# Sudden wind shift - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030340) › Sudden wind shift - NTSB code: 03034010 - Cases: 114 - In the probable cause: 69 - Fatal cases: 3 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 10 / 10 - 2009: 3 / 5 - 2010: 2 / 6 - 2011: 3 / 10 - 2012: 10 / 11 - 2013: 2 / 4 - 2014: 6 / 13 - 2015: 0 / 3 - 2016: 2 / 5 - 2017: 2 / 6 - 2018: 1 / 2 - 2019: 4 / 5 - 2020: 3 / 4 - 2021: 4 / 5 - 2022: 0 / 3 - 2023: 6 / 6 - 2024: 4 / 6 - 2025: 4 / 7 - 2026: 3 / 3 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 34 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 24 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 12 cases - [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 10 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 9 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 9 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 5 cases - [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 2 cases - [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 2 cases - [Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370): 2 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 5 cases - [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180): 5 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 3 cases - [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb100z): 3 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 2 cases - [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 2 cases - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases - [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65): 2 cases - [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm): 2 cases - [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 64 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 36 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 18 cases - [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 13 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 11 cases - [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 9 cases - [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 7 cases - [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 7 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 7 cases - [Descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037) (Aircraft): 7 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA213), May 27, 2026: Moose SR 2500 (N135DS), Sonoma, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a go-around in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. - [NTSB CEN26LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA181), May 7, 2026: Hughes 369HS (N926ES), Durango, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction and the pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in a… - [NTSB WPR26LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA170), Apr 27, 2026: Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z (N355WC), Elk Grove, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed decision to deflate the balloon during a static display in windy conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a building. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB ANC25LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA109), Sep 16, 2025: Piper PA-12 (N3816M), Kotlik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around in variable wind conditions. - [NTSB ANC25LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA103), Sep 10, 2025: Piper PA-11 (N5025H), Lake Louise, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with gusting crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. - [NTSB CEN25LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA235), Jul 2, 2025: Piper PA12 (N7635H), Brush, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while performing a touch and go landing. - [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 WPR25LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA168), Jun 2, 2025: Aeronca 7BCM (N85311), Port Townsend, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and inadequate compensation for shifting wind conditions which resulted in a veer off the runway and collision with a sign. - [NTSB ANC25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA041), May 23, 2025: Piper PA-18A 150 (N1364C), Susitna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with shifting winds during landing, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and altitude, and subsequent contact with water. - [NTSB CEN25LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA153), Apr 7, 2025: Cessna 185 (N1526F), Wausau, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in shifting wind conditions. 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.