# Loss of lift

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 500
- CICTT category: Loss of Lift
- Defining event in: 175 cases
- In the sequence of: 252 cases
- Fatal cases: 10
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500

## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence)

- 2008: 0 / 2
- 2009: 6 / 7
- 2010: 15 / 22
- 2011: 7 / 14
- 2012: 19 / 24
- 2013: 18 / 23
- 2014: 13 / 18
- 2015: 17 / 22
- 2016: 8 / 19
- 2017: 8 / 13
- 2018: 11 / 18
- 2019: 10 / 17
- 2020: 9 / 11
- 2021: 5 / 8
- 2022: 10 / 13
- 2023: 2 / 3
- 2024: 6 / 7
- 2025: 7 / 7
- 2026: 4 / 4

## Phase of flight

- Initial climb: 36 cases
- Takeoff: 24 cases
- Maneuvering: 23 cases
- Enroute: 21 cases
- Enroute-cruise: 19 cases
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 17 cases
- Approach-VFR pattern final: 8 cases
- Landing: 6 cases
- Approach: 4 cases
- Approach-VFR pattern base: 3 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 56 cases
- [Thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040) (Environmental issues): 39 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 37 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 35 cases
- [Climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035) (Aircraft): 16 cases
- [Climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010) (Aircraft): 13 cases
- [Downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035) (Environmental issues): 12 cases
- [High density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020) (Environmental issues): 12 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 12 cases
- [Maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035) (Aircraft): 12 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 6 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a): 5 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 4 cases
- [Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK](https://openairdocs.org/model/let-l-23-super-blanik): 4 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 3 cases
- [Schleicher ASW-27](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-27): 3 cases
- [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3): 2 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 1-36](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-36): 2 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA311), Aug 21, 2026: HPH Glasflugel 304CZ (N304BS), Xenia, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR26LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA300), Aug 7, 2026: Zaklad Szybowcowy Jezow PW-6U (N17YC), Floriston, CA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA26LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199), Apr 20, 2026: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 (N27CU), Greenwood, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB ERA26LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA138), Mar 5, 2026: Glasflugel Kestrel (N9919), Little Switzerland, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of thermal lift during a glider flight, which resulted in a collision with trees during a landing approach to a diversionary airport.
- [NTSB WPR26LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA010), Oct 5, 2025: Glasflugel STD Libelle 201B (N1095G), Moriarty, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA25LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA287), Jul 24, 2025: Grob-Werke Twin Astir (N103GV), Franconia, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB CEN25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA271), Jul 19, 2025: PZL Swidnik PW-5 (N4426Z), Kerrick, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB DCA25WA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25WA232), Jun 12, 2025: Boeing 787 (VT-ANB), Ahmedabad, India, substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR25LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA177), Jun 11, 2025: Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL (N78AW), Tonasket, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR25LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA138), Apr 19, 2025: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N5786S), Hood River, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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