NTSB investigations

28 cases where NTSB found Bright light.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations per year, 2008–2026: 28 cases
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Latest 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.

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 damageNTSB ANC15FA009Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 18 · Wasilla, AKBoth pilots’ inadequate visual lookout and failure to see and avoid each other while in level cruise flight, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration of the other pilot’s visibility due to sun glare.Jan 31, 2015 · N82735 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15CA097Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSchneider Richard J Alaskan Bushmaster · Newburg, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll into sunlight, which restricted his visibility.Jan 29, 2015 · N36NC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15CA095Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 152 · Mount Pleasant, TXThe pilot's decision to maneuver the airplane at low altitude resulting in the airplane impacting power lines.Dec 8, 2014 · N787PB · DestroyedNTSB CEN15FA030Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20 · Boulder, COThe loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined by the postaccident examination, which was limited due to impact damage and postcrash fire.Oct 27, 2014 · N3539X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA424Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · Huntingburg, INThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line during an aerial application maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify potential obstructions in the area before beginning low-altitude maneuvers.Jul 19, 2013 · N86BM · DestroyedNTSB WPR13FA119Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206B · Acton, CAThe pilot's decision to conduct a flight in dark night conditions with an illuminated cockpit light that degraded his visibility and his ability to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent while maneuvering, which resulted in controlled flight into…Feb 10, 2013 · N59518 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA13CA122Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAmirkhanian Shahram Charl Commander · Westminster, MDImpact with power lines due to the pilot’s obscured vision due to the low angle of the sun, which prevented the pilot from seeing the lines.Jan 29, 2013 · N393GX · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12LA301Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna A188B · Cheyenne, WYThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a power line. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.Jul 10, 2012 · N4831R · Substantial damageNTSB ANC12CA052Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-18 · Willow, AKThe pilot's decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface into bright sunlight, which resulted in a loss of control.Jun 16, 2012 · N1203A · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11IA436Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Relience, TNInadvertent contact with wires due to the lack of visual cues regarding their presence and the low angle of the sun, which was directly in the takeoff path.Aug 1, 2011 · N484AE · Minor damageNTSB WPR11CA252Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Odessa, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the other aircraft.Jun 7, 2011 · N6072X · 2 aircraft · Minor damageNTSB ANC11CA025Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-12 · Delta Junction, AKThe pilot's misjudged altitude while landing in bright sunlight on an airstrip surrounded by snow, resulting in an undershoot and a nose over.Apr 10, 2011 · N3613M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA539Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna A185F · Rushville, NEThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the loss of visual reference due to the sun glare.Sep 13, 2010 · N714AL · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA395Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell OH-58A · Roswell, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires.Jul 10, 2010 · N415NS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10FA299Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech G35 · Marble, COThe pilot’s miscalculation of the airplane's turn radius and climb capabilities at high altitude, resulting in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of mountain flying experience and restricted visibility due to the…Jun 6, 2010 · N887M · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09CA443Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 305A · Helena, MTThe pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.Sep 11, 2009 · N119WW · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09CA004Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182P · Mount Vernon, MOThe pilot failed to maintain a proper landing aim point. Contributing to the accident were the setting sun and the uneven terrain approaching the runway.Oct 8, 2008 · N21544 · DestroyedNTSB CHI08CA285Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Lakeville, MNThe pilot's lack of clearance from the approach lights and the distraction of those bright approach lights during his night approach.Sep 18, 2008 · N4349K · Substantial damage