# Light condition - Type: NTSB finding section - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › Light condition - NTSB code: 030360 - Cases: 671 - In the probable cause: 340 - Fatal cases: 300 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030360/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030360/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030360 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 51 / 68 - 2009: 11 / 43 - 2010: 8 / 30 - 2011: 5 / 44 - 2012: 16 / 40 - 2013: 18 / 36 - 2014: 17 / 37 - 2015: 26 / 46 - 2016: 23 / 41 - 2017: 17 / 43 - 2018: 31 / 46 - 2019: 27 / 35 - 2020: 16 / 31 - 2021: 11 / 26 - 2022: 16 / 27 - 2023: 17 / 31 - 2024: 12 / 23 - 2025: 15 / 21 - 2026: 3 / 3 ## Findings - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): 448 cases, 213 in the probable cause - [Glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): 109 cases, 63 in the probable cause - [Flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): 42 cases, 27 in the probable cause - [Low light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015): 36 cases, 19 in the probable cause - [Bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): 28 cases, 14 in the probable cause - [Light condition, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000): 15 cases, 9 in the probable cause ## Defining events in these cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 129 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 127 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 48 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 40 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 38 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 36 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 31 cases - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 24 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 20 cases - [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 17 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 22 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 17 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 14 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 11 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 10 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 10 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 9 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 9 cases - [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300): 7 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 7 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 233 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 161 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 138 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 105 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 79 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 68 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 60 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 56 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 54 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 47 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA182), May 12, 2026: American AA-5 (N5832L), Jurupa Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to land at night on a runway without illuminated runway lights. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to review NOTAMs for a nightly airport closure. - [NTSB WPR26LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA095), Jan 29, 2026: American Champion 8KCAB (N59SE), Alpine, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent descent while operating in flat light conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB WPR26LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA077), Jan 5, 2026: Cessna 150A (N7235X), Coolidge, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare. - [NTSB ANC26LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA005), Nov 17, 2025: Piper PA-31-350 (N4112D), Eek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control when the airplane encountered snow and ice on the runway while landing at night in gusting crosswind conditions. - [NTSB WPR26LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA053), Nov 10, 2025: Tecnam P2008 (N208CM), Blackfoot, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude and clearance from trees while maneuvering at night. - [NTSB CEN26LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA040), Nov 8, 2025: Cessna 180K (N2697K), Lakeview, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue an approach that resulted in a long landing and inability to stop prior to the end of the runway. Contributing to the accident were the light conditions and a road… - [NTSB CEN26LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA035), Nov 5, 2025: Cessna 172 (N9490H), Grantsburg, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The collision with a white-tail deer during the landing in dark night visual conditions. - [NTSB WPR26LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA025), Oct 20, 2025: Piper PA 46-350P (N699PG), Queen Creek, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper runway alignment and failure to maintain clearance from powerlines. Contributing to the accident was sun glare, which obscured the pilot’s view of the runway. - [NTSB ERA26LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA015), Oct 10, 2025: Socata TB 10 (N28170), New Milford, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart from an unlit turf runway at night, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and subsequent runway excursion. - [NTSB CEN26LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA019), Oct 10, 2025: Bellanca 7GCBC (N53853), Bonilla, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate flight planning and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the precautionary off-airport 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.