# High density altitude - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › [Temp/humidity/pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030310) › High density altitude - NTSB code: 03031020 - Cases: 280 - In the probable cause: 164 - Fatal cases: 59 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 24 / 27 - 2009: 9 / 19 - 2010: 8 / 18 - 2011: 6 / 19 - 2012: 12 / 22 - 2013: 13 / 21 - 2014: 13 / 22 - 2015: 8 / 15 - 2016: 5 / 16 - 2017: 9 / 18 - 2018: 7 / 13 - 2019: 6 / 8 - 2020: 11 / 11 - 2021: 7 / 13 - 2022: 4 / 5 - 2023: 9 / 13 - 2024: 8 / 10 - 2025: 4 / 7 - 2026: 1 / 3 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 64 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 42 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 26 cases - [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 21 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 19 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 13 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 12 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 12 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 11 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 11 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 12 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 11 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 7 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 6 cases - [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p): 4 cases - [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177): 4 cases - [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q): 4 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 4 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 4 cases - [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c): 3 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 116 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 103 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 56 cases - [Climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035) (Aircraft): 44 cases - [Performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010) (Personnel issues): 43 cases - [Maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035) (Aircraft): 34 cases - [Climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010) (Aircraft): 30 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 29 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 28 cases - [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 28 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA267), Jul 18, 2026: Rans S7 (N6133M), Kemmerer, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to perform a take-off in high-density-altitude, gusting-crosswind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing and subsequent nose-over. - [NTSB WPR26LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA266), Jul 18, 2026: Maule M-4-180V (N489LA), Creede, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s performance capabilities in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a forced landing. - [NTSB DCA26LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA285), Jun 26, 2026: Leigh Aerosystems E100 (N1224E), Douglas, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Degraded engine and propeller performance during hot and high-density altitude operations, which resulted in a high descent rate and subsequent hard landing. - [NTSB WPR25LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA283), Sep 17, 2025: Cessna 150F (N8047F), Rigby, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper flap position during takeoff, which resulted in degraded climb performance and a subsequent impact with a building. - [NTSB WPR25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA271), Aug 31, 2025: Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N45254), Red Lodge, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude weather condition. - [NTSB WPR25LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA234), Jul 31, 2025: Cessna 182Q (N759NB), Cashmere, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an aborted landing, while flying in tailwind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude weather condition. - [NTSB WPR25LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA227), Jul 22, 2025: Hartline J Bon Hartline Kitfox III (N422K), Logan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff in variable wind and high density altitude conditions. - [NTSB CEN25LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA240), Jul 7, 2025: Cub Crafters CCK-1865 (N952SA), La Garita, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude in mountainous terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and aeronautical decision… - [NTSB CEN25LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA231), Jul 1, 2025: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N8834H), Lockport, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate planning for the high density altitude conditions which resulted in reduced airplane performance, climb capability, and subsequent forced landing. - [NTSB WPR25LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA149), May 2, 2025: American Champion 8KCAB (N538EE), Mojave, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during climb out from an aborted landing. 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.