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Low visibility

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NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip

All 175 cases99 in the probable cause
Cases
175
In the probable cause
99 (57%)
Fatal cases
133
NTSB code
03035015

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\", '03035015') 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\", '03035015'))
  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\", '03035015') 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 · 175

NTSB ERA25FA037Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 150F · Wilder, TNThe student pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Oct 31, 2024 · N8110S · DestroyedNTSB ANC24FA089Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBell 206B · King Salmon, AKThe pilot’s decision to initiate the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, failure to maintain helicopter control and subsequent impact with water.Sep 7, 2024 · N306FW · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA270Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182K · Augusta, MTThe 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.Aug 8, 2024 · N2764Q · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA069Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech A35 · Gustavus, AKThe pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Jul 20, 2024 · N410B · DestroyedNTSB ANC24FA032Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportTaylorcraft BC12-D · Nondalton, AKThe non-certificated pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into the water.May 17, 2024 · N95744 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24MA111Accident · 6 fatalClass 2 · MajorFinal reportAirbus Helicopters EC 130 · Halloran Springs, CAThe pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate oversight of its…Feb 10, 2024 · N130CZ · DestroyedNTSB WPR24FA057Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172G · Independence, ORThe pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with an obstacle while landing.Dec 17, 2023 · N3992L · DestroyedNTSB ERA23LA328Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Charlotte Amalie, CBThe pilots’ loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was both pilots’ lack of experience in operating in actual instrument meteorological conditions.Aug 4, 2023 · N13384 · DestroyedNTSB WPR23FA257Accident · 6 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 550 · Murrieta, CAThe flight crew’s decision to descend below the decision altitude of an instrument approach without having the appropriate runway visual reference(s) distinctively identified and with the visibility below the minimum that was prescribed for the approach,…Jul 8, 2023 · N819KR · DestroyedNTSB CEN23FA285Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-60-601P · Burlington, COThe pilot’s visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control in flight and subsequent impact with terrain.Jul 6, 2023 · N100PB · Destroyed
See all 175 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\", '03035015'))
  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.