Research
The whole record, reshaped by a question.
Every count below is the Board's own coding across the cases in scope — findings, occurrences, phases, recommendations, the evidence held. Click any bar to make it the filter. No fleet-exposure data exists here, so these are cases, never rates.
AircraftAllBoeing / McDonnell DouglasAirbusEmbraerBombardier / De HavillandBellSikorskyRobinsonCessnaPiperBeechcraft
OccurrenceAllTurbulence encounterCollision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) Loss of control in flightGround collisionFire/smoke (non-impact)Cabin safety eventPowerplant sys/comp malf/failSys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)TailstrikeControlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)Air traffic eventRunway excursion
Showing 62 cases · Fire/smoke (non-impact)
62
cases in this slice
5
fatal accidents
15
lives lost
50
with a probable cause
49
with coded findings
39
safety recommendations
The record over time
cases per year by cohort, and the lives lost — click a year to focus on itCases per year
Major investigationPart 121 airlinePart 135 fatal
Fatalities per year
Fatalities
Why accidents happen
49 coded casesthe Board's findings taxonomy — causal findings in the probable cause, contributing factors beside them; occurrences and the phase of flight the defining event sat inAircraft43 cases · 52 causal · 22 contributing
- Aircraft power plant — Engine fuel and control, Engine (turbine/turboprop)24
- Aircraft systems — Electrical power system, Fuel system20
- Aircraft structures — Windows-windshield system3
- Fluids/misc hardware — Fluids2
- Aircraft handling/service — Maintenance/inspections, (general)2
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability — Performance/control parameters2
Personnel issues19 cases · 30 causal · 2 contributing
- Task performance — Communication (personnel), Maintenance13
- Action/decision — Info processing/decision, Action10
- Experience/knowledge — Training1
Organizational issues14 cases · 14 causal · 10 contributing
- Development — Manufacture/production, Design8
- Management — Policy/procedure, Resources6
- Support/oversight/monitoring — Documentation/record keeping4
Environmental issues4 cases · 3 causal · 1 contributing
- Task environment — Physical workspace, (general)3
- Physical environment — Object/animal/substance1
Not determined3 cases · 3 causal · 0 contributing
- Not determined — (general)3
Solid = cited in the probable cause · outlined = contributing factor · hover a row for the most-cited specifics.
Occurrences coded
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) · 43 defining62
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail · 6 defining17
- Evacuation · 1 defining6
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · 1 defining6
- Loss of engine power (partial) · 1 defining3
- Loss of engine power (total) · 1 defining3
- Electrical system malf/failure · 2 defining3
- Birdstrike · 2 defining2
- Uncontained engine failure · 2 defining2
- Flight control sys malf/fail · 1 defining1
Phase of flight of the defining event
- InitialClimb17
- Enroute15
- Standing7
- Takeoff6
- Landing6
- Approach5
- Taxi4
- Maneuvering1
- Pushback/Tow1
Aircraft and operators
by manufacturer family and operating rule — counts of cases, with no fleet-size denominator, so a busy family simply flies moreAircraft family
- Boeing / McDonnell Douglas · 1 fatal38
- Airbus · 1 fatal9
- Piper · 1 fatal1
- ATR1
- Cessna · 1 fatal1
- Beechcraft · 1 fatal1
Operators with the most cases
- Delta Air Lines10
- United Airlines8
- American Airlines6
- Federal Express3
- Jetblue Airways3
- Allegiant Air2
- Atlantic Southeast Airlines2
- Psa Airlines2
- Southwest Airlines2
- United Parcel Service · 2 lives2
- Abx Air1
- Alaska Airlines1
What changed because of them
39 recommendations · 10 opensafety recommendations issued from these cases, by the NTSB's status of the response- Closed · acceptable 14
- Closed · unacceptable 15
- Open · acceptable response 10
Issued per year
Recommendations
Reiterated most often
None reiterated.
