# Weather planning - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Task performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0206) › [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020610) › Weather planning - NTSB code: 02061020 - Cases: 156 - In the probable cause: 130 - Fatal cases: 102 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 11 / 11 - 2009: 10 / 11 - 2010: 15 / 16 - 2011: 12 / 16 - 2012: 5 / 6 - 2013: 7 / 8 - 2014: 6 / 9 - 2015: 8 / 9 - 2016: 13 / 15 - 2017: 8 / 10 - 2018: 6 / 7 - 2019: 7 / 7 - 2020: 1 / 3 - 2021: 5 / 6 - 2022: 5 / 9 - 2023: 6 / 7 - 2024: 5 / 5 - 2025: 0 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 43 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 33 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 21 cases - [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 14 cases - [Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210): 7 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 4 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 4 cases - [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 3 cases - [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 3 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 3 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 5 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 4 cases - [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 3 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 3 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 3 cases - [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250): 3 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 3 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 3 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 3 cases - [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602): 3 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 89 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 42 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 33 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 28 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 25 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 21 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 19 cases - [Thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010) (Environmental issues): 17 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 16 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 15 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR25LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA227), Jul 22, 2025: Hartline J Bon Hartline Kitfox III (N422K), Logan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff in variable wind and high density altitude conditions. - [NTSB ERA24FA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA283), Jun 30, 2024: Piper PA46 (N85PG), Trout Creek, NY, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control in flight due to spatial disorientation during a climb to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight… - [NTSB CEN24LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA214), Jun 9, 2024: Stinson Vultee V-77 (N88026), Slaton, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after landing in gusting wind conditions which resulted in a runway excursion and the airplane nosing over. Contributing was the pilot’s decision… - [NTSB ERA24FA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA176), Apr 12, 2024: Piper PA-32R-301 (N9236J), Knoxville, TN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart into an area of instrument meteorological and icing conditions, which resulted in loss of airplane control and a subsequent in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA24LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA183), Mar 31, 2024: Aeronca 11AC (N3420E), Conyers, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with shifting wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane using more runway than anticipated, an aborted takeoff, and subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB ERA24FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA120), Feb 24, 2024: Piper PA32 (N8963N), Jackson, OH, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain while maneuvering. - [NTSB ERA24FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA036), Nov 14, 2023: Piper PA-28-180 (N7806W), Micanopy, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s improper inflight decision making and his flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane… - [NTSB CEN24FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA024), Oct 25, 2023: Lancair 320 (N320P), Manitowoc, WI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain during an unapproved instrument… - [NTSB ANC23LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA066), Aug 15, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N3995Z), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with windshear during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control. - [NTSB CEN23FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA220), Jun 2, 2023: Vans RV7 (N977RV), Gibbon, NE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to fly the airplane into known adverse weather and icing conditions which resulted in a loss of control. 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.