# Environmental issues - Type: NTSB finding category - Path: Environmental issues - NTSB code: 03 - Cases: 10288 - In the probable cause: 5686 - Fatal cases: 1606 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 641 / 933 - 2009: 293 / 669 - 2010: 261 / 591 - 2011: 208 / 564 - 2012: 264 / 566 - 2013: 234 / 507 - 2014: 246 / 612 - 2015: 255 / 568 - 2016: 302 / 665 - 2017: 319 / 700 - 2018: 331 / 663 - 2019: 481 / 613 - 2020: 342 / 441 - 2021: 258 / 463 - 2022: 269 / 428 - 2023: 303 / 437 - 2024: 321 / 424 - 2025: 244 / 310 - 2026: 114 / 134 ## Subcategories - [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302): 5,692 cases, 2,550 in the probable cause - [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303): 5,625 cases, 3,312 in the probable cause - [Operating environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0301): 293 cases, 176 in the probable cause - [Task environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0304): 113 cases, 72 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 1,967 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 1,349 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 593 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 528 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 470 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 467 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 351 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 347 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 308 cases - [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 243 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 185 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 157 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 153 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 140 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 127 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 127 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 103 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 100 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 80 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 78 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 4,157 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 2,037 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 1,910 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 943 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 713 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 574 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 515 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 461 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 425 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 421 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA315), Sep 10, 2026: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N80515), DeQuincy, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after encountering a wind gust. Contributing to the accident was nearby convective activity. - [NTSB CEN26LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA307), Aug 29, 2026: Cessna Claassen 305A(0-1A) (N41362), Midland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions. - [NTSB ERA26LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA311), Aug 21, 2026: HPH Glasflugel 304CZ (N304BS), Xenia, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight. - [NTSB CEN26LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA300), Aug 21, 2026: Cessna T206H (N464PM), Marble, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the final approach in variable and gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were localized wind effects associated with… - [NTSB CEN26LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA297), Aug 17, 2026: Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS (N22FC), Searcy, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions. - [NTSB ERA26LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA293), Aug 5, 2026: Beech 58 (N29DA), Carlisle, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A collision with a deer during landing. - [NTSB CEN26LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA291), Aug 3, 2026: Vans RV8 (N412CV), Linden, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The collision with a deer during touch-and-go landings. - [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 ERA26LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA299), Jul 24, 2026: Cessna 172 (N905KS), Lakeland, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while on approach. 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.