# Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface
- NTSB code: 030230
- Cases: 899
- In the probable cause: 429
- Fatal cases: 15
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230

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

- 2008: 78 / 121
- 2009: 22 / 52
- 2010: 18 / 51
- 2011: 15 / 51
- 2012: 15 / 47
- 2013: 10 / 40
- 2014: 19 / 50
- 2015: 9 / 29
- 2016: 25 / 74
- 2017: 23 / 64
- 2018: 15 / 43
- 2019: 48 / 67
- 2020: 41 / 50
- 2021: 17 / 34
- 2022: 16 / 34
- 2023: 16 / 31
- 2024: 17 / 28
- 2025: 14 / 19
- 2026: 11 / 14

## Findings

- [Soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): 264 cases, 112 in the probable cause
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): 253 cases, 123 in the probable cause
- [Snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): 219 cases, 115 in the probable cause
- [Wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): 141 cases, 62 in the probable cause
- [Glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): 25 cases, 10 in the probable cause
- [Choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): 20 cases, 12 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 268 cases
- [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 116 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 74 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 53 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 49 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 39 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 39 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 37 cases
- [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 29 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 19 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 29 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 14 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 13 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 12 cases
- [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g): 11 cases
- [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 10 cases
- [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180): 10 cases
- [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 10 cases
- [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 9 cases
- [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 9 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 379 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 287 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 200 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 43 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 43 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 42 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 42 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 41 cases
- [Surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045) (Aircraft): 41 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 38 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA277), Jul 20, 2026: Rans S-6-S (N528MW), Morgan, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water.
- [NTSB CEN26LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA246), Jul 7, 2026: Rotec Engineering Rally 3 (UNREG), Hooker, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to an engine seizure for undetermined reasons because the wreckage was disposed of before it could be examined.
- [NTSB WPR26LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA221), Jun 15, 2026: Stoddard Hamilton Glastar (N399RS), Summer Lake, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll.
- [NTSB CEN26LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA216), May 20, 2026: Cessna 182P (N86289), Northport, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to resume taxiing on a turf runway that was unable to adequately support the airplane's weight, which resulted in the nose landing gear sinking into the soft ground and the…
- [NTSB WPR26LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA184), May 11, 2026: Vans RV-6A (N333PK), Kooskia, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s collision with a hole in the runway surface during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB CEN26LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA170), Apr 17, 2026: Piper PA 31P 350 (N9262Y), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing on a wet runway with a tailwind.
- [NTSB ANC26LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA025), Apr 9, 2026: Avid Avid Flyer (N394BJ), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering onto the runway for takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the presence of heavy, wet snow adjacent to the runway.
- [NTSB ERA26LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA157), Mar 31, 2026: Cirrus Design SR22T (N778WT), Mount Pleasant, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with uneven terrain during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with water.
- [NTSB ANC26LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA023), Mar 30, 2026: Wag Aero Sportsman (N212PX), Cordova, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable snow-covered runway and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB ANC26LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA022), Mar 28, 2026: Cessna A185F (N94237), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll due to contact with wind hardened snow berm and subsequent failure of main landing gear.

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.