# Low ceiling - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › [Ceiling/visibility/precip](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030350) › Low ceiling - NTSB code: 03035010 - Cases: 190 - In the probable cause: 96 - Fatal cases: 165 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 13 / 17 - 2009: 5 / 20 - 2010: 2 / 21 - 2011: 5 / 20 - 2012: 3 / 13 - 2013: 8 / 15 - 2014: 7 / 12 - 2015: 3 / 7 - 2016: 5 / 6 - 2017: 3 / 5 - 2018: 6 / 7 - 2019: 11 / 14 - 2020: 4 / 6 - 2021: 4 / 6 - 2022: 10 / 10 - 2023: 1 / 3 - 2024: 4 / 6 - 2025: 2 / 2 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 58 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 48 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 45 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 7 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 4 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 4 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 4 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 3 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 3 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 3 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 9 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 8 cases - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 4 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 4 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 3 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 3 cases - [Cessna 414A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414a): 3 cases - [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg): 3 cases - [Bell 407](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407): 3 cases - [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 102 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 72 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 57 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 54 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 38 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 36 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 29 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 19 cases - [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 19 cases - [Total instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030) (Personnel issues): 16 cases ## Newest cases - [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 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 CEN24FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA327), Aug 26, 2024: Piper PA-28-140 (N9626K), Wayne, NE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. - [NTSB WPR24FA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA270), Aug 8, 2024: Cessna 182K (N2764Q), Augusta, MT, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into a rugged mountain area in deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in impact with terrain. - [NTSB ERA24FA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA294), Jul 8, 2024: Cessna 182 (N2198G), Rutherfordton, NC, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from clouds, resulting in controlled flight into terrain due to mountain obscuration. - [NTSB WPR24FA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA156), May 19, 2024: Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L (N22MW), Bandera, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight into icing conditions and inclement weather, which likely led to spatial disorientation when he attempted to divert from the planned course to the destination… - [NTSB ANC24FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA032), May 17, 2024: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N95744), Nondalton, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-certificated pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into the water. - [NTSB ERA24LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA134), Mar 9, 2024: Cessna 150 (N1703Q), Clay, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to attempt a VFR flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to… - [NTSB WPR24FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA037), Nov 16, 2023: Cessna P210N (N1400), San Diego, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate flight and fuel planning and his decision to fly in night instrument meteorological… - [NTSB ERA23FA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA182), Apr 6, 2023: Cirrus Design SR22 (N911TK), Jesup, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering for a visual landing in low… 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.