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 85 cases · 2008–2008
85
cases in this slice
27
fatal accidents
100
lives lost
81
with a probable cause
80
with coded findings
109
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
80 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 inPersonnel issues50 cases · 100 causal · 10 contributing
- Task performance — Use of equip/info, Communication (personnel)30
- Action/decision — Action, Info processing/decision24
- Psychological — Attention/monitoring, Perception/orientation/illusion13
- Experience/knowledge — Experience/qualifications4
- Physical — Alertness/Fatigue, Health/Fitness4
Aircraft49 cases · 74 causal · 12 contributing
- Aircraft systems — Landing gear system, Electrical power system23
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability — Performance/control parameters, (general)15
- Aircraft power plant — Engine (turbine/turboprop), Power plant10
- Aircraft handling/service — Towing and taxiing, (general)7
- Aircraft structures — Doors, Empennage structure6
- Fluids/misc hardware — Fluids, Misc hardware2
- Aircraft propeller/rotor — Main rotor system, Main rotor drive1
Environmental issues35 cases · 36 causal · 21 contributing
- Conditions/weather/phenomena — Ceiling/visibility/precip, Turbulence25
- Physical environment — Object/animal/substance, Terrain11
- Task environment — Pressures/demands2
- Operating environment — Communication system1
Organizational issues21 cases · 29 causal · 12 contributing
- Management — Policy/procedure, Culture13
- Support/oversight/monitoring — Training, Oversight10
- Development — Selection/certification/testing, Design8
Not determined2 cases · 2 causal · 0 contributing
- Not determined — (general)2
Solid = cited in the probable cause · outlined = contributing factor · hover a row for the most-cited specifics.
Occurrences coded
- Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) · 2 defining16
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · 9 defining13
- Ground collision · 13 defining9
- Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) · 9 defining9
- Miscellaneous/other · 6 defining7
- Loss of control in flight · 5 defining6
- Turbulence encounter · 5 defining5
- Aircraft structural failure · 3 defining5
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) · 2 defining4
- Ground handling event · 4 defining3
- Cabin safety event · 2 defining3
- Loss of engine power (partial) · 3 defining3
- Electrical system malf/failure · 3 defining3
- Aerodynamic stall/spin · 2 defining3
Phase of flight of the defining event
- Enroute22
- Approach14
- Taxi11
- Pushback/Tow10
- Takeoff10
- Landing8
- InitialClimb8
- Standing5
- Maneuvering1
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 fatal35
- Bombardier / De Havilland · 3 fatal12
- Airbus · 3 fatal7
- Beechcraft · 5 fatal7
- Other · 4 fatal6
- Cessna · 5 fatal5
- Bell · 4 fatal4
- Cirrus · 1 fatal1
- Saab1
- Piper · 1 fatal1
Operators with the most cases
- American Airlines5
- Southwest Airlines5
- Delta Air Lines3
- Mesa Airlines3
- Northwest Airlines3
- United Airlines3
- Alaska Airlines2
- Continental Airlines2
- Kalitta Air2
- Kalitta Flying Service2
- Us Airways2
- Above It All · 3 lives1
What changed because of them
109 recommendations · 2 opensafety recommendations issued from these cases, by the NTSB's status of the response- Closed · acceptable 55
- Closed · unacceptable 43
- Closed · superseded or reconsidered 9
- Open · acceptable response 2
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 80 coded cases here- Action/decision › Action · Personnel issues · 19%15 cases
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters · Aircraft · 18%14 cases
- Task performance › Use of equip/info · Personnel issues · 16%13 cases
- Action/decision › Info processing/decision · Personnel issues · 12%10 cases
- Psychological › Attention/monitoring · Personnel issues · 11%9 cases
- Task performance › Communication (personnel) · Personnel issues · 11%9 cases
- Aircraft systems › Landing gear system · Aircraft · 10%8 cases
- Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence · Environmental issues · 9%7 cases
- Task performance › Maintenance · Personnel issues · 9%7 cases
- Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip · Environmental issues · 9%7 cases
- Management › Policy/procedure · Organizational issues · 6%5 cases
- Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion · Personnel issues · 6%5 cases
