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Loss of lift

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NTSB defining event · CICTT: Loss of Lift

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

All 175 cases252 anywhere in the sequence
Defining event in
175 cases
In the sequence of
252 cases
Fatal cases
10
NTSB code
500

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

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
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\" = '500' 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.

In these cases

Phase of flight
  • Initial climb36
  • Takeoff24
  • Maneuvering23
  • Enroute21
  • Enroute-cruise19
  • Maneuvering-low-alt flying17
  • Approach-VFR pattern final8
  • Landing6
  • Approach4
  • Approach-VFR pattern base3
In the probable cause
Aircraft models

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

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"tier2Number\" = '500' 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.

Newest cases · 175

NTSB ERA26LA311Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHPH Glasflugel 304CZ · Xenia, OHThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Aug 21, 2026 · N304BS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA300Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openZaklad Szybowcowy Jezow PW-6U · Floriston, CAAug 7, 2026 · N17YC · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA199Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAlexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Greenwood, SCThe glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.Apr 20, 2026 · N27CU · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA138Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGlasflugel Kestrel · Little Switzerland, NCA loss of thermal lift during a glider flight, which resulted in a collision with trees during a landing approach to a diversionary airport.Mar 5, 2026 · N9919 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA010Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGlasflugel STD Libelle 201B · Moriarty, NMThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Oct 5, 2025 · N1095G · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA287Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGrob-Werke Twin Astir · Franconia, NHThe pilot’s failure to detect the inadvertent deployment of the spoilers, which resulted in a prolonged, excessive descent rate. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct a downwind approach versus a straight in approach to the…Jul 24, 2025 · N103GV · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA271Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPZL Swidnik PW-5 · Kerrick, TXThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Jul 19, 2025 · N4426Z · Substantial damageNTSB DCA25WA232AccidentClass 2 · ForeignBoeing 787 · Ahmedabad, IndiaJun 12, 2025 · VT-ANB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA177Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRolladen Schneider LS-7WL · Tonasket, WAThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Jun 11, 2025 · N78AW · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA138Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Hood River, ORThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Apr 19, 2025 · N5786S · Substantial damage
See all 175 cases
Query with SQL
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\" = '500')
  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.