# Climb capability - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106) › [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010610) › Climb capability - NTSB code: 01061010 - Cases: 184 - In the probable cause: 147 - Fatal cases: 30 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 2 / 5 - 2009: 10 / 15 - 2010: 13 / 15 - 2011: 16 / 21 - 2012: 11 / 14 - 2013: 7 / 8 - 2014: 13 / 16 - 2015: 13 / 14 - 2016: 11 / 12 - 2017: 9 / 9 - 2018: 5 / 6 - 2019: 4 / 4 - 2020: 4 / 5 - 2021: 2 / 3 - 2022: 4 / 8 - 2023: 9 / 10 - 2024: 7 / 10 - 2025: 4 / 4 - 2026: 3 / 5 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 39 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 31 cases - [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 14 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 13 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 12 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 11 cases - [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 10 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 8 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 7 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 7 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 7 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 5 cases - [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 4 cases - [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p): 3 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 3 cases - [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b): 3 cases - [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65): 2 cases - [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 70 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 55 cases - [High density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020) (Environmental issues): 30 cases - [Downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035) (Environmental issues): 22 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 20 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 17 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 16 cases - [Performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010) (Personnel issues): 16 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 15 cases - [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 15 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA266), Jul 18, 2026: Maule M-4-180V (N489LA), Creede, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s performance capabilities in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a forced landing. - [NTSB WPR26LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA234), Jun 23, 2026: Piper PA-12 (N3013M), Dixie, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. - [NTSB ANC26LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA031), Apr 23, 2026: Piper PA-28-151 (N44690), Lapeer, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB CEN26LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA169), Apr 19, 2026: Luscombe 8E (N1398K), Meeker, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from terrain due to the airplane’s encounter with windshear during takeoff. - [NTSB WPR26LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA087), Jan 19, 2026: Kitfox Series 7 (N775DZ), Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain clearance from terrain during a go-around. - [NTSB WPR26LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA048), Oct 4, 2025: Aviat A1 (N96WJ), Evanston, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB ANC25LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA085), Aug 9, 2025: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK 1 (N232KT), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. - [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 CEN25LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA231), Jul 1, 2025: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N8834H), Lockport, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate planning for the high density altitude conditions which resulted in reduced airplane performance, climb capability, and subsequent forced landing. - [NTSB WPR24LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA315), Sep 26, 2024: Cessna 172P (N54829), Kooskia, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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. 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. --- 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.