NTSB investigations

270 cases where NTSB found Sloped/uneven terrain.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 270 cases
200826
200917
20105
201112
201213
201310
201421
201516
201616
201718
201833
201936
20208
202112
20226
20235
20243
20259
20264

Latest 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\", '03021017'))
  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.

NTSB CEN26LA233Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · Gregory, MIThe flight instructor’s improper planning during the simulated aborted launch which resulted in a touchdown on unsuitable terrain.Jun 3, 2026 · N4101M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA199Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAlexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Greenwood, SCThe glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.Apr 20, 2026 · N27CU · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA146Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Chimney Rock, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the terrain while performing a low altitude circling takeoff maneuver, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.Apr 4, 2026 · N5017G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA087Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportKitfox Series 7 · Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NVThe pilot’s inability to maintain clearance from terrain during a go-around.Jan 19, 2026 · N775DZ · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA018Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Imnaha, ORThe pilot’s continued application of brakes during an aborted takeoff in a tailwind on down-sloping terrain, which resulted in a nose-over.Oct 9, 2025 · N249MD · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA014Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMaye James A Just Aircraft Escapade · Flanigan, NVThe pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.Oct 4, 2025 · N80JM · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA102Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Champion 8GCBC · Unalakleet, AKThe pilots encounter with an obstructed dip in the landing surface during the landing roll out on a remote airstrip, which resulted in a noseover.Sep 5, 2025 · N242BC · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA092Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B2 · Juneau, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during takeoff from uneven, snow-covered terrain in flat light conditions.Aug 22, 2025 · N149TH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA226Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182L · Tucson Estates, AZThe pilot’s inability to stop the airplane on the runway during a rejected takeoff for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with a ditch.Jul 27, 2025 · N42725 · DestroyedNTSB ANC25LA074Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1 · Nelson Lagoon, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a creek bank while maneuvering to land.Jul 11, 2025 · N109KS · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA162Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172N · Monroe, WAThe student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with a ditch.May 26, 2025 · N6132G · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA157Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Fullerton, CAThe pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with terrain.Apr 25, 2025 · N415DG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA093Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Spearman, TXImproperly torqued intake manifold bolts that allowed unmetered air to enter the engine, resulting in an overly lean fuel-air mixture, eventual failure of the No. 3 cylinder intake valve, and a total loss of engine power.Feb 7, 2025 · N7191B · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA066Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28RT-201T · Placerville, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in an impact with terrain short of the runway threshold.Dec 20, 2024 · N29247 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA358Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 305 · Sterling, MAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent landing gear collapse. Contributing was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.Aug 25, 2024 · N5673B · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA241Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Herriman, UTA hard landing following a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the improper idle setting of the helicopter’s engine. Contributing to the loss of engine power was the instructor’s reduction of engine power past that recommended by…Jul 13, 2024 · N6960 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA003Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 340A · Hayward, CAThe pilot’s sudden incapacitation from effects of a previously undiagnosed underlying heart disease, which resulted in his loss of control of the airplane and subsequent impact with terrain.Oct 2, 2023 · N121CB · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23LA064Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Skwentna, AKThe pilot’s decision to taxi the airplane through tall grass without visual reference to the surface which obscured uneven terrain.Aug 22, 2023 · N4111Z · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23FA042Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 180 · Shaktoolik, AKThe pilot’s encounter with gusting tailwind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in impact with a tree, a loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain.Jun 16, 2023 · N91361 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA228Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Bradenton, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during landing which resulted in a premature landing on uneven ground and a subsequent rollover.May 11, 2023 · N62HT · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA108Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMaule M-7-260C · Lander, WYThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.Feb 7, 2023 · N4045R · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA063Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369D · La Sal, UTThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a toe-in landing to sloping terrain which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.Dec 8, 2022 · N458HW · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA030Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Champion 8GCBC · Payson, AZThe pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with insufficient takeoff distance which, resulted in a runway overrun and collision with vegetation.Nov 11, 2022 · N615DD · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA352Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJacquneaux Glen R CGS Hawk · Lander, WYA reported severe airframe vibration and subsequent forced landing for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not made available for examination.Sep 15, 2022 · N5148G · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA364Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeechcraft 35 · Star City, ARThe pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.Jul 30, 2022 · N3260V · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA215Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGrumman American Avn. G-164 · Whiskerville, ARThe pilot misjudged the approach during the emergency landing, likely due to the full chemical load, and impacted a ditch, resulting in substantial damage and postimpact fire. Contributing to the pilot’s injuries was the lack of a crash-resistant fuel system…May 28, 2022 · N178LB · DestroyedNTSB CEN22LA181Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Manhattan, KSThe pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during the approach and his unsuitable flight profile for an upsloping runway, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and an impact with terrain during an attempted go-around.Apr 21, 2022 · N9263H · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA036Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCubcrafters CC11-160 · Mackay, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane veering into a ditch and nosing over.Nov 17, 2021 · N2YQ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA061Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEric A Munzer Dornier D027-B2 · Martinsville, VAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with a ditch.Nov 12, 2021 · N27TQ · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA293Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEnstrom F-28A · Mountain Home, IDThe pilot's improper fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent hard landing on uneven terrain.Jul 28, 2021 · N46MU · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA283Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Edwardsburg, MIThe pilot’s failure to identify rising terrain and to maintain terrain clearance from trees during an aerial application pass that resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain.Jun 20, 2021 · N8523Z · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA281Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 1-35 · Wellington, COThe glider pilot’s loss of visual references during the landing approach resulting in an off-airport landing on rough sloping terrain.Jun 20, 2021 · N2851H · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA256Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWare Jerry L Aventura II · DeLand, FLA landing gear collapse after the airplane struck a hole during an off-runway precautionary landing.Jun 17, 2021 · N966W · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA260Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Denton, TXThe flight instructor and student pilot’s failure to properly manage the airplane’s available fuel resulting in fuel starvation.Jun 10, 2021 · N4147J · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA229Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMaule M-4 · Cascade, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a ditch, which resulted in impact with terrain.Jun 2, 2021 · N4718T · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA188Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150M · Tishomingo, OKThe pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff on encountering a wind gust and his landing beyond the end of the runway that resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch collapsing the nose landing gear.Apr 10, 2021 · N439WT · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA029Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 170A · Lime Village, AKThe pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a landing gear collapse.Apr 7, 2021 · N1291D · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA023Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12-D · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi, which resulted in the airplane encountering a crevasse.Mar 4, 2021 · N43300 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA084Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369D · Winthrop, WAThe pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment which resulted in a collision with a snowbank and subsequent loss of control.Jan 9, 2021 · N8612F · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA067Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Dillon, MTThe student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.Dec 8, 2020 · N46017 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA411Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna R182 · Marksville, LAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to ensure the landing gear handle in the “down” position which resulted in the landing gear retracting during takeoff, a loss of directional control, and a runway excursion.Sep 17, 2020 · N6208T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA215Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150 · Port Orchard, WAThe pilot's delayed decision to go around from an unstable approach, which resulted in insufficient airplane performance to climb above rising terrain and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.Jul 8, 2020 · N22393 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA145Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 35 · Sidney, IAA loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.Apr 10, 2020 · N1258Z · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20CA112Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportDe Havilland DHC6 · Boulder City, NVThe trainee pilot's loss of directional control during landing and his subsequent unintentional control interference with the brakes and/or rudder during the trainer pilot's attempted remedial action, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a…Mar 6, 2020 · N72GC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20CA103Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCubCrafters FX-3 · Sonoma/Schellville, CAThe pilot's inadvertent activation of the left brake during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and collision with a ditch.Feb 28, 2020 · N3XC · Substantial damageNTSB ERA20CA113Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLearjet 55 · Farmingdale, NJThe flight crew's failure to stop the airplane on the available runway, which was wet and resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch.Feb 26, 2020 · N135LR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20CA090Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeech 36 · Avalon, CAThe pilot's improper approach and delayed decision to apply corrective action, which resulted in a runway overrun, impact with a berm, and a subsequent nose-over.Feb 10, 2020 · N6056Q · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA074Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172 · FallBrook, CAThe student pilot's use of excessive ground speed while making a right turn when exiting the runway, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a runway excursion.Nov 12, 2019 · N3803S · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA071Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182 · San Luis, COThe pilot's improper pitch attitude during landing on rising terrain in flat light conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 12, 2019 · N91846 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA079Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA28 · Quakertown, PAThe student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a drainage culvert.Oct 19, 2019 · N2961W · Substantial damage