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Microburst

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

All 10 cases7 in the probable cause
Cases
10
In the probable cause
7 (70%)
Fatal cases
4
NTSB code
03034050

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\", '03034050') 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\", '03034050'))
  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\", '03034050') 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 · 10

NTSB WPR25LA235Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180J · Kamiah, IDThe pilot’s loss of airplane control following an encounter with a microburst during takeoff.Aug 1, 2025 · N52175 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA342Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 152 · Salt Lake City, UTThe airplane’s encounter with a microburst during initial climb that resulted in a loss of altitude and subsequent collision with a tree.Sep 7, 2022 · N48918 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA22LA395Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Industries DA 42 · Orlando, FLThe flight crew’s insufficient evaluation of the deteriorating weather conditions in the area, which resulted in an encounter with a microburst.Sep 1, 2022 · N43RG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA251Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 208B · Salt Lake City, UTThe pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane when it encountered a microburst during a landing attempt and a go-around near known thunderstorm activity. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate amount of wind sensors and wind shear…Jul 14, 2022 · N877FE · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA216Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSchleicher ASW27 · Ely, NVThe pilot’s loss of glider control while maneuvering near a mountain ridge in downdrafts and dry microbursts at an altitude that precluded recovery.Jul 11, 2020 · N167TM · DestroyedNTSB CEN15CA218Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportSchmidt Donald L GS1 Glastar · Moriarty, NMThe inadvertent encounter with a microburst while maneuvering near mountainous terrain, which resulted in a off airport landing and impact with terrain.May 2, 2015 · N993S · Substantial damageNTSB ERA14CA184Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 172R · Daytona Beach, FLThe inadvertent encounter with a microburst during taxi from landing that resulted in the aircraft being turned over inverted and receiving substantial damage.Apr 7, 2014 · N2630B · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12FA378Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000 · Nephi, UTThe pilot's inability to maintain airplane control due to an encounter with a microburst/downdraft that exceeded the climb performance capabilities of the airplane.Aug 30, 2012 · N651AM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA428Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna R182 · Thornton, COThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with a microburst while operating at a low altitude, which resulted in a loss of control from which the pilot could not recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning for the forecasted…Jun 29, 2011 · N2344C · Substantial damageNTSB SEA08CA172Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportLyons Navajo HKS · Waterville, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was a microburst condition.Aug 7, 2008 · N1762C · Substantial damage
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\", '03034050'))
  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.