# Obscuration - 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) › Obscuration - NTSB code: 03035030 - Cases: 45 - In the probable cause: 24 - Fatal cases: 35 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 0 / 2 - 2009: 1 / 1 - 2010: 3 / 5 - 2011: 0 / 4 - 2012: 2 / 7 - 2013: 2 / 3 - 2014: 2 / 2 - 2015: 2 / 3 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2017: 2 / 3 - 2018: 1 / 1 - 2019: 2 / 4 - 2020: 0 / 1 - 2021: 2 / 3 - 2022: 1 / 1 - 2024: 3 / 4 ## Defining events in these cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 20 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 12 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 4 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 3 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 1 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 1 cases - [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 1 cases - [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 2 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases - [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases - [Rockwell International 690B](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-690b): 1 cases - [Raytheon C90GT](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-c90gt): 1 cases - [Piper PA-36-375](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-375): 1 cases - [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 31 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 14 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 14 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 7 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 5 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 5 cases - [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 4 cases ## Newest cases - [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 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 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 WPR24FA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA202), Jun 21, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802A (N331BS), Capitan, NM, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight through an apparent visual corridor that rapidly narrowed due to rising terrain and mountain obscuration, resulting in momentary… - [NTSB CEN23LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA091), Dec 20, 2022: Cessna 150G (N2930J), Pocahantas, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. Contributing to the accident was the airplane's encounter with adverse weather conditions which led… - [NTSB ERA22FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA096), Dec 29, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N544SC), Cosby, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s intentional, continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions in a helicopter that was not certified for instrument conditions, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control… - [NTSB ERA22FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA001), Oct 3, 2021: Beech S35 (N876T), Andrews, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to fly toward rapidly rising, obscured mountainous terrain after departing under visual flight rules at night. - [NTSB ERA21LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA124), Feb 7, 2021: Cessna 441 (N44776), Belvidere, TN, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure by prematurely descending the airplane below the final approach fix altitude to fly under the low ceiling conditions, which… - [NTSB CEN20LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA186), May 20, 2020: Cessna T206 (N51610), Center, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot’s intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions (clouds) which resulted in spatial disorientation and an inflight loss of control. - [NTSB WPR19FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA146), May 15, 2019: Aviat A1 (N236AM), Santa Ynez, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain during cruise flight in low visibility and mountainous obscuration conditions. 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.