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NTSB finding · Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition

All 28 cases14 in the probable cause
Cases
28
In the probable cause
14 (50%)
Fatal cases
6
NTSB code
03036010

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\", '03036010') 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\", '03036010'))
  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\", '03036010') 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 · 28

NTSB CEN26LA040Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180K · Lakeview, ARThe 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 with vehicles on it immediately adjacent to the end of the…Nov 8, 2025 · N2697K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA016Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-30 · Springfield, MOThe flight instructor’s inability to confirm landing gear position before landing due to the sun glare which resulted in gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was an undetected tripped circuit breaker for the landing gear and the inoperative gear…Oct 10, 2024 · N7577Y · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA200Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter AS 350 B3 · San Diego, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a hover taxi due to distraction resulting from the unanticipated activation of strobing lights while using night vision googles.May 24, 2023 · N791AM · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA011Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 175 · Reserve, NMThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s reduced forward visibility due to the sun.Oct 15, 2021 · N7584M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA123Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper J3F-50 · Weidman, MIThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low approach over a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the loss of depth perception due to the bright sunlight and snow.Feb 3, 2021 · N26811 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR19FA095Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportNorth American T28 · Compton, CAThe failure of the T-28 pilot to see and avoid the Cessna while landing with reduced visibility due to sun glare, which resulted in a collision on the runway. Contributing to the accident was his failure to use the airport's common traffic advisory frequency…Mar 14, 2019 · N5440F · 2 aircraft · Minor damageNTSB CEN18LA226Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B · Arrey, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a hillside during an agricultural application flight while facing the sun.Jun 15, 2018 · N6672Q · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA474Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 210 · Bettles, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath during the approach to the runway over glassy water and in glaring sun conditions.Jul 8, 2017 · N9664X · DestroyedNTSB GAA16CA451Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAyres S 2R · Cordele, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight while flying toward the sun.Aug 25, 2016 · N3003N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR16FA148Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Zamora, CAThe failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. Also causal was the other pilot's use of two sedating antihistamines and two impairing medication and the effect of sun glare on his visual lookout, which…Jul 23, 2016 · N502WC · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
See all 28 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\", '03036010'))
  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.