OpenAirDocs.org

Water

Open the Markdown

NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain

All 97 cases27 in the probable cause
Cases
97
In the probable cause
27 (28%)
Fatal cases
21
NTSB code
03021020

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\", '03021020') 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\", '03021020'))
  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\", '03021020') 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 · 97

NTSB ERA26LA261Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportKodiak Kodiak 100 · New York, NYAn inadvertent collision with a large wave during touchdown on a river, which resulted in a subsequent bounce and hard landing.Jul 5, 2026 · N726SH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA101Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Willow, AKThe pilot’s decision to takeoff from an unsuitable runway due to large puddles of water, which resulted in a nose over.Sep 1, 2025 · N2996C · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24FA032Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12-D · Nondalton, AKThe non-certificated pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into the water.May 17, 2024 · N95744 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA171Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · South Kingstown, RIThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering at low altitude.Apr 9, 2024 · N331EL · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA112Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Tupelo, MSThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water during a dark night landing.Feb 7, 2024 · N4054Y · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23FA056Accident · 4 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 206-L4 · Wainwright, AKThe pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude over a large body of water toward featureless terrain, which resulted in a loss of visual clues and controlled flight into terrain.Jul 20, 2023 · N311MH · DestroyedNTSB ERA22LA209Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGarlick Helicopters OH-58A+ · Oakland, FLThe pilot’s decision to continue the low-altitude aerial application flight over water conditions that degraded his depth perception, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with the water.Apr 26, 2022 · N281SP · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA043Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-28-236 · Orleans, MAThe pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control while maneuvering over water in dark night conditions.Oct 31, 2021 · N2186U · DestroyedNTSB CEN22LA015Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportZuber Thomas P Zuber Super Drifter · Horseshoe Bay, TXThe pilot’s failure to adequately monitor airspeed during a low-level turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the water.Oct 9, 2021 · N70TZ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA447Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMorgan Sport Copter Vortex · Kingsland, TXThe pilot’s diverted attention which resulted in an inadvertent descent and subsequent collision with a lake.Sep 19, 2021 · N924WG · Substantial damage
See all 97 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\", '03021020'))
  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.