Cause findings

Not a complete record. A partial collection of documented occurrences: counts, not rates, and no measure of aviation risk. Coverage

183,362 records

168,704 occurrences have findings that the NTSB designated as a cause. These are the most common areas of those findings; an occurrence can have causes in several areas. Share is of occurrences with cause findings.

Cause areas
Cause area	Occurrences	Share	Fatal occurrences	Fatalities
Personnel issues › Task performance	Personnel issues › Task performance: 12,500 occurrences, 7.4% of occurrences with cause findings. 2,153 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row.	7.4%	2,153	3,732
Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability	Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability: 11,410 occurrences, 6.8% of occurrences with cause findings. 2,141 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	6.8%	2,141	3,635
Pilot in command › Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed	Pilot in command › Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed: 8,803 occurrences, 5.2% of occurrences with cause findings. 2,864 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	5.2%	2,864	5,337
Pilot in command › Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning	Pilot in command › Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning: 7,724 occurrences, 4.6% of occurrences with cause findings. 1,019 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	4.6%	1,019	2,204
Personnel issues › Action/decision	Personnel issues › Action/decision: 6,267 occurrences, 3.7% of occurrences with cause findings. 1,276 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	3.7%	1,276	2,270
Pilot in command › Improper level off	Pilot in command › Improper level off: 5,448 occurrences, 3.2% of occurrences with cause findings. 34 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	3.2%	34	96
Pilot in command › Directional control, not maintained	Pilot in command › Directional control, not maintained: 5,254 occurrences, 3.1% of occurrences with cause findings. 91 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	3.1%	91	155
Pilot in command › Failed to maintain directional control	Pilot in command › Failed to maintain directional control: 5,217 occurrences, 3.1% of occurrences with cause findings. 34 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	3.1%	34	61
Pilot in command › Selected unsuitable terrain	Pilot in command › Selected unsuitable terrain: 4,393 occurrences, 2.6% of occurrences with cause findings. 69 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	2.6%	69	113
Miscellaneous acts, conditions › Material failure	Miscellaneous acts, conditions › Material failure: 4,249 occurrences, 2.5% of occurrences with cause findings. 226 were fatal. The bar is scaled to the largest row (Personnel issues › Task performance, 12,500).	2.5%	226	550

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