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Freezing rain/sleet

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

All 26 cases23 in the probable cause
Cases
26
In the probable cause
23 (88%)
Fatal cases
19
NTSB code
03035040

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\", '03035040') 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\", '03035040'))
  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\", '03035040') 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 · 26

NTSB ERA25LA111Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR22 · New Lexington, OHThe pilot’s flight into previously forecasted freezing rain, which resulted in ice accretion, reduced forward visibility, and a subsequent landing undershoot.Feb 5, 2025 · N406SR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA124Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGulfstream 695A · San Bernardino, CAThe pilot’s continued use of the airplane’s autopilot after flight into moderate to severe icing conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.Apr 14, 2024 · N965BC · DestroyedNTSB ERA24FA176Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Knoxville, TNThe pilot’s decision to depart into an area of instrument meteorological and icing conditions, which resulted in loss of airplane control and a subsequent in-flight breakup.Apr 12, 2024 · N9236J · DestroyedNTSB ANC23LA065Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech B36TC · Cape Yakataga, AKThe pilot’s continued flight into moderate to severe icing conditions, including supercooled large droplets, over mountainous terrain, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the National Weather Service…Aug 27, 2023 · N6709Q · DestroyedNTSB CEN23FA220Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportVans RV7 · Gibbon, NEThe pilot’s improper decision to fly the airplane into known adverse weather and icing conditions which resulted in a loss of control.Jun 2, 2023 · N977RV · DestroyedNTSB ERA23FA024Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech E-90 · Marietta, OHStructural icing on the tailplane that resulted in a tailplane stall and subsequent loss of control.Oct 18, 2022 · N515GK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA032Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech E-90 · Boyne City, MIThe pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent ground impact.Nov 15, 2021 · N290KA · DestroyedNTSB CEN22FA023Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech P35 · Harrison, NEThe pilot’s decision to continue the flight into instrument and icing conditions, which resulted in loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain a timely weather briefing.Oct 31, 2021 · N8625M · Substantial damageNTSB ANC21LA073Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 208 · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot’s unexpected encounter with supercooled liquid droplets (SLD), which resulted in a loss of control due to ice accumulation. Contributing to the accident were: (1) the pilot’s failure to maintain the minimum airspeed for flight in icing conditions,…Aug 16, 2021 · N97HA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA030Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 210 · Lubbock, TXThe pilot’s improper decision to fly into icing conditions with an airplane that was not equipped for icing, which led to structural icing and a subsequent loss of airplane control, and the pilot’s impairment from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a cracked…Oct 26, 2020 · N9622T · Destroyed
See all 26 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\", '03035040'))
  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.