# Whiteout - 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) › Whiteout - NTSB code: 03035060 - Cases: 13 - In the probable cause: 9 - Fatal cases: 4 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035060 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 3 / 3 - 2009: 0 / 1 - 2011: 0 / 1 - 2014: 1 / 1 - 2015: 1 / 2 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2020: 1 / 1 - 2021: 1 / 1 - 2022: 0 / 1 - 2023: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 5 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 4 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 2 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1): 1 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 1 cases - [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 1 cases - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 1 cases - [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r): 1 cases - [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207): 1 cases - [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f): 1 cases - [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030) (Environmental issues): 6 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 5 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045) (Environmental issues): 3 cases - [Oversight of operation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015) (Organizational issues): 2 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [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 ANC22LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA022), Mar 5, 2022: Cessna U206F (N1853Q), Newhalen, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot experiencing a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled… - [NTSB WPR21FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA143), Mar 28, 2021: Airbus Helicopters AS350-B3 (N351SH), Palmer, AK, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately respond to an encounter with whiteout conditions, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the (1) operator’s… - [NTSB ANC20FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA017), Feb 6, 2020: Piper PA32R (N7632C), Tuntutuliak, AK, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into reduced visibility, including likely flat light and/or white out conditions, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to… - [NTSB ANC17LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA011), Dec 2, 2016: Robinson Helicopter R22 (N7085K), Unalaska, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a precautionary landing in whiteout conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. - [NTSB GAA16LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA031), Oct 27, 2015: Airbus AS350 (C-GSLY), Deadhorse, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance while… - [NTSB ERA15CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA127), Feb 1, 2015: Schweizer 269C 1 (N20059), Carthage, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-helicopter-rated pilot's improper decision to operate the helicopter at low-level and his inability to adequately see the horizon over snow and ice, which resulted in controlled flight into… - [NTSB CEN14FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA102), Jan 6, 2014: Mooney M20R (N1046L), Boyne City, MI, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane as he attempted to return to the airport after encountering dark night conditions and heavy snow showers. - [NTSB ANC11TA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11TA110), Sep 23, 2011: Bell 206 B3 (N204PA), Seward, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during hover in deteriorating weather and flat light conditions, which resulted in a tail rotor strike. - [NTSB ANC10CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA010), Dec 18, 2009: Stinson 108-1 (N136SP), Selawik, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during landing, resulting in a hard landing. 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.