# Operating environment, general

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Operating environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0301) › Operating environment, general
- NTSB code: 030100
- Cases: 14
- In the probable cause: 8
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030100/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030100/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030100

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

- 2009: 0 / 1
- 2010: 2 / 2
- 2013: 0 / 1
- 2014: 0 / 1
- 2017: 0 / 1
- 2019: 1 / 1
- 2021: 2 / 2
- 2023: 0 / 1
- 2024: 2 / 3
- 2025: 1 / 1

## Findings

- [Operating environment, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03010000): 14 cases, 8 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 1 cases
- [Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510): 1 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases
- [Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250): 1 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 1 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 1 cases
- [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 1 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 1 cases
- [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32): 1 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 1 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235): 1 cases
- [Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-md-88): 1 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20): 1 cases
- [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c): 1 cases
- [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e): 1 cases
- [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 3 cases
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Standard operating practices](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04024015) (Organizational issues): 1 cases
- [Management, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04020000) (Organizational issues): 1 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052) (Environmental issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB WPR25FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA090), Feb 10, 2025: Beech B24R (N9324S), Skull Valley, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were multiple distractions that diverted the flight…
- [NTSB ERA24LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA375), Sep 10, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802 (N802JF), Hickory Valley, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a leak in the fuel control unit bellows, which resulted in the fuel valve moving to minimum fuel flow.
- [NTSB CEN24LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA196), May 11, 2024: Piper PA28 (N3574C), New Century, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inability of the Boeing 75 pilot to anticipate that the Piper would stop earlier on the taxiway which resulted in the on-ground collision.
- [NTSB WPR24LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA068), Jan 8, 2024: Cessna 421C (N421TP), Carson City, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: Airport personnel’s failure to properly prioritize their response actions, including updating the airport’s automated weather observation system recording in a timely manner to notify incoming pilots…
- [NTSB DCA23LA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA23LA232), Mar 24, 2023: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 (N834US), Saltillo, Mexico, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for a wind shift while on short final approach which resulted in a higher than normal sink rate and a tailstrike.
- [NTSB CEN21LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA224), May 6, 2021: DJI Matrice (FA3HW43WTF), Young Harris, GA, minor damage. Probable cause: The remote pilot-in-command’s (RPIC) decision to physically hold onto the drone’s landing gear in flight, which resulted in the rotors striking his hand and causing serious injury. Contributing to…
- [NTSB CEN21LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA155), Feb 26, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N7184N), Dunn, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of rotor RPM for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
- [NTSB DCA20CA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20CA046), Dec 19, 2019: Boeing 737 (N68802), Chicago, IL, no damage. Probable cause: an abrupt stop during taxi to avoid a collision with another airplane, causing a flight attendant to fall.
- [NTSB GAA17CA452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA452), Jul 30, 2017: Piper PA28 (N2204B), St. Joseph, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing and subsequent loss of directional control.
- [NTSB WPR14LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA271), Jun 29, 2014: Cessna 182Q (N132K), Big Creek, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s execution of a traffic pattern that did not put the airplane in position for a normal final approach and the pilot’s decision to continue the landing attempt instead of initiating a…

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.