The cases
85 of 85newest first — open any case for its recorders, transcript, photographs and analyst| Date | Case | Aircraft | Operator | Where | Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-12-31 | DCA09FA025 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER EMB145 | Freedom Airlines Inc., | New York, NY | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-12-28 | WPR09FA068 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757-351 | NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC | Seattle, WA | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-12-27 | CEN09LA106 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER ERJ 170-10 | REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC | Kansas City, MO | Serious injury | no docket |
| 2008-12-26 | DCA09FA022 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-83 | AMERICAN AIRLINES INC | Los Angeles Intl Airport, CA | No injury | 12 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-12-24 | WPR09IA065 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-890 | Alaska Airlines | Seattle, WA | No injury | 13 docs |
| 2008-12-23 | CEN09LA114 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747-212B | EVERGREEN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES INC | Rockford, IL | No injury | 2 docs |
| 2008-12-21 | DCA09MA021 Major investigation | BOEING 737-524 | CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INC | Denver, CO | Serious injury | 91 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-12-20 | ANC09IA015 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-4Q8 | Alaska Airlines | Sitka, AK | Minor injury | 2 docs |
| 2008-12-16 | CEN09FA094 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER CL-600-2C10 | Mesa Airlines, Inc | Chicago, IL | No injury | 25 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-12-14 | DCA09IA017 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER CL-600-2B19 | AIR WISCONSIN AIRLINES CORPORATION | Philadelphia, PA | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-12-11 | CEN09FA086 Part 135 fatal | BELL 206L-4 | Rotorcraft Leasing Company, LLC | Sabine Pass, TX | Fatal · 5 | 18 docs |
| 2008-12-11 | DCA09IA018 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD88 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Greer, SC | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-12-03 | ERA09FA078 Part 135 fatal | ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 690B | Webstas Aviation Services | Rio Grande, PR | Fatal · 3 | 25 docs |
| 2008-12-03 | CEN09LA093 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-50 | NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC | Madison, WI | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2008-11-26 | DCA09IA014 Part 121 airline | BOEING 777 | Delta Air Lines | Bozeman, MT | No injury | 25 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-11-16 | ERA09IA056 Part 121 airline | DeHavilland DHC-8-311 | Piedmont Airlines | Philadelphia, PA | No injury | 14 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-11-13 | DCA09FA011 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2B19 | Pinnacle Airlines, Inc | Detroit, MI | Minor injury | 10 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-11-07 | WPR09IA033 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-700 | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO | Salt Lake City, UT | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-11-07 | ERA09FA039 Part 135 fatal | PARTENAVIA SPA P.68C | Florida Aero Charter Inc. | Gainesville, FL | Fatal · 3 | 21 docs |
| 2008-10-20 | DCA09FA004 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS 320 | United Airlines | Phoenix, AZ | No injury | 10 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-10-16 | CEN09MA019 Major investigation | BELL 222 | AIR ANGELS INC | Aurora, IL | Fatal · 4 | 19 docs |
| 2008-10-01 | ENG08IA042 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 | Southwest Airlines, Co. | Chicago, IL | No injury | 3 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-09-28 | MIA08MA203 Major investigation | AEROSPATIALE SA365N-1 D | Maryland State Police | District Heights, MD | Fatal · 4 | 126 docs |
| 2008-09-22 | CHI08IA292 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757-223 | American Airlines, Inc. | Chicago, IL | No injury | 38 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-09-22 | OPS09IA001 Part 121 airline | American Airlines | Peoria, IL | No injury | no docket | |
