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

All 109 cases63 in the probable cause
Cases
109
In the probable cause
63 (58%)
Fatal cases
19
NTSB code
03036030

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\", '03036030') 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\", '03036030'))
  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\", '03036030') 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 · 109

NTSB WPR26LA077Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 150A · Coolidge, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare.Jan 5, 2026 · N7235X · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA025Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA 46-350P · Queen Creek, AZThe 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.Oct 20, 2025 · N699PG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA371Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportNorth American T-6G · Rossville, TNThe pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the airplane’s path during takeoff toward the setting sun. Contributing was the undetected worn and fractured tailwheel locking pin.Sep 28, 2025 · N888WV · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA397Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDe Havilland DH82 · Harvard, ILThe pilot’s failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with cornstalks. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare.Sep 27, 2025 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA363Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-32R-300 · White Plains, NYThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper glidepath during a night visual approach, which resulted in a collision with the runway lighting system. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s momentary disorientation due to glare from the runway approach lighting…Sep 23, 2025 · N47630 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR25LA194Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Helena, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.Jun 30, 2025 · N50476 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA085Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeronca 15AC · Loganville, GAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance of trees during an attempted go-around in sun glare.Dec 25, 2024 · N6665K · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA368Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Lexington, NEThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper clearance from powerlines.Sep 25, 2024 · N92PH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA068Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportDehavilland Beaver U-6A · Pedro Bay, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was sun glare.Jul 20, 2024 · N65223 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA320Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCirrus Design SR20 · Port St. Lucie, FLThe pilot’s failure to correctly identify the airport runway, which resulted in a landing on a road and contact with a power line. Contributing to the outcome was the sun glare.Jul 18, 2024 · N89LF · Substantial damage
See all 109 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\", '03036030'))
  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.