Evidence held
what the corpus can show for this slice, year by year — a docket, decoded flight data, a transcript, photographs, controller audioWhat the record says for this slice
a pattern, not a findingthe causal findings the Board cited most often across the 47 coded cases here- Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control · Aircraft · 26%12 cases
- Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) · Aircraft · 17%8 cases
- Aircraft systems › Electrical power system · Aircraft · 13%6 cases
- Task performance › Maintenance · Personnel issues · 11%5 cases
- Action/decision › Info processing/decision · Personnel issues · 11%5 cases
- Development › Manufacture/production · Organizational issues · 9%4 cases
- Task performance › Communication (personnel) · Personnel issues · 9%4 cases
- Action/decision › Action · Personnel issues · 9%4 cases
- Not determined › (general) · Not determined · 6%3 cases
- Aircraft systems › Fuel system · Aircraft · 6%3 cases
- Task performance › Use of equip/info · Personnel issues · 6%3 cases
- Management › Policy/procedure · Organizational issues · 6%3 cases
The cases
62 of 62newest first — open any case for its recorders, transcript, photographs and analyst| Date | Case | Aircraft | Operator | Where | Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-14 | DCA26WA364 Part 121 airline | BOEING 777-223 | American Airlines | Ezeiza | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2026-03-02 | DCA26LA184 Part 121 airline | BOEING 787-9 | UNITED AIRLINES INC | Los Angeles, CA | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2025-09-12 | DCA25WA324 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-824 | United Airlines | Osaka | Minor injury | no docket · open |
| 2025-03-13 | DCA25FA159 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-823 | American Airlines | Denver, CO | Minor injury | no docket · open |
| 2025-03-01 | DCA25FA148 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | FEDERAL EXPRESS CORP | Newark, NJ | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2024-01-19 | DCA24LA079 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747-87UF | ATLAS AIR INC | Miami, FL | No injury | 4 docs |
| 2023-10-18 | ENG24FA003 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767-300F | FEDERAL EXPRESS CORP | Memphis, TN | No injury | 10 docs · FDR tables |
| 2023-09-30 | DCA23LA468 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-9 | UNITED AIRLINES INC | Denver, CO | No injury | 5 docs · FDR tables |
| 2023-08-28 | ERA23FA352 Part 135 fatal | EUROCOPTER EC135 | BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE | Pompano Beach, FL | Fatal · 1 | 25 docs |
| 2023-06-28 | ENG23LA031 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-9 | United Airlines | Newark, NJ | No injury | 3 docs |
| 2021-10-02 | ENG22LA002 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A320-271N | Spirit Airlines | Atlantic City, NJ | Minor injury | 5 docs · FDR tables |
| 2021-07-20 | ENG21WA033 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747-8F | UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO | Hone Kong | — | no docket · open |
| 2021-03-26 | ENG21LA023 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2C10 | PSA Airlines | North Canton, OH | No injury | no docket |
| 2020-07-24 | ENG20LA043 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2D24 | PSA Airlines | Charlotte, NC | No injury | no docket |
| 2019-09-11 | DCA19WA216 Part 121 airline | Airbus A321 | Jetblue Airways | Nassau | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2018-08-18 | DCA18WA280 Part 121 airline | Boeing 737 | American Airlines | Los Cabos | — | no docket · open |
| 2018-07-11 | DCA18WA247 Part 121 airline | Douglas DC9 | World Atlantic Leasing Llc | Chichen Itza | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2018-04-18 | DCA18LA163 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A330 323 | Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, GA | No injury | 25 docs · recorder reports |
| 2017-11-07 | ENG18IA003 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A330-243 | Hawaiian Airlines | Seattle, WA | No injury | 5 docs · FDR tables |
| 2017-09-06 | ENG17IA036 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757 232 | Delta Air Lines | Las Vegas, NV | No injury | 2 docs |
| 2017-07-02 | DCA17LA182 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL 600 2C10 | SKYWEST AIRLINES INC | Denver, CO | No injury | 11 docs |
| 2017-03-19 | ENG17IA017 Part 121 airline | DOUGLAS DC 9 83 | Allegiant Air | Dayton, OH | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-10-28 | DCA17FA021 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | AMERICAN AIRLINES INC | Chicago, IL | Serious injury | 51 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-10-26 | ENG17IA003 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A330 223 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Seattle, WA | No injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-07-29 | WPR16FA153 Part 135 fatal | PIPER PA-31T | Cal-Ore Life Flight | McKinleyville, CA | Fatal · 4 | 20 docs |
| 2016-07-07 | ENG16IA027 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Jamaica, NY | No injury | 9 docs |
| 2016-06-26 | DCA16WA191 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330 323 | US Airways | London | — | no docket · open |
| 2015-10-29 | DCA16FA013 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | Dynamic International | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Serious injury | 14 docs · FDR tables |
