# Monitoring environment

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Psychological](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0202) › [Attention/monitoring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020215) › Monitoring environment
- NTSB code: 02021545
- Cases: 810
- In the probable cause: 789
- Fatal cases: 167
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545

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

- 2008: 29 / 29
- 2009: 58 / 60
- 2010: 26 / 27
- 2011: 28 / 28
- 2012: 24 / 24
- 2013: 35 / 35
- 2014: 47 / 47
- 2015: 44 / 45
- 2016: 45 / 45
- 2017: 57 / 57
- 2018: 60 / 62
- 2019: 60 / 62
- 2020: 51 / 52
- 2021: 51 / 52
- 2022: 37 / 37
- 2023: 36 / 38
- 2024: 40 / 45
- 2025: 47 / 48
- 2026: 14 / 17

## Defining events in these cases

- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 255 cases
- [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 106 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 102 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 94 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 46 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 44 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 33 cases
- [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 15 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 11 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 10 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 29 cases
- [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 26 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 21 cases
- [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b): 16 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 15 cases
- [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a): 13 cases
- [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b): 11 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 11 cases
- [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 10 cases
- [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p): 10 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 303 cases
- [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 267 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 106 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 98 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 67 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 43 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 41 cases
- [Pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010) (Environmental issues): 36 cases
- [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 35 cases
- [Ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025) (Environmental issues): 30 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA286), Aug 1, 2026: Cessna T188C (N9998J), Randolph, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during a low-level aerial application flight.
- [NTSB ERA26LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA285), Jul 29, 2026: Bell 206L-3 (N29AE), Tuscumbia, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to keep the tail rotor clear of an obstacle while attempting to land.
- [NTSB WPR26LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA277), Jul 21, 2026: Bell 206B III (N2193X), Stonewall, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while conducting a low-altitude aerial application.
- [NTSB ERA26LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA275), Jul 19, 2026: Jeremy Price Smith Super CUB (N251HF), Allisonia, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate lookout, which resulted in a collision with ground equipment during taxi.
- [NTSB CEN26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA289), Jul 18, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 Raven 1 (N26EH), Scribner, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low-level altitude during an agricultural operation.
- [NTSB CEN26LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA256), Jul 16, 2026: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N322TC), Coralville, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN26LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA252), Jul 13, 2026: Air Tractor AT802 (N808HB), Whiting, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.
- [NTSB WPR26LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA230), Jun 21, 2026: Stephen Aberle Chipper CH-2A (N618SA), Alva, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to taxi the tailwheel-equipped airplane over uneven terrain while operating with limited forward visibility, which resulted in the left main landing gear entering a hole.
- [NTSB CEN26LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA185), May 13, 2026: Bell 407 (N652AE), Dallas, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from the helipad surveillance camera during liftoff.
- [NTSB WPR26LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA180), May 10, 2026: Cessna 172 (N6643A), Marysvale, UT, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering in mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft.

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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