# Snow

- 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) › Snow
- NTSB code: 03035045
- Cases: 43
- In the probable cause: 25
- Fatal cases: 22
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 2 / 2
- 2009: 4 / 6
- 2010: 1 / 3
- 2011: 1 / 2
- 2012: 1 / 3
- 2013: 3 / 4
- 2014: 1 / 3
- 2015: 1 / 2
- 2016: 1 / 1
- 2017: 1 / 2
- 2018: 1 / 1
- 2019: 1 / 2
- 2020: 0 / 2
- 2021: 1 / 2
- 2022: 1 / 1
- 2023: 3 / 5
- 2024: 2 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 11 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 9 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 4 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 3 cases
- [Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210): 3 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193): 2 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 2 cases
- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 1 cases
- [Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700): 2 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 2 cases
- [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65): 1 cases
- [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 1 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 1 cases
- [Raytheon 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-58): 1 cases
- [Raytheon A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-a36): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-32-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301t): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 21 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 12 cases
- [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 8 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 7 cases
- [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 6 cases
- [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 4 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN25LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA074), Dec 27, 2024: Cessna 560 (N753MB), Pagosa Springs, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and poor preflight inspection and decision-making, which led to a takeoff attempt above the airplane’s certified maximum takeoff weight with…
- [NTSB WPR25LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA029), Oct 29, 2024: Daher TBM700 (N885CA), Pinedale, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane was free of snow contamination before takeoff and to follow the manufacturer’s anti-icing procedure during continued snowfall, which resulted in an…
- [NTSB CEN24FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA046), Nov 26, 2023: Socata TBM 700 (N850JH), Ludington, MI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to take off with ice/snow contamination on the airplane’s wings, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA032), May 9, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N704T), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB CEN23LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA126), Mar 9, 2023: Beech C90 (N46CV), Bismark, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The ground vehicle driver’s failure to see and maintain clearance from the airplane while conducting ground operations.
- [NTSB ANC23LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA013), Jan 14, 2023: Taylorcraft BL-65 (N29886), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove all water from the fuel tank, which resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR23FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA080), Jan 2, 2023: Embraer Executive EMB-505 (N555NR), Provo, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to deice the airplane before takeoff in weather conditions conducive to ice accumulation, which resulted in an ice-contaminated wing and subsequent stall during takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR23LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA065), Dec 13, 2022: Piper PA42 (C-GZPU), Lewistown, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the out of service visual glideslope indicator and snow obscuring the runway markings.
- [NTSB ERA22LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA060), Nov 14, 2021: Cessna 150 (N6714S), Wilkes-Barre, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to commence the flight in marginal visual flight rules conditions at night, and his failure to maintain a safe altitude once instrument conditions were encountered.
- [NTSB ERA21LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA191), Apr 23, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N4055N), Forkston, PA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night, spatial disorientation, and collision 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.

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