# Light condition, general - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Conditions/weather/phenomena](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0303) › [Light condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030360) › Light condition, general - NTSB code: 03036000 - Cases: 15 - In the probable cause: 9 - Fatal cases: 9 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 2 / 3 - 2009: 0 / 2 - 2012: 1 / 1 - 2015: 1 / 2 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2017: 1 / 2 - 2020: 0 / 1 - 2022: 1 / 1 - 2023: 1 / 1 - 2025: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 4 cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 2 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 2 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 - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 1 cases - [Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320): 1 cases - [Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095): 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 - [Compagnie Daher TB 30 EPSILON](https://openairdocs.org/model/compagnie-daher-tb-30-epsilon): 1 cases - [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b): 1 cases - [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 1 cases - [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 1 cases - [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s): 1 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 1 cases - [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 1 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 1 cases - [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 3 cases - [Mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010) (Environmental issues): 3 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Maintenance, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 2 cases - [Clouds](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035025) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020) (Environmental issues): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [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 WPR23FA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA223), Jun 10, 2023: Compagnie Daher TB 30 Epsilon (N759F), Apache Junction, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s controlled flight into the mountainous terrain due to diminished depth perception as a result of the shadowing effect from the sun’s position. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB CEN22FA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA317), Jul 17, 2022: Bell UH-1H (N911SZ), Chapelle, NM, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the starter-generator input (zerol) gear which failed due to poor maintenance. Contributing to the accident was the unsuccessful… - [NTSB WPR20LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA315), Sep 23, 2020: Air Tractor AT-802A (N836MM), Emmett, ID, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s descent below surrounding terrain and his delayed decision to initiate a climb which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident were terrain and lighting conditions… - [NTSB CEN18FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA011), Oct 13, 2017: Cessna 172M (N7CF), Ramsey, MN, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to fly along the river at a low altitude contrary to applicable regulations and safety of flight considerations which resulted in the impact with the power lines. Contributing to… - [NTSB GAA17CA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA147), Feb 19, 2017: Cessna A185 (N185AE), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to the runway and to use the vertical guidance system. - [NTSB CEN16LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA139), Mar 29, 2016: Air Tractor AT-402 (N4555E), Beyersville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain visual separation from the power line due to a lack of identifiable and contrasting features, which led to an inflight collision with the line while maneuvering in… - [NTSB WPR15LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA264), Sep 17, 2015: Douglas A4N (CFGZT), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s distraction during the downwind leg and his difficulty seeing the landing gear indicators… - [NTSB CEN15LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA341), Aug 5, 2015: Hughes 269B (N9427F), Atkinson, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to intentionally fly the helicopter at a low altitude and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from a power line. - [NTSB ERA13FA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA059), Nov 16, 2012: Cessna 172N (N6142F), Owls Head, ME, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The vehicle driver's failure to verify that the runway was not occupied by an airplane before crossing the runway, which resulted in the vehicle being struck by a departing airplane, and the pilot's… 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.