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

All 25 cases10 in the probable cause
Cases
25
In the probable cause
10 (40%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
03023025

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\", '03023025') 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\", '03023025'))
  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\", '03023025') 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 · 25

NTSB ERA26LA277Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRans S-6-S · Morgan, VTThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water.Jul 20, 2026 · N528MW · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA075Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A-1C-200 · Hawthorne, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.Dec 20, 2025 · N656B · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA211Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206 · Falun, WIThe pilot experiencing the featureless terrain illusion during the approach which gave the perception that the airplane was at a higher altitude over the glassy water surface than it was, resulting in the airplane impacting the water.Jun 18, 2025 · N932DB · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA057Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna A185F · Trapper Creek, AKThe pilot’s improper flare while landing on glassy water, which resulted in a hard landing.May 21, 2025 · N3308S · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA036Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Owinza, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a low pass over a lake.Oct 13, 2024 · N9493CNTSB ERA22LA402Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206G · Millinocket, METhe pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 7, 2022 · N756SG · Minor damageNTSB ANC21LA081Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) · Kodiak, AKThe pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and nose over.Aug 21, 2021 · N4334Y · Substantial damageNTSB GAA20CA007Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportDe Havilland Beaver DHC 2 · Kodiak, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain lateral control while landing on glassy water, which resulted in the left float touching the water, a loss of yaw control, and impact with a riverbank.Oct 7, 2019 · N1544 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19LA229Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportProgressive Aerodyne Searey · Crescent, FLThe pilot’s misjudgment of his altitude during landing and subsequent decrease in pitch attitude, which resulted in a collision with the water.Jul 16, 2019 · N632FG · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA475Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 180 · Willow, AKThe pilot’s improper landing flare while landing on water with glassy water conditions, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.Aug 4, 2017 · N5236D · Substantial damage
See all 25 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\", '03023025'))
  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.