OpenAirDocs.org

Wake turbulence

Open the Markdown

NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence

All 47 cases40 in the probable cause
Cases
47
In the probable cause
40 (85%)
Fatal cases
7
NTSB code
03032025

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\", '03032025') 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\", '03032025'))
  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\", '03032025') 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 · 47

NTSB WPR26LA165Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 7FC · Bend, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the rotor wash from a nearby helicopter.Apr 17, 2026 · N7541B · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA132Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12 · Russellville, ARThe failure of the U.S. Army helicopter pilots to yield the right-of-way to the landing airplane, which resulted in the airplane encountering wake turbulence emitted from the three departing U.S. Army helicopters, a subsequent loss of directional control, and…Mar 22, 2025 · N39158 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA020Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Kapolei, HIThe flight instructor’s failure to avoid wake turbulence from a heavy airplane departing from a parallel runway, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during initial climb after a touch-and-go landing.Feb 20, 2025 · N19867 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA041Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22T · Palm Springs, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a commercial airliner which resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence and subsequent loss of control resulting in impact with terrain.Nov 17, 2024 · N828PS · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA093Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180B · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s encounter with wake turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.Sep 14, 2024 · N5275E · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA253Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCanadian Car & Foundry Harvard MK IV · Oshkosh, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.Jul 25, 2024 · N52494 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA187Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-18-150 · Garrett, WYThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while conducting low-level altitude operations, following an encounter with wake turbulence.Jun 7, 2024 · N40561 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA212Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-20-135 · Georgetown, OHAn inadvertent encounter with the rotor wash of a nearby hovering helicopter during landing, which resulted in a loss of control and a runway excursion.May 2, 2024 · N8290C · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA085Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEvektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA · Santa Ana, CAA loss of airplane control due to wake turbulence resulting from the instructor pilot’s decision to continue the landing into a drifting wake vortex.Feb 11, 2024 · N377YG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA353Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Hopkinsville, KYThe pilot’s inadvertent encounter with helicopter wake turbulence during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.Aug 28, 2023 · N8679V · Substantial damage
See all 47 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\", '03032025'))
  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.