# NTSB investigations: Downdraft

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 4 · 178 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA196.md): Guenther Glen A Searey LSX · Briarcliff, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 24, 2026 · N379GG · Substantial damage
  > 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 downdraft wind conditions.
- [NTSB WPR26LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA196.md): Diamond DA40 · Wells, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 17, 2026 · N787PV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from mountainous terrain due to a downdraft.
- [NTSB WPR26LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA180.md): Cessna 172 · Marysvale, UT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 10, 2026 · N6643A · Destroyed
  > 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.md): Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18 · Greenwood, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 20, 2026 · N27CU · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Brunner Donald G Kitfox · Rock Crossing, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 10, 2026 · N104DG · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Lindstrand 260A · Casa Grande, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 2, 2026 · N261RR · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Cameron Balloons US A-225 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 24, 2025 · N980VA · No damage
  > 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.md): Aviat A1 · Evanston, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 4, 2025 · N96WJ · Substantial damage
  > 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 mountainous terrain in marginal weather conditions.
- [NTSB ANC25LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA100.md): Champion 7GCBC · Sutton, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 31, 2025 · N5267X · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Scott Vincin Just Acft Highlander · Mancos, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2025 · N970SV · Substantial damage
  > 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 ANC25LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA058.md): Stinson 108-8 · Alexander Creek, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 25, 2025 · N97438 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s encounter with a downdraft that led to a rapid loss of altitude.
- [NTSB CEN25FA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA047.md): Cessna 182T · Drake, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 23, 2024 · N434CP · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in mountainous terrain. Contributing was mountain wave turbulence in the area.
- [NTSB ANC24LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA090.md): Piper PA-18A 150 · Denali, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 4, 2024 · N424RD · Substantial damage
  > Failure to maintain clearance from terrain due to the airplane’s encounter with windshear during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR24LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA277.md): Beech N35 · Sequim, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 10, 2024 · N354AL · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA264.md): Mooney M20F · Carrizozo, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2024 · N9954L · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft after takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA273.md): Glasflugel Standard Libelle · Fields, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2024 · N1599 · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with a gusting wind and downdraft conditions, which resulted in exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA247.md): Bell 407 · Stanley, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2024 · N21BH · Substantial damage
  > A sudden wind shift which resulted in a rapid descent and subsequent dynamic rollover and collision into water.
- [NTSB ERA24LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA284.md): Corella Neil RV9A · Saluda, SC · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2024 · N94NF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in variable wind conditions, which resulted in collision with trees.
- [NTSB ERA24LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA057.md): Textron 172S · Social Circle, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 5, 2023 · N53AA · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a collision with a fence.
- [NTSB WPR24LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA058.md): Cessna 172P · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 27, 2023 · N5495K · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a downdraft during an approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ANC23FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA074.md): Piper PA-18-150 · St. Mary's, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Sep 13, 2023 · N109T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane above its maximum certificated gross weight, and his installation of an unapproved external load that degraded takeoff performance and flight characteristics resulting in a loss of airplane control during takeoff…
- [NTSB ANC23LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA081.md): Piper/Gerbi Charles R PA 18-150 · Juneau, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 11, 2023 · N4900C · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude after the airplane encountered a downdraft while maneuvering over an area of hilly terrain.
- [NTSB ERA23LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA348.md): Cessna 150 · Pink Hill, NC · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 23, 2023 · N8474J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate compensation for prevailing wind conditions during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting the ground short of the runway.
- [NTSB WPR23LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA322.md): Grumman American Avn. AA-5B · Lone Pine, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 19, 2023 · N4537Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain altitude after encountering a downdraft, which resulted in collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA050.md): Aviat A-1B · Matanuska Glacier, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2023 · N460JC · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s encounter with downdrafts resulting in decreased performance insufficient to outclimb rising terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA046.md): Piper PA-22 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 2, 2023 · N3321B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering low-level, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR23LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA204.md): Cessna 175A · Enterprise, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 28, 2023 · N5089 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during an initial climbout in mountainous terrain after encountering a suspected downdraft.
- [NTSB CEN23LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA191.md): Cessna 150F · Genoa, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 18, 2023 · N6840F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around.
