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Windshear

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

All 90 cases68 in the probable cause
Cases
90
In the probable cause
68 (76%)
Fatal cases
12
NTSB code
03034020

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\", '03034020') 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\", '03034020'))
  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\", '03034020') 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 · 90

NTSB CEN26LA169Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Meeker, COThe pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from terrain due to the airplane’s encounter with windshear during takeoff.Apr 19, 2026 · N1398K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA159Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA46 · Burke, TXThe airplane’s encounter with unexpected low-level wind shear during final approach, which resulted in a hard impact with the runway.Apr 5, 2026 · N95AG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA127Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRaytheon B36TC · Durango, COThe pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent loss of directional control while attempting to land during high crosswind conditions.Feb 26, 2026 · N2251Q · Substantial damageNTSB ANC26LA010Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 65-A90-1 · Anchorage, AKThe pilot’s failure to attain proper flare during landing resulting in a hard landing short of the runway threshold. Contributing to the accident were gusting wind conditions.Jan 16, 2026 · N918MR · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA027Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Springfield, MOThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor’s lack of proper remedial action during the practice autorotation that resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain. Contributing to the accident was the presence of the gusting…Oct 21, 2025 · N74583 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA107Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDavid Hunter Danchini CUB · Tyonek, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, in gusting crosswind conditions.Sep 16, 2025 · N798AK · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA198Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRepublic RC-3 · Coolin, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane and exceedance of the critical angle of attack during takeoff in windy conditions which resulted in a subsequent hard landing.Jun 28, 2025 · N6759K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA134Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 152 · Denton, TXThe pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind and windshear during landing.Mar 20, 2025 · N68332 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA088Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172S · Air Force Academy, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach after encountering an unexpected windshear.Jan 27, 2025 · N51387 · Substantial damageNTSB DCA25LA085Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 767 · San Bernardino, CAEncounter with windshear during landing which resulted in a tailstrike.Jan 10, 2025 · N324UP · Substantial damage
See all 90 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\", '03034020'))
  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.