| 2008-09-20 | DCA08MA098 Major investigation | Learjet LR60 | Global Exec Avaition | Columbia, SC | Fatal · 4 | 1 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-09-15 | DFW08RA232 Part 135 fatal | Cessna 421B | Volare Air Charter | Ojinaga | Fatal · 4 | no docket · open |
| 2008-09-12 | CHI08FA282 Part 135 fatal | Cirrus Design Corporation SR22 | Woodruff, WI | Fatal · 3 | 58 docs | |
| 2008-09-07 | DEN08LA151 Part 121 airline | BEECH 1900D | St. Louis, MO | No injury | no docket | |
| 2008-09-01 | CHI08MA270 Major investigation | CONVAIR CV-580 | Columbus, OH | Fatal · 3 | 53 docs · recorder reports | |
| 2008-08-26 | NYC08IA290 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747-209B | KALITTA FLYING SERVICE INC | Bogota | No injury | 31 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-08-22 | LAX08MA277 Major investigation | BEECH A100 | Leavitt Group Wings LLC | Moab, UT | Fatal · 10 | 42 docs |
| 2008-08-14 | DFW08CA215 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER EMB-145LR | TRANS STATES AIRLINES | St. Louis, MO | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-08-06 | ENG08IA038 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Las Vegas, NV | No injury | 13 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-07-31 | DCA08MA085 Major investigation | Raytheon Corporate Jets BAE 125-800A | East Coast Jets Inc., | Owatonna, MN | Fatal · 8 | 76 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-07-29 | ANC08IA092 Part 121 airline | Saab-Scania AB (Saab) SAAB 340B | PENINSULA AIRWAYS INC | Anchorage, AK | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-07-07 | DCA08RA078 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747-200FM | KALITTA FLYING SERVICE INC | Madrid | Fatal | no docket |
| 2008-07-07 | CHI08IA182 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-81 | Midwest Airlines, Inc. | St. Louis, MO | No injury | 17 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-07-06 | DCA08RA077 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-15 | USA JET AIRLINES INC | Saltillo | Fatal · 1 | 18 docs · recorder reports · open |
| 2008-07-03 | OPS08IA007 Part 121 airline | Boeing 737-700 | AirTrans | Seattle, WA | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-06-29 | DEN08MA116 Major investigation | BELL 407 | Air Methods Corp. | Flagstaff, AZ | Fatal · 7 | no docket |
| 2008-06-28 | NYC08LA234 Part 121 airline | Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2C10 | PSA Airlines Inc. | Charlotte, NC | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-06-28 | DCA08MA076 Major investigation | BOEING 767 | ABX Air | San Francisco, CA | No injury | 41 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-06-27 | ENG08IA051 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 | US AIRWAYS INC | Phoenix (PHX), AZ | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-06-18 | NYC08FA218 Part 135 fatal | DEHAVILLAND DHC6 | WIGGINS AIRWAYS INC | Hyannis, MA | Fatal · 1 | no docket |
| 2008-06-17 | LAX08FA190 Part 135 fatal | CESSNA 172M | Above It All, Inc. | Pahala, HI | Fatal · 3 | no docket |
| 2008-06-14 | DCA08FA075 Part 121 airline | DOUGLAS MD-10 | FEDERAL EXPRESS CORP | Raymond, PA | No injury | 8 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-06-08 | DEN08FA101 Part 135 fatal | BELL 407 | Huntsville, TX | Fatal · 4 | 17 docs | |
| 2008-05-30 | SEA08FA146 Part 135 fatal | CESSNA 172R | Redtail Aviation Inc | Monticello, UT | Fatal · 2 | 16 docs |
| 2008-05-27 | DCA08FA064 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER 140 | American Airlines | Dallas, TX | Serious injury | 2 docs |
| 2008-05-25 | DCA08RA063 Part 121 airline | Boeing B747-200 | KALITTA AIR | Brussels | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2008-05-24 | SEA08MA136 Major investigation | AEROSPATIALE AS-350-D | Island Express Helicopters | Avalon, CA | Fatal · 3 | 73 docs |
| 2008-05-23 | SEA08FA135 Part 135 fatal | BEECH 1900C | ALPINE AVIATION INC | Billings, MT | Fatal · 1 | no docket |
| 2008-05-19 | DCA08FA062 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC10 | Omni Air International | Pacific Ocean | Serious injury | 5 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-05-17 | LAX08FA144 Part 135 fatal | de Havilland DHC-2 MK I | Lake Chelan Air Service, Inc. | Stehekin, WA | Fatal · 2 | no docket |
