# Low visibility - 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 visibility - NTSB code: 03035015 - Cases: 175 - In the probable cause: 99 - Fatal cases: 133 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 9 / 13 - 2009: 2 / 13 - 2010: 1 / 17 - 2011: 4 / 12 - 2012: 4 / 6 - 2013: 3 / 10 - 2014: 7 / 12 - 2015: 6 / 8 - 2016: 8 / 9 - 2017: 7 / 7 - 2018: 6 / 8 - 2019: 11 / 19 - 2020: 4 / 11 - 2021: 9 / 11 - 2022: 7 / 7 - 2023: 5 / 6 - 2024: 6 / 6 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 50 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 46 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 38 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 10 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 6 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 4 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 4 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases - [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 2 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 5 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 4 cases - [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 4 cases - [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 3 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 3 cases - [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k): 3 cases - [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340): 3 cases - [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r): 3 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 3 cases - [Raytheon A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-a36): 2 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 90 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 57 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 55 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 53 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 36 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 28 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 21 cases - [Fog](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055) (Environmental issues): 19 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 16 cases - [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 15 cases ## Newest cases - [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 ANC24FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA089), Sep 7, 2024: Bell 206B (N306FW), King Salmon, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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… - [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 ANC24LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA069), Jul 20, 2024: Beech A35 (N410B), Gustavus, AK, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [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 CEN24MA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24MA111), Feb 10, 2024: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 (N130CZ), Halloran Springs, CA, destroyed, 6 fatal. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB WPR24FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA057), Dec 17, 2023: Cessna 172G (N3992L), Independence, OR, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with an obstacle while landing. - [NTSB ERA23LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA328), Aug 4, 2023: Cessna 172 (N13384), Charlotte Amalie, CB, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The 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. - [NTSB WPR23FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA257), Jul 8, 2023: Cessna 550 (N819KR), Murrieta, CA, destroyed, 6 fatal. Probable cause: The 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… - [NTSB CEN23FA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA285), Jul 6, 2023: Piper PA-60-601P (N100PB), Burlington, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control in flight and subsequent impact with terrain. 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.