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

All 21 cases14 in the probable cause
Cases
21
In the probable cause
14 (67%)
Fatal cases
11
NTSB code
03035020

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\", '03035020') 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\", '03035020'))
  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\", '03035020') 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 · 21

NTSB ANC24LA071Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · Huntsville, UTThe pilot's failure to navigate in hazy conditions, which resulted in a forced landing in a field and a collision with a pole.Jul 29, 2024 · N8485W · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA255Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · Izee, ORThe pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while maneuvering through an area of low visibility due to wildfire smoke and haze.Jul 26, 2024 · N805DG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA311Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802 · Benson, MNThe pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline. Contributing to the accident was the degraded visibility due to the smoke in the area.Jul 14, 2023 · N22FK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23FA257Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAvid Magnum · Beaver Island, MIThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering in low visibility conditions due to smoke and haze.Jun 23, 2023 · N103DG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21FA321Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182H · Bountiful, UTThe decision of both pilots to fly into a steep canyon, which resulted in the airplane being unable to maintain a sufficient altitude to clear rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was their delayed initial action in responding to the hazard, and their…Aug 16, 2021 · N8477S · DestroyedNTSB ERA21LA041Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMooney M20C · Laconia, NHThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an approach in sun glare and hazy conditions.Nov 9, 2020 · N3296F · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA304Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Seeley Lake, MTThe noninstrument-rated pilot’s encounter with instrument meteorological conditions during a night visual approach due to wildfire smoke, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Sep 13, 2020 · N3720R · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA295Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 35 · Three Rivers, CAThe pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while operating in conditions of reduced visibility due to smoke.Sep 4, 2020 · N818S · DestroyedNTSB ERA19FA240Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech F33 · Hatboro, PAThe pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during the departure climb after entering instrument meteorological conditions.Aug 8, 2019 · N4082S · DestroyedNTSB WPR19FA025Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Redding, CAThe pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control after takeoff in dark night instrument meteorological conditions.Nov 16, 2018 · N2629R · Substantial damage
See all 21 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\", '03035020'))
  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.