| 2008-05-16 | DCA08WA071 Part 121 airline | Boeing B727-200F | Asia Pacific Airlines | Kolonia | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2008-04-27 | ENG08IA025 Part 121 airline | BOEING MD-11 | FedEx Ecpress | Singapore | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2008-04-24 | CHI08IA119 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL600-2D24 | MESABA AVIATION INC | Minneapolis, MN | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-04-20 | ENG08IA022 Part 121 airline | BOEING 747 | KALITTA AIR LLC | Newark, NJ | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-04-15 | ANC08FA053 Part 135 fatal | EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2 | ERA HELICOPTERS LLC | Chickaloon, AK | Fatal · 4 | 39 docs |
| 2008-04-07 | NYC08CA156 Part 121 airline | Boeing 737-823 | American Airlines Inc. | Miami, FL | Serious injury | no docket |
| 2008-03-27 | DFW08IA087 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-524 | Continental Airlines Inc | Houston, TX | No injury | 8 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-03-26 | SEA08IA096 Part 121 airline | Raytheon Aircraft Company 1900D | Great Lakes Aviation | Page, AZ | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-03-22 | DCA08IA048 Part 121 airline | Boeing 757-200 | US AIRWAYS INC | Richmond, VA | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2008-03-04 | DFW08MA076 Major investigation | CESSNA 500 | Interstate Helicopters Inc | Oklahoma City, OK | Fatal · 5 | 42 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-03-01 | DFW08IA074 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-7H4 | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO | Dallas, TX | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-02-26 | DCA08IA044 Part 121 airline | Airbus Industrie A320 | United Air Lines | Jackson, WY | Minor injury | 39 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-02-24 | LAX08IA065 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-300 | Southwest Airlines Co. | Las Vegas, NV | Minor injury | 11 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-02-23 | NYC08CA115 Part 121 airline | Boeing 737-700 | Southwest Airlines Co. | Valdosta, GA | Serious injury | no docket |
| 2008-02-18 | DFW08IA073 Part 121 airline | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Austin, TX | No injury | no docket | |
| 2008-02-17 | DCA08CA041 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER ERJ170 | REPUBLIC AIRLINES INC | Washington, DC | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-02-15 | MIA08CA065 Part 121 airline | Embraer EMB-145LR | Delta Connection | Covington, KY | Serious injury | no docket |
| 2008-02-13 | SEA08IA080 Part 121 airline | Bombardier, Inc. CL-600 | Mesa Airlines | Hilo, HI | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-02-03 | DEN08LA055 Part 121 airline | de Havilland DHC-8-202 | Mesa Airlines, Inc. | Denver, CO | Serious injury | no docket |
| 2008-02-01 | NYC08MA090 Major investigation | RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY C90A | BLUE SKY AIRWAYS INC | Mount Airy, NC | Fatal · 6 | 28 docs · recorder reports |
| 2008-02-01 | MIA08MA051 Major investigation | CESSNA 525 | Jeanette A. Symons | West Gardiner, ME | Fatal · 2 | 29 docs |
| 2008-01-31 | ENG08IA011 Part 121 airline | Boeing B757-200 | AMERICAN AIRLINES COMMERCIAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS | West Palm Beach, FL | Minor injury | no docket |
| 2008-01-25 | DCA08IA033 Part 121 airline | Airbus A320 | United Airlines Inc | Newark, NJ | No injury | 4 docs · FDR tables |
| 2008-01-18 | ANC08IA033 Part 121 airline | Fairchild SA227-AC | Dutch Harbor, AK | No injury | no docket | |
| 2008-01-17 | DFW08FA056 Part 135 fatal | AERO COMMANDER 500B | Central Air Southwest | Tulsa, OK | Fatal · 1 | 20 docs |
| 2008-01-14 | SEA08LA061 Part 121 airline | Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2C10 | United Express | San Francisco, CA | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-01-14 | SEA08FA062 Part 135 fatal | Hawker Beechcraft Corporation 1900C | Alpine Air | Lihue, HI | Fatal · 1 | no docket |
| 2008-01-09 | CHI08LA071 Part 121 airline | Airbus Industrie A319-114 | Northwest Airlines | Detroit, MI | No injury | 15 docs |
| 2008-01-08 | CHI08IA065 Part 121 airline | Boeing 737-2H4 | Ameristar Air Cargo, Inc. | Lincoln, NE | No injury | no docket |
| 2008-01-05 | ANC08MA038 Major investigation | PIPER PA-31-350 | Servant Air, Inc. | Kodiak, AK | Fatal · 6 | 23 docs |