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 53 cases · 2016–2016
53
cases in this slice
10
fatal accidents
43
lives lost
50
with a probable cause
50
with coded findings
20
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
50 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 issues26 cases · 62 causal · 1 contributing
- Action/decision — Info processing/decision, Action18
- Task performance — Use of equip/info, Communication (personnel)17
- Psychological — Attention/monitoring, Perception/orientation/illusion4
- Physical — Impairment/incapacitation2
- Miscellaneous — (general)1
Environmental issues21 cases · 33 causal · 1 contributing
- Conditions/weather/phenomena — Turbulence, Ceiling/visibility/precip20
- Physical environment — Terrain, Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface2
- Operating environment — Communication system, Meteorological services1
Aircraft19 cases · 30 causal · 4 contributing
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability — Performance/control parameters6
- Aircraft systems — Navigation system, Landing gear system6
- Aircraft power plant — Engine (turbine/turboprop), Engine fuel and control6
- Aircraft handling/service — Towing and taxiing, Maintenance/inspections3
- Aircraft structures — Fuselage, Nacelles/pylons structure2
Organizational issues6 cases · 12 causal · 2 contributing
- Support/oversight/monitoring — Training, Safety programs5
- Management — Policy/procedure3
- Development — Design, Manufacture/production1
Not determined1 cases · 1 causal · 0 contributing
- Not determined — (general)1
Solid = cited in the probable cause · outlined = contributing factor · hover a row for the most-cited specifics.
Occurrences coded
- Turbulence encounter · 13 defining14
- Runway incursion veh/AC/person · 5 defining5
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) · 3 defining5
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail · 2 defining4
- Cabin safety event · 4 defining4
- Loss of control in flight · 2 defining3
- Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) · 2 defining3
- Ground handling event · 3 defining3
- Landing gear collapse · 2 defining2
- Uncontained engine failure · 2 defining2
- Runway excursion · 1 defining2
Phase of flight of the defining event
- Enroute22
- Landing7
- Standing7
- Takeoff6
- Approach5
- InitialClimb4
- Taxi2
- Pushback/Tow2
- 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
Operators with the most cases
- Delta Air Lines7
- American Airlines6
- Southwest Airlines5
- United Airlines5
- Skywest Airlines3
- Hageland Aviation Services · 8 lives2
- Aeronational · 2 lives1
- Aerowest Aviation · 1 lives1
- Allegiant Air1
- American Medflight · 4 lives1
- Cal-Ore Life Flight · 4 lives1
- Champlain Enterprises1
What changed because of them
20 recommendations · 9 opensafety recommendations issued from these cases, by the NTSB's status of the response- Closed · acceptable 4
- Closed · unacceptable 4
- Closed · superseded or reconsidered 3
- Open · acceptable response 8
- Open · unacceptable response 1
Issued per year
Recommendations
Reiterated most often
- A-17-045reiterated ×1Closed - Unacceptable Action
TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Analyze your current policies, procedures, and tools for conducting oversight of commercial balloon operations in accordance with your Integrated Oversight Philosophy, taking into …
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 50 coded cases here- Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence · Environmental issues · 28%14 cases
- Action/decision › Info processing/decision · Personnel issues · 26%13 cases
- Task performance › Use of equip/info · Personnel issues · 22%11 cases
- Action/decision › Action · Personnel issues · 18%9 cases
- Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters · Aircraft · 10%5 cases
- Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip · Environmental issues · 10%5 cases
- Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) · Aircraft · 8%4 cases
- Task performance › Communication (personnel) · Personnel issues · 8%4 cases
- Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion · Personnel issues · 6%3 cases
- Task performance › Planning/preparation · Personnel issues · 6%3 cases
- Aircraft systems › Landing gear system · Aircraft · 4%2 cases
- Management › Policy/procedure · Organizational issues · 4%2 cases
The cases
53 of 53newest first — open any case for its recorders, transcript, photographs and analyst| Date | Case | Aircraft | Operator | Where | Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-12-15 | OPS17IA008 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL 600 2B19 | SKYWEST AIRLINES INC | San Francisco, CA | — | no docket |
| 2016-12-14 | DCA17CA042 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 824 | United Airlines | Denver, CO | Serious injury | 8 docs |
| 2016-12-12 | WPR17FA035 Part 135 fatal | QUEST AIRCRAFT COMPANY LLC KODIAK 100 | Aerowest Aviation | Moab, UT | Fatal · 1 | 8 docs |
| 2016-12-06 | ERA17FA066 Part 135 fatal | FAIRCHILD SA227 | Key Lime Air | Camilla, GA | Fatal · 1 | 43 docs · recorder reports |
| 2016-12-04 | ENG17IA005 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER ERJ170 200LR | SKYWEST AIRLINES INC | San Antonio, TX | Minor injury | 4 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-11-29 | ENG17IA006 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL 600 2C10 | GoJet Airlines, LLC. | Kansas, IL | No injury | 3 docs |
| 2016-11-21 | DCA17CA096 Part 121 airline | BOEING 717 200 | Delta Air Lines | Hopewell, VA | Serious injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-11-19 | WPR17FA024 Part 135 fatal | PIPER PA 31T | AMERICAN MEDFLIGHT INC | Elko, NV | Fatal · 4 | 11 docs |
| 2016-10-28 | DCA17MA022 Major investigation | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 10-10F | FedEx Express | Fort Lauderdale, FL | No injury | 19 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-10-28 | DCA17FA021 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | AMERICAN AIRLINES INC | Chicago, IL | Serious injury | 51 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-10-27 | DCA17IA020 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 7L9 | Eastern Airlines Group, Inc., | New York, NY | No injury | 28 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-10-26 | ENG17IA003 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A330 223 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Seattle, WA | No injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-10-21 | OPS17IA003 Part 121 airline | DOUGLAS DC 9 83 | ALLEGIANT AIR LLC | Westfield, MA | — | 5 docs |
