# NTSB investigations: Loss of lift

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 4 · 175 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA311.md): HPH Glasflugel 304CZ · Xenia, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 21, 2026 · N304BS · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR26LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA300.md): Zaklad Szybowcowy Jezow PW-6U · Floriston, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open · Aug 7, 2026 · N17YC · Substantial damage
- [NTSB ERA26LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199.md): Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Greenwood, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 20, 2026 · N27CU · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Glasflugel Kestrel · Little Switzerland, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 5, 2026 · N9919 · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Glasflugel STD Libelle 201B · Moriarty, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 5, 2025 · N1095G · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA25LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA287.md): Grob-Werke Twin Astir · Franconia, NH · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 24, 2025 · N103GV · Substantial damage
  > 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 downwind approach versus a straight in approach to the…
- [NTSB CEN25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA271.md): PZL Swidnik PW-5 · Kerrick, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 19, 2025 · N4426Z · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB DCA25WA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25WA232.md): Boeing 787 · Ahmedabad, India · Accident · Class 2 · Foreign · Jun 12, 2025 · VT-ANB · Substantial damage
- [NTSB WPR25LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA177.md): Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL · Tonasket, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 11, 2025 · N78AW · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR25LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA138.md): Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Hood River, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 19, 2025 · N5786S · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA25LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA181.md): Schleicher ASW-19 · Zephyrhills, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 2, 2025 · N37PL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and an encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in an off-airport landing and collision with a fence.
- [NTSB WPR25LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA005.md): Rotorsport Cavalon · Chico, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 7, 2024 · N726CA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent descent and subsequent collision with trees.
- [NTSB CEN24LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA330.md): Esqual VM1 · Oshkosh, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2024 · N151GH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s premature rotation during takeoff which resulted in the airplane settling back to the runway and the subsequent separation of the left wheel.
- [NTSB WPR24LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA274.md): Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · Minden, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 9, 2024 · N125CC · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and a subsequent collision with an obstacle during an off-field landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA216.md): Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 MI · Parowan, UT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 24, 2024 · N517PB · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain?flight.
- [NTSB ERA24LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA291.md): Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS · Benton, NH · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 2, 2024 · N152SS · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in collision with trees.
- [NTSB ERA24LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA119.md): Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Polk City, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 15, 2024 · N429SH · Substantial damage
  > The glider pilot’s misjudged altitude, which resulted in an off-airport landing and collision with a fence.
- [NTSB WPR23LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA245.md): Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E · Williams, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 26, 2023 · N26DX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR23LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA204.md): Cessna 175A · Enterprise, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 28, 2023 · N5089 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during an initial climbout in mountainous terrain after encountering a suspected downdraft.
- [NTSB WPR22LA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA364.md): Schleicher ASW-20 · Hood River, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 29, 2022 · N220CW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA22LA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA407.md): Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Mount Bethel, PA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 3, 2022 · N17867 · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions, where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight resulting in an off-airport landing and collision with powerlines.
- [NTSB ERA22LA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA388.md): Schleicher K7 · Mayville, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2022 · N107AS · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA443](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA443.md): Piper PA28 · Owasso, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 17, 2022 · N3572Z · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the short field landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA370.md): Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib · Highland, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 6, 2022 · N424BG · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA22LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA365.md): Schweizer SGS 1-26D · Windsor, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 4, 2022 · N249AF · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions, where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR22LA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA223.md): DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S · Lake Chelan, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 22, 2022 · N767SS · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to overfly a suitable landing site which resulted in an off-field landing in a lake.
- [NTSB WPR22LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA225.md): Rolladen-Schneider LS-6 · Tahoe Vista, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2022 · N536LS · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and subsequent water ditching.
- [NTSB CEN22FA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA240.md): HPH Spol Sro Glasflugel 304 MS · Rifle, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 9, 2022 · N249SD · Destroyed
  > The glider’s encounter with gusting tailwind and downdraft conditions that the pilot was unable to overcome.
- [NTSB WPR22LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA150.md): Alexander Schleicher ASK 21 · Valyermo, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 8, 2022 · N212NM · Substantial damage
  > The gliders encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and subsequent impact with mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR22LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA007.md): Schweizer SGS 2-32 · San Juan Baptista, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 9, 2021 · N87R · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing.
