NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface

Cases
219
In the probable cause
115 (53%)
Fatal cases
0
NTSB code
03023015

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
Cases with Snow/slush/ice covered surface per year: 219 cases
200822
200912
201017
201115
201217
201313
201410
20154
201610
201713
20189
201915
202013
202112
202212
202310
20244
20254
20267
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\", '03023015') 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

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\", '03023015'))
  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\", '03023015') 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 · 219

NTSB ANC26LA025Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAvid Avid Flyer · Anchorage, AKThe 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.Apr 9, 2026 · N394BJ · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA023Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWag Aero Sportsman · Cordova, AKThe 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.Mar 30, 2026 · N212PX · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA022Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna A185F · Skwentna, AKThe pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll due to contact with wind hardened snow berm and subsequent failure of main landing gear.Mar 28, 2026 · N94237 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA106Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Kneeland, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing roll on a snow-covered runway.Feb 20, 2026 · N72904 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA102Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · New Castle, DEThe pilots’ failure to properly identify the assigned runway during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane landing on a closed, snow-covered runway. Contributing was the illumination of the closed runway’s edge lighting.Jan 29, 2026 · N969FG · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA011Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150K · Anchorage, AKThe flight instructor’s unintentional selection of the wrong, snow-covered landing surface, which resulted in a nose-over.Jan 25, 2026 · N6333G · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26LA102Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 737 · Kodiak, AKThe reduced surface friction of the contaminated ramp which led to a loss of directional control during taxi.Jan 15, 2026 · N583AS · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA005Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-31-350 · Eek, AKThe pilot’s loss of directional control when the airplane encountered snow and ice on the runway while landing at night in gusting crosswind conditions.Nov 17, 2025 · N4112D · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA034Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182B · Girdwood, AKThe pilot's decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface, which resulted in a nose-over.Apr 12, 2025 · N916GG · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA033Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Bethel, AKThe pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.Apr 9, 2025 · N57617 · Substantial damage
See all 219 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\", '03023015'))
  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.