# Soft surface - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230) › Soft surface - NTSB code: 03023020 - Cases: 264 - In the probable cause: 112 - Fatal cases: 2 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 15 / 21 - 2009: 6 / 12 - 2010: 3 / 11 - 2011: 4 / 10 - 2012: 4 / 8 - 2013: 2 / 8 - 2014: 3 / 16 - 2015: 2 / 13 - 2016: 8 / 33 - 2017: 3 / 23 - 2018: 3 / 18 - 2019: 22 / 35 - 2020: 12 / 16 - 2021: 5 / 7 - 2022: 3 / 5 - 2023: 4 / 10 - 2024: 6 / 9 - 2025: 3 / 5 - 2026: 4 / 4 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 77 cases - [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 58 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 27 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 16 cases - [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 11 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 8 cases - [Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094): 8 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 7 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 7 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 6 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 10 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 5 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 5 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 5 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 4 cases - [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b): 4 cases - [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 4 cases - [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 3 cases - [Maule M-5-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c): 3 cases - [Cessna T182T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t182t): 3 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 119 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 69 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 57 cases - [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 18 cases - [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 16 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 15 cases - [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 14 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 13 cases - [Wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010) (Environmental issues): 13 cases - [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 12 cases ## Newest cases - [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 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 CEN25LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA283), Jul 23, 2025: Air Tractor AT-301 (N2371V), Hartsburg, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with a tailwind from a wet turf airstrip. - [NTSB ANC25LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA056), Jun 29, 2025: Cessna 172H (N8085L), Manokotak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB ERA25LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA251), Jun 27, 2025: Piper PA-22-135 (N3228B), Elberta, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Pilot’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… - [NTSB CEN25LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA187), May 23, 2025: Air Tractor AT-602 (N216TA), Goudeau, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent encounter with soft terrain conditions during the landing which resulted in a loss of directional and a subsequent nose-over. - [NTSB ANC25LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA039), May 18, 2025: Taylorcraft BC12-D1 (N44473), Willow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent application of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose over. - [NTSB CEN25LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA067), Dec 31, 2024: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N441HQ), Galveston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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,… 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.