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Thermal lifting

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NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure

All 53 cases47 in the probable cause
Cases
53
In the probable cause
47 (89%)
Fatal cases
2
NTSB code
03031040

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\", '03031040') 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\", '03031040'))
  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\", '03031040') 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 · 53

NTSB ERA26LA311Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHPH Glasflugel 304CZ · Xenia, OHThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Aug 21, 2026 · N304BS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA199Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAlexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Greenwood, SCThe glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.Apr 20, 2026 · N27CU · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA010Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGlasflugel STD Libelle 201B · Moriarty, NMThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Oct 5, 2025 · N1095G · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA271Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPZL Swidnik PW-5 · Kerrick, TXThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Jul 19, 2025 · N4426Z · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA177Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRolladen Schneider LS-7WL · Tonasket, WAThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Jun 11, 2025 · N78AW · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA138Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Hood River, ORThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.Apr 19, 2025 · N5786S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA181Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchleicher ASW-19 · Zephyrhills, FLThe pilot’s inadequate inflight planning and an encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in an off-airport landing and collision with a fence.Apr 2, 2025 · N37PL · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA274Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · Minden, NVThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and a subsequent collision with an obstacle during an off-field landing.Aug 9, 2024 · N125CC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA216Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAlexander Schleicher ASH 31 MI · Parowan, UTThe glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain?flight.Jun 24, 2024 · N517PB · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA291Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS · Benton, NHAn encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in collision with trees.Jun 2, 2024 · N152SS · Substantial damage
See all 53 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\", '03031040'))
  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.