- [NTSB WPR21LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA290.md): Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II · Levan, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2021 · N4446Y · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight which resulted in an off-airport landing and a collision with a fence.
- [NTSB WPR21LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA235.md): HPH Glasflugel · Winthrop, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2021 · N974CQ · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA21LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA276.md): Schweizer SGS 1-26E · Willimantic, CT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 17, 2021 · N2517H · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the student to achieve the proper touchdown point resulting in landing undershoot.
- [NTSB ERA21LA395](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA395.md): Schempp Hirth Ventus C · Wagener, SC · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 22, 2021 · N571RD · Substantial damage
  > Impact with trees during a forced landing in atmospheric lift conditions that were insufficient to maintain flight. Contributing was the pilot’s delayed decision to return to the airport.
- [NTSB WPR21WA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21WA047.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Semera, Ethiopia · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 5 · Foreign · Oct 2, 2020 · ET-AYJ · Destroyed
- [NTSB WPR20CA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA273.md): Schweizer SGS233 · Warner Springs, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2020 · N7547 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain altitude due to a loss of thermal lift, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB CEN20CA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA307.md): Vans Vans RV 6 · Imperial, NE · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 25, 2020 · N327WB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight performance planning and his decision not to utilize all available runway during high density altitude operations which led to an inflight loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN20CA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA277.md): Kitfox Kitfox Sport · Rand, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 12, 2020 · N702KS · Substantial damage
  > The encounter with the downdrafts during the attempted takeoff, which resulted in decreased airplane's climb performance and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA20WA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20WA117.md): American Champion 8KCAB · Lommis, WZ · Accident · No injuries · Foreign investigation · Jun 24, 2020 · HB-KHN · Substantial damage
  > The government of Swaziland has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a AMERICAN Champion 8KCAB airplane that occurred on June 24, 2020. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Swaziland's investigation under…
- [NTSB CEN20LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA203.md): Magni Magni M 16 · Cape Girardeau, MO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 29, 2020 · N316MG · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s decision to take off with inadequate runway remaining, and his subsequent failure to attain proper airspeed, which resulted in the gyroplane’s descent into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR20CA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA151.md): Let L 33 Solo · Arlington, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · May 11, 2020 · N355BA · Substantial damage
  > The loss of lift while on final approach which resulted in a hard off-airport landing.
- [NTSB ERA20CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA178.md): Schempp Hirth Ventus 2CT · Stuarts Draft, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · May 11, 2020 · N514TW · Substantial damage
  > A loss of thermal lift during a motor glider flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed attempted engine start.
- [NTSB ERA20CA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA151.md): Pipistrel Sinus · Townsend, TN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 10, 2020 · N711MK · Substantial damage
  > The motor glider's encounter with atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing and resulted in impact with vegetation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed decision to restart the…
- [NTSB ANC19TA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19TA055.md): Stinson 108 · Tyonek, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Final report · Sep 26, 2019 · N6533M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a short field takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
- [NTSB ANC19LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA054.md): Piper PA 18 · Beluga, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 23, 2019 · N7071B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to perform a takeoff with an overweight float-equipped airplane, which resulted in diminished climb performance.
- [NTSB CEN19CA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA336.md): Piper PA38 · Taylor, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 2, 2019 · N6400A · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student's soft-field takeoff, which resulted in an excessive pitch attitude, settling effect, and impact with a ditch off the end of the runway.
- [NTSB WPR19FA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA241.md): Glaser Dirks DG 300 Elan · Wilkeson, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 25, 2019 · N300GG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s delayed decision to land following a loss of thermal lift, which resulted in collision with trees during the landing approach.
- [NTSB CEN19LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA173.md): Just Highlander · Quinlan, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 13, 2019 · N324SB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to depart with minimal runway available and his improper soft-field takeoff procedure, which resulted in impact with trees due to a slow airspeed and settling effect during climb out.
- [NTSB GAA19CA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA338.md): Pzl-Swidnik PW-5 · Independence, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 10, 2019 · N962JH · Substantial damage
  > The separation of the canopy from the glider during an off-airport landing for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB CEN19LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA162.md): Robinson R44 · Last Chance, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 8, 2019 · N4504L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while descending with a tailwind during an aerial application maneuver, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```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" = '500')
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/cases

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.