 cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): 17 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): 14 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): 10 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): 9 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): 7 cases - [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): 7 cases - [Weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): 6 cases - [Forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): 6 cases - [Use of equip/info, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): 5 cases ## Aircraft models (registry, all years) - [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c): 4 cases - [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 3 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 2 cases - [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 2 cases - [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4): 2 cases - [Boeing 737-8H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8h4): 2 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 2 cases - [Piper PA32-301FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa32-301ft): 1 cases - [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN27LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA022), Oct 19, 2026: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200 (N117RF), Springfield, MO, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ERA26LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA314), Aug 21, 2026: Cessna 421 (N28RH), Fulton, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The misfuelling of the airplane by the refueler. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to verify that the airplane had been properly fueled prior to departing on the accident flight. - [NTSB ENG26WA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG26WA037), Aug 14, 2026: Airbus A321 (XA-VXI), Chiapa de Corzo, Mexico, incident - [NTSB ERA26LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA288), Jul 23, 2026: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB45Z (N9532Z), Johnstown, PA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB CEN26LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA205), May 13, 2026: Vans RV4 (N292M), Conroe, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff. - [NTSB DCA26WA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA076), Dec 8, 2025: Boeing 737 (G-JZHT), Leeds, United Kingdom, substantial damage - [NTSB ERA26LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA085), Nov 26, 2025: Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai (N103T), Brownsboro, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to properly lock the rear canopy prior to flight, which led to the canopy opening during aerotow at low altitude, and a subsequent off-airport landing in a corn field. - [NTSB DCA26WA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26WA007), Oct 12, 2025: Boeing 737 (EI-ILN), Balice, Poland, no damage - [NTSB CEN25LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA332), Aug 21, 2025: Cessna 172 (N1401E), Air Force Academy, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection. - [NTSB ERA25LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA315), Aug 20, 2025: Patriot CX1900A (N150SP), Centreville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to detect and remove water contamination from the airplane’s fuel system before the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb. From 1962 to 1981 and from 2008 on, NTSB codes phases with the CICTT phases; from 1982 to 2007 with its older phase codes, counted under the CICTT main phase each maps to. Each case counts once, on its first aircraft: by its defining event's phase from 2008, its first event's before 1982, and its first occurrence's from 1982 to 2007. Compare years within an era: a first occurrence (1982 to 2007) is often in flight, before the landing, so landings count lower then. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.