# Downdraft - 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) › Downdraft - NTSB code: 03034035 - Cases: 178 - In the probable cause: 99 - Fatal cases: 21 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 11 / 11 - 2009: 9 / 16 - 2010: 8 / 14 - 2011: 4 / 14 - 2012: 2 / 6 - 2013: 6 / 11 - 2014: 2 / 6 - 2015: 5 / 14 - 2016: 2 / 6 - 2017: 3 / 9 - 2018: 4 / 13 - 2019: 4 / 5 - 2020: 6 / 10 - 2021: 5 / 9 - 2022: 4 / 5 - 2023: 8 / 11 - 2024: 6 / 7 - 2025: 4 / 5 - 2026: 6 / 6 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 50 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 21 cases - [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 20 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 14 cases - [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 13 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 8 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 7 cases - [Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370): 7 cases - [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 7 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 6 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 6 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 4 cases - [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b): 4 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 3 cases - [Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/alexander-schleicher-asw-27-18): 3 cases - [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l): 3 cases - [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172): 3 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 2 cases - [Schleicher ASW-27](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-27): 2 cases - [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 71 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 47 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 44 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 26 cases - [Climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010) (Aircraft): 22 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 18 cases - [Climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035) (Aircraft): 16 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 14 cases - [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 12 cases - [Angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042) (Aircraft): 10 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA196), May 24, 2026: Guenther Glen A Searey LSX (N379GG), Briarcliff, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude and aircraft control during the base to final turn, which resulted in the airplane impacting the water. Contributing to the accident was reported… - [NTSB WPR26LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA196), May 17, 2026: Diamond DA40 (N787PV), Wells, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from mountainous terrain due to a downdraft. - [NTSB WPR26LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA180), May 10, 2026: Cessna 172 (N6643A), Marysvale, UT, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering in mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft. - [NTSB ERA26LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA199), Apr 20, 2026: Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 (N27CU), Greenwood, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider pilot’s encounter with a strong sink/loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain. - [NTSB WPR26LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA123), Mar 10, 2026: Brunner Donald G Kitfox (N104DG), Rock Crossing, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with terrain. - [NTSB WPR26LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA118), Mar 2, 2026: Lindstrand 260A (N261RR), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The hot air balloon’s encounter with downdraft wind conditions in mountainous terrain and subsequent impact with terrain. - [NTSB WPR26LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA052), Nov 24, 2025: Cameron Balloons US A-225 (N980VA), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon landing in increased wind, and the pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB WPR26LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA048), Oct 4, 2025: Aviat A1 (N96WJ), Evanston, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with downdrafts in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight through… - [NTSB ANC25LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA100), Aug 31, 2025: Champion 7GCBC (N5267X), Sutton, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain. - [NTSB CEN25LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA251), Jul 13, 2025: Scott Vincin Just Acft Highlander (N970SV), Mancos, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s reduced climb performance during takeoff in mountainous terrain, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to climb and impact with terrain. 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.