# Terrain

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › Terrain
- NTSB code: 030210
- Cases: 1569
- In the probable cause: 524
- Fatal cases: 263
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030210/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030210/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030210

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

- 2008: 115 / 221
- 2009: 28 / 134
- 2010: 19 / 97
- 2011: 11 / 83
- 2012: 9 / 87
- 2013: 17 / 84
- 2014: 25 / 117
- 2015: 21 / 88
- 2016: 25 / 94
- 2017: 23 / 92
- 2018: 32 / 98
- 2019: 68 / 98
- 2020: 30 / 54
- 2021: 20 / 56
- 2022: 17 / 42
- 2023: 18 / 42
- 2024: 18 / 31
- 2025: 16 / 34
- 2026: 12 / 17

## Findings

- [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): 442 cases, 119 in the probable cause
- [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): 329 cases, 127 in the probable cause
- [Sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): 270 cases, 102 in the probable cause
- [Terrain, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): 267 cases, 98 in the probable cause
- [Wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): 110 cases, 33 in the probable cause
- [Water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): 97 cases, 27 in the probable cause
- [Snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): 77 cases, 26 in the probable cause
- [High elevation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025): 16 cases, 6 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 238 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 186 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 136 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 107 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 102 cases
- [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 70 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 69 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 68 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 58 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 44 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 38 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 23 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 21 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 20 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 20 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 19 cases
- [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 16 cases
- [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 15 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 15 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 14 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 432 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 384 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 238 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 224 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 147 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 124 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 73 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 73 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 69 cases
- [Fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030) (Personnel issues): 67 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 ERA26LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA261), Jul 5, 2026: Kodiak Kodiak 100 (N726SH), New York, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inadvertent collision with a large wave during touchdown on a river, which resulted in a subsequent bounce and hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR26LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA234), Jun 23, 2026: Piper PA-12 (N3013M), Dixie, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to initiate a go-around and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain.
- [NTSB WPR26LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA230), Jun 21, 2026: Stephen Aberle Chipper CH-2A (N618SA), Alva, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to taxi the tailwheel-equipped airplane over uneven terrain while operating with limited forward visibility, which resulted in the left main landing gear entering a hole.
- [NTSB WPR26LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA222), Jun 17, 2026: Cessna 172S (N96FA), Death Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and encounter with a tailwind while landing on a rough runway, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent nose over.
- [NTSB ERA26LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA245), Jun 7, 2026: Taylorcraft DCO-65 (N47123), Renovo, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB CEN26LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA233), Jun 3, 2026: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir (N4101M), Gregory, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper planning during the simulated aborted launch which resulted in a touchdown on unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB CEN26LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA194), May 20, 2026: Lockwood AIR CAM (N32F), Hutchinson, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA26LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199), Apr 20, 2026: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 (N27CU), Greenwood, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB CEN26LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA165), Apr 14, 2026: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer (N495LP), Peyton, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and improper in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent forced landing to a field.

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.

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