# NTSB investigations: Sloped/uneven terrain

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 6 · 270 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA233.md): Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · Gregory, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 3, 2026 · N4101M · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s improper planning during the simulated aborted launch which resulted in a touchdown on unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB ERA26LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199.md): Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Greenwood, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 20, 2026 · N27CU · Substantial damage
  > The glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB WPR26LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA146.md): Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 · Chimney Rock, MT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 4, 2026 · N5017G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the terrain while performing a low altitude circling takeoff maneuver, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB WPR26LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA087.md): Kitfox Series 7 · Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 19, 2026 · N775DZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain clearance from terrain during a go-around.
- [NTSB WPR26LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA018.md): Cessna 180 · Imnaha, OR · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 9, 2025 · N249MD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued application of brakes during an aborted takeoff in a tailwind on down-sloping terrain, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB WPR26LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA014.md): Maye James A Just Aircraft Escapade · Flanigan, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 4, 2025 · N80JM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ANC25LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA102.md): American Champion 8GCBC · Unalakleet, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 5, 2025 · N242BC · Substantial damage
  > The pilots encounter with an obstructed dip in the landing surface during the landing roll out on a remote airstrip, which resulted in a noseover.
- [NTSB ANC25LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA092.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Juneau, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 22, 2025 · N149TH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during takeoff from uneven, snow-covered terrain in flat light conditions.
- [NTSB WPR25LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA226.md): Cessna 182L · Tucson Estates, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 27, 2025 · N42725 · Destroyed
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC25LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA074.md): Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1 · Nelson Lagoon, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2025 · N109KS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a creek bank while maneuvering to land.
- [NTSB WPR25LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA162.md): Cessna 172N · Monroe, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 26, 2025 · N6132G · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB WPR25LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA157.md): Cirrus Design SR22T · Fullerton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 25, 2025 · N415DG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN25LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA093.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Spearman, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 7, 2025 · N7191B · Substantial damage
  > Improperly 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.
- [NTSB WPR25LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA066.md): Piper PA-28RT-201T · Placerville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 20, 2024 · N29247 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ERA24LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA358.md): Cessna 305 · Sterling, MA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 25, 2024 · N5673B · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB WPR24LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA241.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Herriman, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2024 · N6960 · Substantial damage
  > A 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…
- [NTSB WPR24LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA003.md): Cessna 340A · Hayward, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 2, 2023 · N121CB · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC23LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA064.md): Piper PA-18 · Skwentna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 22, 2023 · N4111Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to taxi the airplane through tall grass without visual reference to the surface which obscured uneven terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA042.md): Cessna 180 · Shaktoolik, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 16, 2023 · N91361 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ERA23LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA228.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Bradenton, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 11, 2023 · N62HT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during landing which resulted in a premature landing on uneven ground and a subsequent rollover.
- [NTSB WPR23LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA108.md): Maule M-7-260C · Lander, WY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 7, 2023 · N4045R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
- [NTSB WPR23LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA063.md): Hughes 369D · La Sal, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 8, 2022 · N458HW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a toe-in landing to sloping terrain which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB WPR23LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA030.md): American Champion 8GCBC · Payson, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 11, 2022 · N615DD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with insufficient takeoff distance which, resulted in a runway overrun and collision with vegetation.
- [NTSB WPR22LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA352.md): Jacquneaux Glen R CGS Hawk · Lander, WY · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 15, 2022 · N5148G · Substantial damage
  > A reported severe airframe vibration and subsequent forced landing for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not made available for examination.
- [NTSB CEN22LA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA364.md): Beechcraft 35 · Star City, AR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2022 · N3260V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.
- [NTSB CEN22FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA215.md): Grumman American Avn. G-164 · Whiskerville, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 28, 2022 · N178LB · Destroyed
  > The 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…
- [NTSB CEN22LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA181.md): Cessna 172M · Manhattan, KS · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 21, 2022 · N9263H · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB WPR22LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA036.md): Cubcrafters CC11-160 · Mackay, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 17, 2021 · N2YQ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane veering into a ditch and nosing over.
- [NTSB ERA22LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA061.md): Eric A Munzer Dornier D027-B2 · Martinsville, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 12, 2021 · N27TQ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with a ditch.
- [NTSB WPR21LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA293.md): Enstrom F-28A · Mountain Home, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 28, 2021 · N46MU · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN21LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA283.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Edwardsburg, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2021 · N8523Z · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN21LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA281.md): Schweizer SGS 1-35 · Wellington, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2021 · N2851H · Substantial damage
  > The glider pilot’s loss of visual references during the landing approach resulting in an off-airport landing on rough sloping terrain.
- [NTSB ERA21LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA256.md): Ware Jerry L Aventura II · DeLand, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 17, 2021 · N966W · Substantial damage
  > A landing gear collapse after the airplane struck a hole during an off-runway precautionary landing.
- [NTSB CEN21LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA260.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Denton, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 10, 2021 · N4147J · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor and student pilot’s failure to properly manage the airplane’s available fuel resulting in fuel starvation.
- [NTSB WPR21LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA229.md): Maule M-4 · Cascade, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 2, 2021 · N4718T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a ditch, which resulted in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN21LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA188.md): Cessna 150M · Tishomingo, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 10, 2021 · N439WT · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC21LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA029.md): Cessna 170A · Lime Village, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 7, 2021 · N1291D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a landing gear collapse.
- [NTSB ANC21LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA023.md): Taylorcraft BC12-D · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 4, 2021 · N43300 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for taxi, which resulted in the airplane encountering a crevasse.
- [NTSB WPR21LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA084.md): Hughes 369D · Winthrop, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 9, 2021 · N8612F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment which resulted in a collision with a snowbank and subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB WPR21LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA067.md): Cessna 172 · Dillon, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 8, 2020 · N46017 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle attack during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN20CA411](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA411.md): Cessna R182 · Marksville, LA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Sep 17, 2020 · N6208T · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB WPR20LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA215.md): Cessna 150 · Port Orchard, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 8, 2020 · N22393 · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN20LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA145.md): Beech 35 · Sidney, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 10, 2020 · N1258Z · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB WPR20CA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA112.md): De Havilland DHC6 · Boulder City, NV · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 6, 2020 · N72GC · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB WPR20CA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA103.md): CubCrafters FX-3 · Sonoma/Schellville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 28, 2020 · N3XC · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ERA20CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA113.md): Learjet 55 · Farmingdale, NJ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 26, 2020 · N135LR · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's failure to stop the airplane on the available runway, which was wet and resulted in the airplane impacting a ditch.
- [NTSB WPR20CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA090.md): Beech 36 · Avalon, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 10, 2020 · N6056Q · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB GAA20CA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA074.md): Cessna 172 · FallBrook, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 12, 2019 · N3803S · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB GAA20CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA071.md): Cessna 182 · San Luis, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 12, 2019 · N91846 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper pitch attitude during landing on rising terrain in flat light conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB GAA20CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA079.md): Piper PA28 · Quakertown, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 19, 2019 · N2961W · Substantial damage
  > The 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.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases

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