# Climb rate

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106) › [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010620) › Climb rate
- NTSB code: 01062035
- Cases: 265
- In the probable cause: 239
- Fatal cases: 44
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 9 / 10
- 2009: 13 / 16
- 2010: 12 / 12
- 2011: 13 / 13
- 2012: 10 / 12
- 2013: 20 / 20
- 2014: 14 / 14
- 2015: 23 / 24
- 2016: 26 / 30
- 2017: 11 / 16
- 2018: 10 / 11
- 2019: 13 / 13
- 2020: 11 / 12
- 2021: 14 / 15
- 2022: 3 / 4
- 2023: 12 / 16
- 2024: 12 / 14
- 2025: 11 / 11
- 2026: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 58 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 57 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 20 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 17 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 17 cases
- [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 16 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 12 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 12 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 7 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 7 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 9 cases
- [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b): 6 cases
- [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 4 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 4 cases
- [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h): 4 cases
- [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f): 4 cases
- [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b): 4 cases
- [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 3 cases
- [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j): 3 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 106 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 67 cases
- [High density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020) (Environmental issues): 44 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 39 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 35 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 22 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 22 cases
- [Performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010) (Personnel issues): 19 cases
- [Maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035) (Aircraft): 17 cases
- [Downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035) (Environmental issues): 16 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA201), May 25, 2026: Cessna 172H (N2632L), Berryville, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot in command’s decision to continue the takeoff when the airplane was not airborne at midfield, and the student pilot’s likely improper technique that resulted in a lack of sufficient climb…
- [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 WPR25LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA308), Sep 11, 2025: Thomas Graham Teenie Two (N311TS), Chehalis, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane over its maximum allowable gross weight, which degraded its climb performance and led to a subsequent off airport landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA271), Aug 31, 2025: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N45254), Red Lodge, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude weather condition.
- [NTSB ANC25LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA100), Aug 31, 2025: Champion 7GCBC (N5267X), Sutton, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC25LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA088), Aug 19, 2025: Cessna 180G (N4721U), Delta Junction, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear obstacles during takeoff, resulting in a collision with tree-covered terrain.
- [NTSB WPR25LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA234), Jul 31, 2025: Cessna 182Q (N759NB), Cashmere, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an aborted landing, while flying in tailwind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude weather condition.
- [NTSB CEN25LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA283), Jul 23, 2025: Air Tractor AT-301 (N2371V), Hartsburg, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with a tailwind from a wet turf airstrip.
- [NTSB CEN25LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA267), Jul 15, 2025: Air Tractor AT-402B (N647RA), Wyoming, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate due to airplane’s improper takeoff configuration.
- [NTSB CEN25LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA251), Jul 13, 2025: Scott Vincin Just Acft Highlander (N970SV), Mancos, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s reduced climb performance during takeoff in mountainous terrain, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to climb and impact with 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.

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