Clear air turbulence encounter

NTSB defining event · CICTT: Turbulence

CICTT occurrence categories (PDF)CICTT phases of flight (PDF)

All 22 cases 24 anywhere in the sequence

Defining event in: 22 cases
In the sequence of: 24 cases
Fatal cases: 0
NTSB code: 362

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where it was the defining event; in gray, cases where it came elsewhere in the sequence. The map shows the cases where it was the defining event. Events are coded with the final report, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008Defining eventElsewhere in the sequence2026

Cases with Clear air turbulence encounter per year: 24 cases
2008	2
2009	2
2010	5
2011	1
2012	1
2013	1
2015	1
2016	1
2017	2
2019	1
2020	1
2021	1
2022	1
2024	2
2026	2

Where

Open the map

Query with SQL

SELECT year(c."eventDate") AS year, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE e."isDefiningEvent") AS defining FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c."mKey" = e.case_mkey WHERE e."tier2Number" = '362' AND e.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent") GROUP BY 1 ORDER BY 1

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\") AS defining
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = e.case_mkey
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" = '362' AND e.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT year(c."eventDate") AS year, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases,
  count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE e."isDefiningEvent") AS defining
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c."mKey" = e.case_mkey
WHERE e."tier2Number" = '362' AND e.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")
GROUP BY 1
ORDER BY 1

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

In these cases

Phase of flight

Enroute-descent9 cases
Enroute-cruise8 cases
Enroute2 cases
Approach-IFR final approach1 case
Approach1 case
Enroute-change of cruise level1 case

In the probable cause

Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Query with SQL

WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "tier2Number" = '362' AND "isDefiningEvent") SELECT * FROM ( SELECT 'Phase of flight' AS kind, e."tier1Number" AS code, max(e."eventTier1Name") AS name, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases FROM defining e GROUP BY ALL UNION ALL SELECT 'Finding in the probable cause', left(f."findingCode", 8), max(f."tier4Name"), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f ON f.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND f.aircrafts_position = e.aircrafts_position AND f."inProbableCause" WHERE f."findingCode" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*' GROUP BY ALL UNION ALL SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND a.position = e.aircrafts_position LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL GROUP BY ALL ) QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10 ORDER BY kind, cases DESC

duckdb -csv -c "WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"tier2Number\" = '362' AND \"isDefiningEvent\")
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Phase of flight' AS kind, e.\"tier1Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier1Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM defining e
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Finding in the probable cause', left(f.\"findingCode\", 8), max(f.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f ON f.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND f.aircrafts_position = e.aircrafts_position AND f.\"inProbableCause\"
  WHERE f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey)
  FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND a.position = e.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "tier2Number" = '362' AND "isDefiningEvent")
SELECT * FROM (
SELECT 'Phase of flight' AS kind, e."tier1Number" AS code, max(e."eventTier1Name") AS name, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases
FROM defining e
GROUP BY ALL
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Finding in the probable cause', left(f."findingCode", 8), max(f."tier4Name"), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f ON f.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND f.aircrafts_position = e.aircrafts_position AND f."inProbableCause"
WHERE f."findingCode" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
GROUP BY ALL
UNION ALL
SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey)
FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND a.position = e.aircrafts_position
LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
GROUP BY ALL
)
QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
ORDER BY kind, cases DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

Newest cases · 22

NTSB DCA27LA014Occurrence · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openBoeing 777 · Orlando, FLOct 12, 2026 · G-VIIT · No damage NTSB DCA26LA340Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openAirbus A319-132 · Houston, TXAug 27, 2026 · N884UA · No damage NTSB DCA25LA045Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportEmbraer S A ERJ 170-200 LR · Warnock, OHOn November 20, 2024, about 1846 eastern standard time (2346 UTC), a Mesa Airlines, Inc., Embraer SA ERJ 170-200 LR, N85352, dba as United Express flight 6149, encountered “moderate to severe” turbulence during descent to its destination, Cleveland Hopkins…Nov 20, 2024 · N85352 · No damage NTSB DCA24WA298Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 787 · Tokyo, JapanSep 4, 2024 · JA863J · Minor damage NTSB CEN22LA166Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech B200 · Odessa, TXThe airplane’s encounter with severe clear air turbulence that was not forecasted, which resulted in a serious injury to an unrestrained passenger.Mar 29, 2022 · N469SL · No damage NTSB ERA22LA088Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBombardier BD-100-1A10 · Atlantic Ocean, Turks & Caicos IslandsThe airplane’s encounter with moderate clear air turbulence which resulted in a serious injury to one unrestrained passenger.Nov 21, 2021 · N743QS · No damage NTSB DCA19CA198Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportAirbus A320 · Charlottesville, VAan inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.Aug 8, 2019 · N505JB · No damage NTSB DCA18CA007Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 767 328 · Honolulu, HIan inadvertent encounter of clear air turbulence.Oct 15, 2017 · N342AX · No damage NTSB DCA17WA154Accident · Serious injuriesForeign investigationBoeing 787-9 · Fukushima, JapanThe Japanese Transport Safety Board (JTSB) has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Boeing 787-9 airplane that occurred on July 01, 2017. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the JTSB's investigation under the provisions…Jul 1, 2017 · N29968 · No damage NTSB DCA16CA181Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBoeing 737 724 · Port Arthur, TXan inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.Mar 15, 2016 · N23708 · No damage

See all 22 cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '362') ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '362')
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '362')
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.