# Runway/taxi/approach light - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030220) › Runway/taxi/approach light - NTSB code: 03022012 - Cases: 106 - In the probable cause: 36 - Fatal cases: 2 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 3 / 11 - 2009: 0 / 4 - 2010: 0 / 1 - 2011: 0 / 1 - 2012: 0 / 3 - 2013: 1 / 6 - 2014: 1 / 7 - 2015: 0 / 4 - 2016: 1 / 7 - 2017: 4 / 12 - 2018: 4 / 16 - 2019: 12 / 13 - 2020: 8 / 11 - 2021: 0 / 3 - 2022: 2 / 5 - 2024: 0 / 1 - 2025: 0 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 56 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 8 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 6 cases - [Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370): 5 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 5 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 3 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 2 cases - [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 2 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 2 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 2 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 3 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 3 cases - [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases - [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 68 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 56 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 17 cases - [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 16 cases - [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 13 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 10 cases - [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 8 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 7 cases - [Sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015) (Environmental issues): 7 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 7 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA25LA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA363), Sep 23, 2025: Piper PA-32R-300 (N47630), White Plains, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in a collision with the runway lighting system. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s momentary… - [NTSB CEN24LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA357), Sep 1, 2024: Diamond DA42 (N705JP), Mandan, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to perform a go-around following an unstable approach while landing with a tailwind, which resulted in the airplane touching down long on the runway with insufficient distance to… - [NTSB CEN23FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA071), Dec 29, 2022: Bell 407 (N595RL), Galliano, LA, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure the helicopter was clear of obstacles before takeoff from the helideck, which resulted in the helicopter’s right landing skid pivoting about a helideck perimeter light… - [NTSB WPR23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA032), Nov 15, 2022: Honda HA-420 (N789RJ), Salt Lake City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent attempt to takeoff on a left side of runway, rather than the centerline of runway, which resulted in a collision with runway edge lights during the night time takeoff. - [NTSB CEN23LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA001), Oct 2, 2022: Cessna 140 (N72794), Burnet, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with an unexpected quartering tailwind. - [NTSB WPR22LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA260), Jul 12, 2022: Piper PA-28-161 (N43037), Kelso, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a loss of airplane control during landing with gusting wind conditions. - [NTSB WPR22LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA153), Apr 16, 2022: Stoddard Hamilton Glasair Super II (N90YY), Oxnard, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while on final approach, which resulted in a collision with a runway approach light. - [NTSB WPR21LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA349), Sep 21, 2021: Beech D17S (N1196V), San Diego / El Cajon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent collision with runway signage. - [NTSB ANC21LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA074), Aug 13, 2021: Cessna 180H (N3467Y), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing touchdown and a left main landing gear collapse. - [NTSB CEN21LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA186), Feb 28, 2021: Piper PA 46-350P (N6962S), Aspen, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control on landing. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.