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Soft surface

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

All 264 cases112 in the probable cause
Cases
264
In the probable cause
112 (42%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
03023020

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\", '03023020') 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\", '03023020'))
  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\", '03023020') 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 · 264

NTSB CEN26LA246Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRotec Engineering Rally 3 · Hooker, OKThe total loss of engine power due to an engine seizure for undetermined reasons because the wreckage was disposed of before it could be examined.Jul 7, 2026 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA221Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStoddard Hamilton Glastar · Summer Lake, ORThe pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll.Jun 15, 2026 · N399RS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA216Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182P · Northport, MIThe 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 propeller striking the terrain.May 20, 2026 · N86289 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA157Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Mount Pleasant, SCThe airplane’s encounter with uneven terrain during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with water.Mar 31, 2026 · N778WT · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA283Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-301 · Hartsburg, ILThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with a tailwind from a wet turf airstrip.Jul 23, 2025 · N2371V · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA056Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172H · Manokotak, AKThe pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface with a tailwind, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to recognize the wind direction, resulting in a tailwind landing.Jun 29, 2025 · N8085L · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA251Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-22-135 · Elberta, ALPilot’s decision to take off from a wet and unmaintained field that was unsuitable for airplane operations, resulting in a loss of control and subsequent nose over. Contributing was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight.Jun 27, 2025 · N3228B · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA187Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Goudeau, LAThe pilot’s inadvertent encounter with soft terrain conditions during the landing which resulted in a loss of directional and a subsequent nose-over.May 23, 2025 · N216TA · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA039Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12-D1 · Willow, AKThe pilot's inadvertent application of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose over.May 18, 2025 · N44473 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA067Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Galveston, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during the takeoff from the helipad in high and gusting wind conditions, that resulted in the right skid extension embedding in the artificial turf, and a subsequent dynamic rollover sequence.Dec 31, 2024 · N441HQ · Substantial damage
See all 264 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\", '03023020'))
  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.