# Physical environment - Type: NTSB finding subcategory - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › Physical environment - NTSB code: 0302 - Cases: 5692 - In the probable cause: 2550 - Fatal cases: 602 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 316 / 604 - 2009: 112 / 361 - 2010: 103 / 303 - 2011: 73 / 244 - 2012: 80 / 265 - 2013: 88 / 274 - 2014: 103 / 379 - 2015: 85 / 332 - 2016: 135 / 421 - 2017: 172 / 457 - 2018: 170 / 431 - 2019: 315 / 396 - 2020: 185 / 251 - 2021: 109 / 221 - 2022: 112 / 198 - 2023: 113 / 186 - 2024: 129 / 172 - 2025: 96 / 129 - 2026: 54 / 68 ## Sections - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030220): 3,471 cases, 1,660 in the probable cause - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030210): 1,569 cases, 524 in the probable cause - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230): 899 cases, 429 in the probable cause - [Physical environment, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030200): 24 cases, 8 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 962 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 462 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 415 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 414 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 398 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 291 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 224 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 205 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 191 cases - [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 189 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 100 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 96 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 91 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 84 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 83 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 76 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 62 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 57 cases - [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b): 47 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 46 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 1,718 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 1,033 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 943 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 681 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 651 cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 348 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 321 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 274 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 248 cases - [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 234 cases ## Newest cases - [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 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 ERA26LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA277), Jul 20, 2026: Rans S-6-S (N528MW), Morgan, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water. - [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 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.