# Variable wind

- 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) › Variable wind
- NTSB code: 03034025
- Cases: 113
- In the probable cause: 44
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025

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

- 2008: 7 / 8
- 2009: 1 / 12
- 2010: 0 / 7
- 2011: 1 / 6
- 2012: 1 / 4
- 2013: 0 / 1
- 2014: 5 / 12
- 2015: 3 / 6
- 2016: 2 / 12
- 2017: 1 / 9
- 2018: 2 / 5
- 2019: 2 / 5
- 2021: 3 / 6
- 2022: 1 / 2
- 2023: 3 / 4
- 2024: 4 / 5
- 2025: 6 / 7
- 2026: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 45 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 22 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 9 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 8 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 6 cases
- [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 5 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 4 cases
- [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 3 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 3 cases
- [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 2 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 3 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135): 2 cases
- [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k): 2 cases
- [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j): 2 cases
- [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180): 2 cases
- [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b): 2 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 81 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 50 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 22 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 16 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 10 cases
- [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 8 cases
- [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 8 cases
- [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 6 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA300), Aug 21, 2026: Cessna T206H (N464PM), Marble, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the final approach in variable and gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were localized wind effects associated with…
- [NTSB WPR26LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA105), Feb 13, 2026: Piper PA-20 (N1491A), Three Forks, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional during the landing roll with a variable wind.
- [NTSB ERA25LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA349), Sep 16, 2025: Pipistrel Lsa S R L Virus 912 LSA (N272BH), Lincoln Park, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for variable wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
- [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 CEN25LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA314), Aug 10, 2025: Air Tractor AT-502B (N502WF), Goodland, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing and go-around with variable wind direction and speed.
- [NTSB ANC25LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA082), Aug 2, 2025: Cessna U206F (N206GR), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance during approach in gusting wind conditions to a remote airstrip, resulting in a collision with brush.
- [NTSB ANC25LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA066), Jun 28, 2025: Piper PA-18-135 (N55PT), Chenega, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting and variable wind conditions.
- [NTSB WPR25LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA186), Jun 18, 2025: Kohut Mark A Murphy SR 2500 (N6161C), Challis, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB ANC25LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA049), Jun 8, 2025: Cessna 180J (N605NB), Flagstaff, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in variable and gusty wind, which resulted in a ground loop.
- [NTSB CEN25LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA011), Oct 6, 2024: Powrachute SKY Rascal (N2565Q), Peculiar, MO, minor damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to use appropriate engine power during descent in turbulent air which resulted in a loss of control.

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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