# Thermal lifting

- 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) › Thermal lifting
- NTSB code: 03031040
- Cases: 53
- In the probable cause: 47
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 1 / 2
- 2010: 2 / 3
- 2011: 0 / 1
- 2012: 3 / 3
- 2014: 1 / 1
- 2015: 1 / 1
- 2016: 2 / 3
- 2017: 2 / 3
- 2018: 5 / 5
- 2019: 3 / 4
- 2020: 4 / 4
- 2021: 4 / 4
- 2022: 8 / 8
- 2023: 1 / 1
- 2024: 3 / 3
- 2025: 5 / 5
- 2026: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 43 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 2 cases
- [Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370): 2 cases
- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 1 cases
- [Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332): 1 cases
- [Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270): 1 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 1 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 1 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a): 3 cases
- [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-swidnik-pw-5): 2 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32): 2 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 1-36](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-36): 2 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e): 2 cases
- [DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S](https://openairdocs.org/model/dg-flugzeugbau-dg-1000s): 2 cases
- [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2ct): 2 cases
- [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/pezetel-szd-48-1jantar-std-2): 1 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 1-26D](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26d): 1 cases
- [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-23h-15): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 31 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 8 cases
- [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 4 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 3 cases
- [Sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA311), Aug 21, 2026: HPH Glasflugel 304CZ (N304BS), Xenia, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA26LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199), Apr 20, 2026: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 (N27CU), Greenwood, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB WPR26LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA010), Oct 5, 2025: Glasflugel STD Libelle 201B (N1095G), Moriarty, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB CEN25LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA271), Jul 19, 2025: PZL Swidnik PW-5 (N4426Z), Kerrick, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR25LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA177), Jun 11, 2025: Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL (N78AW), Tonasket, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB WPR25LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA138), Apr 19, 2025: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N5786S), Hood River, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
- [NTSB ERA25LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA181), Apr 2, 2025: Schleicher ASW-19 (N37PL), Zephyrhills, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB WPR24LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA274), Aug 9, 2024: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir (N125CC), Minden, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.
- [NTSB WPR24LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA216), Jun 24, 2024: Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 MI (N517PB), Parowan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain?flight.
- [NTSB ERA24LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA291), Jun 2, 2024: Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Astir CS (N152SS), Benton, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in collision with trees.

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.

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