A flight accident near Saturn in 2368 in which the Academy cadet Joshua Albert died during a forbidden manoeuvre, followed by an attempt by his team-mates, including Wesley Crusher, to hide the truth.
The Nova Squadron accident is investigated in the Next Generation episode The First Duty. Nova Squadron, the Academy's best flight team, is rehearsing for the graduation display when its five ships collide near Titan. Four cadets beam out in time and Joshua Albert is killed.
The team leader, Nicholas Locarno, tells the board of inquiry that Albert lost his nerve in a routine formation. Picard and Geordi La Forge study the evidence and realise the cadets were trying a Kolvoord Starburst, a spectacular manoeuvre banned for a century after an earlier fatal accident.
Picard tells Wesley Crusher that he will speak if Wesley does not, and Wesley admits the truth to the inquiry. Locarno takes the blame and is expelled. The others, among them Sito Jaxa, have the year's credits removed and must repeat it. Locarno returns years later in Lower Decks.