OpenAirDocs.org

Climb capability

Open the Markdown

NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability

All 184 cases147 in the probable cause
Cases
184
In the probable cause
147 (80%)
Fatal cases
30
NTSB code
01061010

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 NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01061010') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  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 the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

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

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '01061010'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.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
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '01061010') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  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 · 184

NTSB WPR26LA266Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMaule M-4-180V · Creede, COThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s performance capabilities in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a forced landing.Jul 18, 2026 · N489LA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA234Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Dixie, IDThe pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.Jun 23, 2026 · N3013M · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA031Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-151 · Lapeer, MIThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, runway excursion, and on ground collision with an object. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to…Apr 23, 2026 · N44690 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA169Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Meeker, COThe pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from terrain due to the airplane’s encounter with windshear during takeoff.Apr 19, 2026 · N1398K · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA087Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportKitfox Series 7 · Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NVThe pilot’s inability to maintain clearance from terrain during a go-around.Jan 19, 2026 · N775DZ · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA048Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A1 · Evanston, WYThe airplane’s encounter with downdrafts in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight through mountainous terrain in marginal weather conditions.Oct 4, 2025 · N96WJ · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA085Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDehavilland DHC-2 MK 1 · Soldotna, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.Aug 9, 2025 · N232KT · 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 CEN25LA231Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Lockport, LAThe pilot’s inadequate planning for the high density altitude conditions which resulted in reduced airplane performance, climb capability, and subsequent forced landing.Jul 1, 2025 · N8834H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA315Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172P · Kooskia, IDThe pilot’s decision to descend into a canyon that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.Sep 26, 2024 · N54829 · Substantial damage
See all 184 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 f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01061010'))
  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.