- [NTSB WPR23FA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA173.md): Beech A36 · Big Bear, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 1, 2023 · N2038Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failure to maintain adequate airspeed on short final while operating in adverse wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA009.md): Beech 77 · Lihue, HI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 15, 2022 · N991AB · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s exceedance of its critical angle of attack after encountering a downdraft during departure, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR22LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA339.md): Bell 205A-1 · Cougar, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 7, 2022 · N66HJ · Substantial damage
  > The helicopter’s encounter with downdrafts during a low-altitude hovering maneuver while dipping for water.
- [NTSB CEN22LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA314.md): Piper PA-18-150 · Rogers, AR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 9, 2022 · N83552 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to establish a stabilize approach criteria during low-level maneuvering to the runway, which resulted in a hard landing and contact with a hay bale.
- [NTSB CEN22FA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA240.md): HPH Spol Sro Glasflugel 304 MS · Rifle, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 9, 2022 · N249SD · Destroyed
  > The glider’s encounter with gusting tailwind and downdraft conditions that the pilot was unable to overcome.
- [NTSB CEN22LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA236.md): Cessna 170 · Houston, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 2, 2022 · N1396D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to compensate for a downdraft during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and subsequent loss of directional control.
- [NTSB CEN22LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA034.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Fort Davis, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 10, 2021 · N3027W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s encounter of a downdraft from which there was insufficient altitude to recover.
- [NTSB CEN22LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA003.md): Boeing PT-17 · Winnie, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 2, 2021 · N4106Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to takeoff from a road with obstacles in his flight path and his failure to maintain control of the airplane when encountering changing winds from approaching thunderstorms which resulted in the airplane impacting signal light cables.
- [NTSB WPR21LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA360.md): Cessna 182E · Warren, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2021 · N3121Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering in a valley of mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB CEN21LA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA454.md): Kitfox IV · Ozark, AR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 24, 2021 · N161JB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude after the airplane encountered a downdraft while he intentionally flew at a low-altitude during a practice for a short-takeoff-and-landing flight competition.
- [NTSB WPR21LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA308.md): Cessna 172 · Reno, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 9, 2021 · N5735R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR21FA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA211.md): Textron 172S · Eden, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 29, 2021 · N1727T · Destroyed
  > The flight instructor’s improper aeronautical decision-making, which led to an encounter with a downdraft at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and resulted in the instructor’s loss of airplane control and an impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR21LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA225.md): Lindstrand Balloons 90A · Dayton, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 28, 2021 · N1535G · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon due to an unexpected high surface wind and downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR21LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA222.md): Piper PA-28R-200 · Las Vegas, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 15, 2021 · N1996T · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to compensate for a downdraft during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR21LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA176.md): Vans RV4 · Oljato-Monument Valley, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 15, 2021 · N345DL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while compensating for a downdraft during landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway on soft terrain and nosing over.
- [NTSB WPR21LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA056.md): Cessna 172 · Howe, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2020 · N8278B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain after an encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR20CA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA267.md): Cameron A 315 · Jackson, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Aug 3, 2020 · N12171 · Substantial damage
  > The balloon pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing during un-forecasted weather, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR20CA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA262.md): Head AX8 88 · Jackson, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Aug 3, 2020 · N45303 · Minor damage
  > The balloon pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during un-forecasted weather, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR20CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA218.md): Rans S6 · Richland, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 12, 2020 · N644RS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to arrest a descent rate or maintain altitude after encountering a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude near mountainous terrain that resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN20CA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA277.md): Kitfox Kitfox Sport · Rand, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 12, 2020 · N702KS · Substantial damage
  > The encounter with the downdrafts during the attempted takeoff, which resulted in decreased airplane's climb performance and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR20LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA216.md): Schleicher ASW27 · Ely, NV · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2020 · N167TM · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of glider control while maneuvering near a mountain ridge in downdrafts and dry microbursts at an altitude that precluded recovery.
- [NTSB WPR20CA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA197.md): Robinson R44 · Pioche, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 28, 2020 · N7530B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to fly at low level over mountainous terrain and his inability to recover when the helicopter encountered a downdraft that resulted in a collision with terrain.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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", '03034035'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases

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