# Snow/ice

- 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) › Snow/ice
- NTSB code: 03022060
- Cases: 67
- In the probable cause: 26
- Fatal cases: 0
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 2 / 3
- 2009: 0 / 3
- 2010: 0 / 3
- 2011: 0 / 2
- 2012: 1 / 1
- 2013: 0 / 1
- 2014: 0 / 11
- 2015: 0 / 2
- 2016: 0 / 2
- 2017: 2 / 7
- 2018: 2 / 5
- 2019: 7 / 9
- 2020: 6 / 7
- 2021: 1 / 3
- 2022: 1 / 1
- 2023: 1 / 2
- 2025: 3 / 4
- 2026: 0 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 42 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 4 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 3 cases
- [Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370): 2 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 2 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 2 cases
- [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 2 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 4 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 4 cases
- [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 4 cases
- [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 3 cases
- [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases
- [Gates Learjet 35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/gates-learjet-35a): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r): 2 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 47 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 39 cases
- [Snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015) (Environmental issues): 12 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 9 cases
- [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 7 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 5 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 4 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 4 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA121), Feb 16, 2026: Cessna 140 (N2221V), Antigo, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
- [NTSB ANC26LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA005), Nov 17, 2025: Piper PA-31-350 (N4112D), Eek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control when the airplane encountered snow and ice on the runway while landing at night in gusting crosswind conditions.
- [NTSB WPR25LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA106), Feb 27, 2025: Aviat A-1 (N345HU), Heber City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a collision with a snowbank.
- [NTSB WPR25LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA104), Feb 20, 2025: Cessna 180A (N7792A), Waterville, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
- [NTSB WPR25LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA074), Jan 6, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N4644Y), Red Rock, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in an impact with deep snow and vegetation.
- [NTSB WPR23LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA106), Jan 30, 2023: Piper PA-22 (N1791P), Sandpoint, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing and subsequent failure to maintain clearance from a snow berm during a go around.
- [NTSB WPR23LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA090), Jan 16, 2023: Maule MX-7-160 (N30737), Minidoka, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing on a contaminated runway.
- [NTSB WPR23LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA070), Dec 18, 2022: Vans RV6 (N78HJ), Afton, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during landing on a contaminated runway.
- [NTSB ANC21LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA030), Apr 16, 2021: Beech C-99 (N991AK), Chignik Lagoon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to visually inspect the runway condition before landing, which resulted in a collision with an ice chunk and main landing gear separation during landing.
- [NTSB CEN21LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA159), Mar 17, 2021: Piper PA-12 (N2849M), Erie, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a full-stop landing, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with a snow berm.

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.

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