# Air traffic/operating proc - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Operating environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0301) › Air traffic/operating proc - NTSB code: 030140 - Cases: 40 - In the probable cause: 23 - Fatal cases: 17 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030140/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030140/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030140 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 3 / 3 - 2009: 1 / 6 - 2010: 2 / 3 - 2011: 2 / 3 - 2012: 3 / 3 - 2013: 1 / 2 - 2014: 2 / 4 - 2015: 1 / 2 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2017: 2 / 2 - 2018: 0 / 1 - 2019: 1 / 1 - 2020: 0 / 1 - 2021: 1 / 3 - 2022: 0 / 1 - 2023: 0 / 1 - 2024: 2 / 2 - 2025: 1 / 1 ## Findings - [Air traffic/operating proc, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014000): 13 cases, 6 in the probable cause - [Traffic congestion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070): 9 cases, 4 in the probable cause - [Traffic pattern procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014055): 7 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [ATC clearance procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014020): 6 cases, 6 in the probable cause - [Approach control procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014015): 3 cases, 3 in the probable cause - [Missed approach procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014045): 2 cases, 2 in the probable cause - [Airway/route system procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014010): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Instrument approach procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014035): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Terminal arrival procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014050): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause - [Visual approach procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014060): 1 cases, 0 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250): 5 cases - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 5 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 5 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 4 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 3 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 3 cases - [Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100): 3 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 1 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 3 cases - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 2 cases - [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p): 2 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 2 cases - [Boeing 737-7H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-7h4): 2 cases - [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65): 1 cases - [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59](https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-59): 1 cases - [Sikorsky S-76B](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76b): 1 cases - [Aviat S-2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-s-2c): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 10 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 10 cases - [Lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510) (Personnel issues): 8 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 7 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 3 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB DCA25MA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25MA108), Jan 30, 2025: Bombardier CL-600-2C10 (N709PS), Washington, DC, destroyed, 67 fatal. Probable cause: The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) placement of a helicopter route in close proximity to a runway approach path; their failure to regularly review and evaluate helicopter routes and… - [NTSB CEN25FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA019), Oct 21, 2024: Robinson R44 (N881KE), Houston, TX, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a lighted radio tower during a visual night flight. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to issue a safety alert… - [NTSB ERA24FA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA217), May 15, 2024: Beech V35 (N47WT), Franklin, TN, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s flight into convective weather, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and a subsequent inflight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB ANC23LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA035), May 17, 2023: Piper PA22 (N7741D), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive braking during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. - [NTSB ERA22FA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA318), Jul 17, 2022: Piper PA-46-350P (N97CX), North Las Vegas, NV, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The low-wing airplane pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane was aligned with the correct runway, which resulted in a collision with the high-wing airplane on final approach. Contributing to the… - [NTSB CEN22FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA069), Dec 11, 2021: Piper PA46-500TP (N744Z), Steamboat Springs, CO, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adhere to the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB CEN21LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA336), Jul 23, 2021: Driver RV-7 (N977RV), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The RV-8 pilot’s failure to account for the position of the RV-7 behind him during the landing roll in a staggered landing formation, which resulted in a ground collision of the two airplanes.… - [NTSB WPR21FA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA203), May 24, 2021: Dassault Mirage F-1 (N567EM), Las Vegas, NV, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack on approach and failure to fly a traffic pattern track consistent with a no-flap configuration. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB DCA20MA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20MA059), Jan 26, 2020: Sikorsky S76 (N72EX), Calabasas, CA, destroyed, 9 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to… - [NTSB CEN19CA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA227), Jul 20, 2019: Vans RV-8 (N143MS), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate spacing from the lead airplane while landing following revised landing instructions, which necessitated that the pilot conduct an improper landing flare and… 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.