# Thunderstorm

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › [Convective weather](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030330) › Thunderstorm
- NTSB code: 03033010
- Cases: 100
- In the probable cause: 81
- Fatal cases: 59
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010

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

- 2008: 6 / 6
- 2009: 6 / 9
- 2010: 4 / 5
- 2011: 6 / 6
- 2012: 8 / 10
- 2013: 5 / 5
- 2014: 1 / 2
- 2015: 9 / 11
- 2016: 4 / 8
- 2017: 3 / 4
- 2018: 2 / 3
- 2019: 5 / 5
- 2020: 3 / 4
- 2021: 2 / 3
- 2022: 5 / 6
- 2023: 5 / 5
- 2024: 3 / 3
- 2025: 2 / 3
- 2026: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 30 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 29 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 8 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 8 cases
- [Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271): 5 cases
- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 4 cases
- [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 3 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 2 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 2 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 2 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p): 4 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 2 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20): 2 cases
- [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c): 2 cases
- [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 2 cases
- [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 2 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 60 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 42 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 19 cases
- [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 17 cases
- [Convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020) (Environmental issues): 10 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 8 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Aircraft structures, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000) (Aircraft): 7 cases
- [Rain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 6 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA315), Sep 10, 2026: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N80515), DeQuincy, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after encountering a wind gust. Contributing to the accident was nearby convective activity.
- [NTSB ERA26LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA218), May 27, 2026: Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G600 (N600WE), Birmingham, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s decision to continue the landing approach into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss visual reference and loss airplane control during landing.
- [NTSB DCA25LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA307), Aug 29, 2025: Embraer S A ERJ 170-200 LL (N110SY), Peaster, TX, no damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in serious injuries to a passenger who was out of their seat when the seatbelt sign was illuminated.
- [NTSB CEN25LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA200), Jun 5, 2025: Air Tractor AT-502 (N45113), Gibson, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff due to an encounter with a sudden wind shift.
- [NTSB ERA25FA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA201), May 10, 2025: Piper PA32RT (N30689), Yulee, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in a stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the opening of…
- [NTSB ERA24LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA344), Aug 2, 2024: Beech A36 (N718FG), Cullman, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart in an area of developing convective weather, which resulted in an unanticipated wind shift during the initial climb after takeoff, a loss of climb performance, and the…
- [NTSB ERA24FA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA283), Jun 30, 2024: Piper PA46 (N85PG), Trout Creek, NY, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control in flight due to spatial disorientation during a climb to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight…
- [NTSB WPR24FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA105), Mar 10, 2024: Piper PA-32-260 (N3264W), Madras, OR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an encounter with turbulence and structural icing conditions, loss of control, and…
- [NTSB ERA23FA380](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA380), Sep 28, 2023: Piper PA28 (N3079M), Whitesville, KY, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s improper decision to continue flight into a known area of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ERA23FA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA330), Aug 10, 2023: Cessna P210 (N210JT), Junction City, GA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s continued flight into a known area of adverse weather, which resulted in the penetration of a severe thunderstorm, the pilot’s loss of airplane control, and the airplane’s subsequent…

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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