# Task environment

- Type: NTSB finding subcategory
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › Task environment
- NTSB code: 0304
- Cases: 113
- In the probable cause: 72
- Fatal cases: 36
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0304/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0304/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0304

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 7 / 10
- 2009: 10 / 13
- 2010: 2 / 2
- 2011: 6 / 6
- 2012: 4 / 6
- 2013: 3 / 4
- 2014: 2 / 4
- 2015: 3 / 7
- 2016: 3 / 7
- 2017: 5 / 10
- 2018: 3 / 6
- 2019: 5 / 8
- 2020: 2 / 4
- 2021: 2 / 3
- 2022: 5 / 6
- 2023: 2 / 5
- 2024: 2 / 4
- 2025: 3 / 5
- 2026: 3 / 3

## Sections

- [Physical workspace](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030410): 70 cases, 45 in the probable cause
- [Pressures/demands](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030420): 36 cases, 23 in the probable cause
- [Task environment, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030400): 7 cases, 4 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 17 cases
- [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 15 cases
- [Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150): 7 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 6 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 5 cases
- [Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250): 5 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 5 cases
- [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 5 cases
- [Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110): 5 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 5 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150): 2 cases
- [Airbus Industrie A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-232): 2 cases
- [Great Lakes 2T-1A-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/great-lakes-2t-1a-2): 2 cases
- [Embraer EMB-145LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-145lr): 2 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 2 cases
- [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r): 2 cases
- [Bombardier CL-600-2C10](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2c10): 2 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 32 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 21 cases
- [Monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540) (Personnel issues): 12 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 9 cases
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040) (Environmental issues): 8 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 8 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 8 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 6 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA249), Jul 10, 2026: Cessna 150 (N3773J), Ellsworth, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete…
- [NTSB CEN26LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA145), Mar 24, 2026: Classic Waco YMF (N43000), Galveston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxiing, which included the failure to perform S-turns to compensate for limited forward visibility.
- [NTSB WPR26LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA083), Jan 19, 2026: Robinson R44 (N996NR), Parkman, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ failure to maintain separation while conducting air work in a common operational area. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ divided attention associated with the mission activity…
- [NTSB WPR26LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA059), Dec 14, 2025: Waco RNF (N110Y), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the low-wing airplane while taxiing.
- [NTSB DCA25LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA308), Aug 31, 2025: Airbus Canada BD500 (C-GYLQ), Denver, CO, no damage. Probable cause: Unidentified burned debris in an aft galley oven, which generated smoke and odor in the cabin and led to an air turnback and subsequent evacuation, during which a serious injury occurred.
- [NTSB CEN25LA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA316), Aug 12, 2025: Xag P100 PRO (N467GE), Depew, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the unmanned aircraft system during takeoff.
- [NTSB DCA25LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA185), Apr 17, 2025: Boeing 737 (N7724A), Houston, TX, no damage. Probable cause: Serious Injury to a flight attendant sustained during an evacuation.
- [NTSB DCA25LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA084), Jan 10, 2025: Boeing 757 (N589NW), Atlanta, GA, minor damage. Probable cause: Substantial injury to a passenger sustained during evacuation.
- [NTSB WPR24LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA265), Aug 3, 2024: Bell 407 (N20BH), Raft River, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s misdiagnosis of an erroneous engine instrument indication and his subsequent decision to enter an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing due to degraded visual cues and low…
- [NTSB WPR24FA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA156), May 19, 2024: Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L (N22MW), Bandera, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight into icing conditions and inclement weather, which likely led to spatial disorientation when he attempted to divert from the planned course to the destination…

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.

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