# Physical environment, general - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › Physical environment, general - NTSB code: 030200 - Cases: 24 - In the probable cause: 8 - Fatal cases: 7 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030200/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030200/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030200 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 0 / 1 - 2009: 1 / 2 - 2010: 1 / 2 - 2011: 0 / 3 - 2012: 1 / 3 - 2013: 0 / 1 - 2014: 1 / 1 - 2016: 0 / 2 - 2017: 0 / 2 - 2020: 1 / 2 - 2023: 1 / 2 - 2024: 1 / 2 - 2025: 1 / 1 ## Findings - [Physical environment, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03020000): 24 cases, 8 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 3 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 3 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 3 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 2 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 2 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 1 cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 1 cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22): 1 cases - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 1 cases - [Piper PA-25](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25): 1 cases - [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260): 1 cases - [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a): 1 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 2 cases - [Maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB DCA25LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA102), Jan 8, 2025: Boeing 787 (JA892A), Ojai, CA, no damage. Probable cause: An encounter with turbulence during descent, which resulted in a serious injury to a flight attendant. - [NTSB DCA25LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA055), Dec 3, 2024: Boeing 787-9 (N29975), Pacific Ocean, Hong Kong SAR China, no damage. Probable cause: An encounter with unexpected turbulence during descent. - [NTSB ERA24LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA227), May 26, 2024: Brallier Scott Glasair I (N446KW), Gulf of Mexico, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying over water in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to… - [NTSB WPR24LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA048), Nov 18, 2023: Flight Design Ctls (N924RD), Hungry Horse, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. - [NTSB CEN23LA373](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA373), Aug 20, 2023: Cessna 150D (N4150U), New Haven, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, impact with corn stalks, and subsequent nose over. - [NTSB CEN20LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA305), Jul 25, 2020: Piper PA28 (N716RL), San Antonio, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to take off in an airplane over maximum gross weight and with a tailwind, which prevented the airplane from climbing. - [NTSB CEN20CA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA230), Jun 16, 2020: Robinson R22 (N797SH), El Campo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the rice vegetation, which resulted in the helicopter's impact with terrain. - [NTSB GAA17CA496](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA496), Aug 19, 2017: MIke Reed Super Cub (N7677M), Murphy, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s use of excessive brake pressure during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. - [NTSB GAA17CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA179), Mar 8, 2017: Burkhart Grob G 109B (N109FH), Mokuleia, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the upper rudder hinge during flight due to severe corrosion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and the lack of an annual inspection. - [NTSB ERA17LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA006), Oct 6, 2016: Piper PA24 (N8560P), Hollywood, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the fuel tank selector valve in a partially closed position, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine and a total loss of engine power. 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.