# Ceiling/visibility/precip - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › Ceiling/visibility/precip - NTSB code: 030350 - Cases: 828 - In the probable cause: 523 - Fatal cases: 619 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030350/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030350/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030350 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 55 / 67 - 2009: 25 / 64 - 2010: 19 / 69 - 2011: 16 / 63 - 2012: 21 / 53 - 2013: 29 / 52 - 2014: 34 / 45 - 2015: 35 / 49 - 2016: 37 / 42 - 2017: 46 / 54 - 2018: 31 / 36 - 2019: 41 / 56 - 2020: 24 / 36 - 2021: 31 / 44 - 2022: 27 / 33 - 2023: 24 / 32 - 2024: 23 / 27 - 2025: 4 / 5 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## Findings - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): 190 cases, 96 in the probable cause - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075): 184 cases, 148 in the probable cause - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): 175 cases, 99 in the probable cause - [Clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025): 108 cases, 63 in the probable cause - [Fog](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055): 78 cases, 42 in the probable cause - [Ceiling/visibility/precip, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035000): 65 cases, 43 in the probable cause - [Rain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035): 56 cases, 32 in the probable cause - [Obscuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030): 45 cases, 24 in the probable cause - [Snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): 43 cases, 25 in the probable cause - [Freezing rain/sleet](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035040): 26 cases, 23 in the probable cause - [Haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020): 21 cases, 14 in the probable cause - [Drizzle/mist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035050): 18 cases, 11 in the probable cause - [Whiteout](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060): 13 cases, 9 in the probable cause - [Below approach minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035070): 11 cases, 8 in the probable cause - [Sand/dust storm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035065): 1 cases, 1 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 247 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 208 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 161 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 33 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 18 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 18 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 14 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 13 cases - [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 12 cases - [Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210): 11 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 24 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 19 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 15 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 11 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 10 cases - [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 9 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 9 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 8 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 7 cases - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 7 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 439 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 308 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 247 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 156 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 153 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 124 cases - [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 88 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 83 cases - [Total instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030) (Personnel issues): 54 cases - [Qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010) (Personnel issues): 53 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA26LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA218), May 27, 2026: Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G600 (N600WE), Birmingham, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s decision to continue the landing approach into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss visual reference and loss airplane control during landing. - [NTSB CEN26LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA040), Nov 8, 2025: Cessna 180K (N2697K), Lakeview, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue an approach that resulted in a long landing and inability to stop prior to the end of the runway. Contributing to the accident were the light conditions and a road… - [NTSB ERA25FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA143), Mar 14, 2025: Raytheon A36 (N566C), Greenville, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control shortly after climbing into instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation (somatogyral illusion). - [NTSB ERA25LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA130), Feb 26, 2025: Piper PA-28-235 (N43DN), Manchester, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of airframe icing and a subsequent aerodynamic… - [NTSB ERA25FA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA119), Feb 14, 2025: Cessna 208 (N40EA), Pierson, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of control. - [NTSB ERA25LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA111), Feb 5, 2025: Cirrus Design SR22 (N406SR), New Lexington, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s flight into previously forecasted freezing rain, which resulted in ice accretion, reduced forward visibility, and a subsequent landing undershoot. - [NTSB CEN25LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA074), Dec 27, 2024: Cessna 560 (N753MB), Pagosa Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and poor preflight inspection and decision-making, which led to a takeoff attempt above the airplane’s certified maximum takeoff weight with… - [NTSB ERA25LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA073), Dec 11, 2024: Cessna 560 (N981AG), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The vehicle driver’s inadequate visual lookout while driving on a non-licensed vehicle roadway in restricted visibility conditions, which resulted in a collision with a taxiing airplane. - [NTSB ERA25FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA037), Oct 31, 2024: Cessna 150F (N8110S), Wilder, TN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB WPR25LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA029), Oct 29, 2024: Daher TBM700 (N885CA), Pinedale, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane was free of snow contamination before takeoff and to follow the manufacturer’s anti-icing procedure during continued snowfall, which resulted in an… 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.