# Dark - 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) › Dark - NTSB code: 03036020 - Cases: 448 - In the probable cause: 213 - Fatal cases: 253 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 32 / 48 - 2009: 5 / 24 - 2010: 4 / 19 - 2011: 2 / 27 - 2012: 8 / 27 - 2013: 13 / 25 - 2014: 12 / 29 - 2015: 22 / 38 - 2016: 11 / 23 - 2017: 13 / 29 - 2018: 23 / 37 - 2019: 20 / 28 - 2020: 10 / 19 - 2021: 9 / 19 - 2022: 8 / 13 - 2023: 10 / 22 - 2024: 2 / 9 - 2025: 8 / 11 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 110 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 98 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 34 cases - [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 25 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 21 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 14 cases - [Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310): 14 cases - [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 14 cases - [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 14 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 10 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 19 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 13 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 13 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 10 cases - [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181): 9 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 8 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 8 cases - [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152): 7 cases - [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151): 6 cases - [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 6 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 171 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 126 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 100 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 85 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 59 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 45 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 41 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 37 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 29 cases - [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 29 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 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 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 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 CEN25LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA356), Sep 1, 2025: Sikorsky S-76 (N36RP), Round Mountain, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s failure to properly identify the heliport in dark night conditions, which resulted in the flight crew attempting to land and a subsequent impact with trees and terrain. - [NTSB CEN25LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA354), Aug 30, 2025: Cessna 152 (N89585), Baldwin City, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the night landing without runway lights which resulted in the runway overrun. - [NTSB CEN25LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA350), Aug 28, 2025: Cessna 172R (N5181A), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. - [NTSB DCA25LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA267), Jul 19, 2025: Boeing 787 (JA986A), North Charleston, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The ground crews improper parking of N247BZ, which left its tail protruding into the taxiway, and the JA986A flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate clearance while taxiing. - [NTSB ERA25LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA144), Mar 14, 2025: Schweizer 269C (N262LH), Mogadore, OH, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to fly at low altitude, at night, and over water, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with power lines. 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.