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Dust devil/whirlwind

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

All 38 cases25 in the probable cause
Cases
38
In the probable cause
25 (66%)
Fatal cases
3
NTSB code
03034060

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\", '03034060') 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\", '03034060'))
  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\", '03034060') 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 · 38

NTSB CEN26LA307Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna Claassen 305A(0-1A) · Midland, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 29, 2026 · N41362 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA168Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150H · Española, NMThe pilot’s loss of of directional control during landing roll following an encounter with a dust devil.Apr 21, 2026 · N6762S · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA185Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSilvaire Luscombe 8A · San Andreas, CAThe pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll following an encounter with a dust devil.Jun 20, 2025 · N28545 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA155Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportQuicksilver MX II · Brady, TXThe airplane’s encounter with a dust devil, which resulted in a loss of airplane control at a low altitude.Apr 11, 2025 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA311Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCub Crafters CC11 · Grand View, IDThe pilot’s loss of control after encountering a dust devil during taxi.Sep 23, 2024 · N30YC · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA279Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180A · Boise, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 17, 2024 · N5216D · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA227Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportFantasy Air Sro Allegro 2007 · Eureka, UTThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight upset and impact with terrain.Jul 7, 2024 · N969RC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA336Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402B · Alta, IAThe airplane’s encounter with a dust devil, which resulted in a loss of lift, and subsequent collision with powerlines.Jul 29, 2023 · N402PR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA233Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 170B · Elko, NVThe pilot’s loss of control after encountering a dust devil during takeoff.Jun 16, 2023 · N8223A · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA228Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164 · Saffell, ARThe airplane’s encounter with a dust devil after takeoff, which resulted in a loss of lift, and a subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the presence of a dust devil in the airplane’s flight path.May 31, 2023 · N8405K · Substantial damage
See all 38 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\", '03034060'))
  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.