| 2015-06-08 | DCA15CA129 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC 9 83(MD-83) | ALLEGIANT AIR LLC | St Petersburg, FL | Serious injury | 3 docs |
| 2015-06-05 | ENG15IA024 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC DHC 8 | CHAMPLAIN ENTERPRISES INC | Windsor Locks, CT | No injury | 10 docs |
| 2014-09-21 | ENG14IA027 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747 | Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, GA | No injury | 6 docs · FDR tables |
| 2014-09-18 | ENG14IA028 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A320 232 | jetBlue Airways | Long Beach, CA | No injury | 3 docs |
| 2014-07-11 | ENG14IA019 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 332 | Delta Air Lines | Los Angeles, CA | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2013-10-22 | DCA14WA005 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757 223 | Providenciales | No injury | no docket | |
| 2013-03-05 | WPR13IA144 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER DHC-8-402 | Horizon Air | Danville, CA | No injury | 11 docs · FDR tables |
| 2012-07-19 | CEN12LA457 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2C10 | AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES INC | Peoria, IL | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2012-02-13 | ENG12IA012 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-10-30F | FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION | Portland, OR | — | no docket |
| 2012-02-08 | ENG12IA010 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | American Airlines | Jamaica, NY | No injury | no docket |
| 2011-12-09 | CEN12FA100 Part 135 fatal | CESSNA 421C | Quest Aviation Inc. | Sioux Falls, SD | Fatal · 4 | 43 docs |
| 2011-10-23 | ENG12IA004 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER CL600 2C10 | ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES INC | Atlanta, GA | No injury | 14 docs |
| 2011-06-21 | ENG11IA035 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757-232 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Atlanta, GA | Minor injury | no docket |
| 2011-05-25 | ERA11FA312 Part 135 fatal | BEECH 58 | FRIENDSHIP FLYING SERVICE INC | Murphy, NC | Fatal · 4 | 57 docs |
| 2011-04-04 | DCA11IA040 Part 121 airline | Airbus A320 | United Airlines | New Orleans, LA | No injury | 51 docs · FDR tables |
| 2011-04-02 | DCA11FA072 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER CL600 2B19 | US Airways Express | Phoenix, AZ | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2011-03-17 | ENG11IA021 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC DHC 8 402 | Colgan Air, Inc. | Pittsburgh, PA | No injury | 5 docs · FDR tables |
| 2011-02-09 | ENG11IA016 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757-2Q8 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Minneapolis, MN | No injury | 13 docs · FDR tables |
| 2010-12-25 | ENG11IA011 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 | Southwest Airlines | San Francisco, CA | No injury | no docket |
| 2010-09-03 | DCA10RA092 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747-44AF | UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO | Dubai | Fatal · 2 | 54 docs · open |
| 2010-08-04 | DCA10IA082 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767-322 | United | Chicago, IL | Minor injury | no docket |
| 2010-07-18 | ENG10IA041 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO MD-88 | DELTA AIRLINES INC | Atlanta, GA | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2010-06-16 | ENG10IA038 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Athens | No injury | no docket |
| 2010-05-17 | ENG10IA029 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757 | United Airlines | Chantilly, VA | No injury | 10 docs · recorder reports |
| 2010-01-12 | ENG10IA010 Part 121 airline | ATR ATR72 | American Airlines | St. Croix | No injury | 10 docs · FDR tables |
| 2009-09-03 | ENG09IA017 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER ERJ 190-100 IGW | JetBlue Airways | Nassau | Minor injury | no docket |
| 2009-07-20 | DCA09WA066 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | United Airlines | Keflavik | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2009-06-10 | ENG09IA007 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757-222 | UNITED AIR LINES INC | Denver, CO | No injury | no docket |
| 2009-05-13 | CEN09IA294 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO | Houston, TX | Minor injury | 20 docs · FDR tables |
| 2009-02-28 | DCA09FA033 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER CRJ | Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. | Tallahassee, FL | No injury | 24 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-12-24 | WPR09IA065 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-890 | Alaska Airlines | Seattle, WA | No injury | 13 docs |
| 2008-12-11 | DCA09IA018 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD88 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Greer, SC | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-06-28 | DCA08MA076 Major investigation | BOEING 767 | ABX Air | San Francisco, CA | No injury | 41 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-04-20 | ENG08IA022 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747 | KALITTA AIR LLC | Newark, NJ | No injury | no docket |