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Rough terrain

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NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain

All 442 cases119 in the probable cause
Cases
442
In the probable cause
119 (27%)
Fatal cases
14
NTSB code
03021015

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '03021015') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '03021015'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '03021015') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 442

NTSB WPR26LA230Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStephen Aberle Chipper CH-2A · Alva, OKThe 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.Jun 21, 2026 · N618SA · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA222Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172S · Death Valley, CAThe 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.Jun 17, 2026 · N96FA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA245Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft DCO-65 · Renovo, PAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control during an off-airport landing.Jun 7, 2026 · N47123 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA165Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPipistrel Alpha Trainer · Peyton, COThe 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.Apr 14, 2026 · N495LP · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA134Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportZlin Aviation Sro Savage CUB-S · Young, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during landing.Mar 20, 2026 · N9111 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA089Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-23 · Newkirk, NMThe pilots inadequate preflight planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent landing on rough terrain.Jan 22, 2026 · N1210P · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA073Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRockwell International 114 · Stroud, OKThe pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of power due to fuel exhaustion.Dec 13, 2025 · N5879N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA019Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Bonilla, SDThe pilot’s inadequate flight planning and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the precautionary off-airport landing.Oct 10, 2025 · N53853 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA403Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 11AC · Longmont, COThe pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 29, 2025 · N86326 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA298Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 185A · Ilwaco, WAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Sep 27, 2025 · N186X · Substantial damage
See all 442 cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '03021015'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.