| 2016-10-05 | DCA17CA005 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-8H4 | Southwest Airlines | Denver, CO | Serious injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-10-02 | ANC17MA001 Major investigation | CESSNA 208B | HAGELAND AVIATION SERVICES INC | Togiak, AK | Fatal · 3 | 81 docs |
| 2016-09-24 | DCA16CA226 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC DHC 8 202 | Champlain Enterprises, LLC | Dulles, VA | No injury | 3 docs |
| 2016-08-31 | DCA16CA220 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 322 | United Airlines | International Waters | Serious injury | 6 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-08-31 | ANC16FA061 Part 135 fatal | CESSNA 208 | Hageland Aviation Services, Inc. | Russian Mission, AK | Fatal · 5 | no docket |
| 2016-08-27 | DCA16FA217 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-700 | Southwest Airlines | Pensacola, FL | No injury | 14 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-08-17 | DCA16CA214 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 924 | United Airlines | Waco, TX | Serious injury | 17 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-08-12 | DCA16IA215 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A320 232 | JetBlue Airways | Wood, SD | Minor injury | 27 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-08-10 | DCA16CA211 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 832 | Delta Air Lines | New York, NY | No injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-08-05 | DCA16CA207 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 3H4 | Southwest Airlines | Baltimore, MD | No injury | 7 docs |
| 2016-08-03 | DCA16CA209 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A319 115 | American Airlines | Grand Cayman Island (GCM) | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-07-30 | DCA16MA204 Major investigation | KUBICEK BB85 | Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides | Lockhart, TX | Fatal · 16 | 83 docs |
| 2016-07-29 | WPR16FA153 Part 135 fatal | PIPER PA-31T | Cal-Ore Life Flight | McKinleyville, CA | Fatal · 4 | 20 docs |
| 2016-07-28 | DCA16CA205 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A321 231 | JetBlue | Bermuda | Serious injury | 4 docs |
| 2016-07-26 | DCA16CA208 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER ERJ 170 100 SE | Republic Airways Holdings | Cleveland, OH | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-07-08 | DCA16IA200 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320 211 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Rapid City, SD | No injury | 23 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-07-07 | ENG16IA027 Part 121 airline | BOEING 757 | DELTA AIR LINES INC | Jamaica, NY | No injury | 9 docs |
| 2016-06-26 | DCA16CA193 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 | UNITED AIR LINES INC | New Orleans, LA | Serious injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-06-26 | DCA16WA191 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330 323 | US Airways | London | — | no docket · open |
| 2016-06-16 | ERA16FA215 Part 135 fatal | PIPER PA31 | AERONATIONAL INC | State College, PA | Fatal · 2 | 14 docs |
| 2016-06-12 | DCA16CA202 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A321 231 | American Airlines | Jamaica, NY | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-06-06 | DCA16RA175 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD11 | Incheon | Minor injury | no docket · open | |
| 2016-06-05 | DCA16CA182 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737-932ER | Delta Air Lines | Las Vegas, NV | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-05-14 | DCA16CA153 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320 214 | AMERICAN AIRLINES INC | Philadelphia, PA | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-05-06 | DCA16WA150 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 | UPS Airlines | Cologne | No injury | no docket · open |
| 2016-04-29 | DCA16CA139 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL 600 2B19 | SKYWEST AIRLINES INC | San Francisco, CA | No injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-04-14 | DCA16CA133 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 76Q | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO | San Diego, CA | Serious injury | 1 docs |
| 2016-04-08 | ANC16FA017 Part 135 fatal | CESSNA 206 | SUNRISE AVIATION | Angoon, AK | Fatal · 3 | 17 docs |
| 2016-03-26 | ERA16FA140 Part 135 fatal | EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2 | Metro Aviation Inc. | Enterprise, AL | Fatal · 4 | 29 docs |
| 2016-03-15 | DCA16CA181 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 724 | United Airlines | Port Arthur, TX | Serious injury | 5 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-03-05 | DCA16CA113 Part 121 airline | BOEING 767 34AF | UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO | Albuquerque, NM | No injury | 2 docs |
| 2016-02-24 | DCA16LA100 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER EMB145 | TRANS STATES AIRLINES INC | St Louis, MO | No injury | 16 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-02-17 | DCA16CA094 Part 121 airline | Boeing 737 | American Airlines | Detroit, MI | No injury | no docket |
| 2016-02-14 | DCA16CA089 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319 132 | American Airlines | Minneapolis, MN | Serious injury | 4 docs · FDR tables |
| 2016-02-12 | DCA16LA096 Part 121 airline | LOCKHEED 382G | Lynden Air Cargo | Iliamna, AK | No injury | 6 docs |
| 2016-01-29 | OPS16IA004 Part 121 airline | AIRBUS A321 231 | Spirit Airlines | Fort Lauderdale, FL | — | 15 docs |
| 2016-01-28 | DCA16CA077 Part 121 airline | BOEING 737 7H4 | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO | Titusville, FL | Serious injury | 3 docs |
| 2016-01-27 | OPS16IA002 Part 121 airline | BOMBARDIER INC CL600 2D24 | Endeavor Air | Detroit, MI | — | 7 docs |
| 2016-01-24 | DCA16CA070 Part 121 airline | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS CORPORATION MD 88 | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | Newark, NJ | No injury | 8 docs |
| 2016-01-03 | DCA16CA041 Part 121 airline | EMBRAER ERJ 170 100 SE | SHUTTLE AMERICA CORP | Raleigh, NC | Serious injury | 2 docs |