# Visibility

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Task environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0304) › [Physical workspace](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030410) › Visibility
- NTSB code: 03041020
- Cases: 25
- In the probable cause: 19
- Fatal cases: 4
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041020

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

- 2008: 3 / 3
- 2009: 4 / 5
- 2011: 2 / 2
- 2012: 1 / 1
- 2013: 2 / 2
- 2015: 0 / 1
- 2016: 1 / 2
- 2017: 1 / 3
- 2018: 0 / 1
- 2019: 1 / 1
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2022: 1 / 1
- 2025: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200): 12 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210): 2 cases
- [Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150): 2 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 1 cases
- [Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250): 1 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 1 cases
- [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Great Lakes 2T-1A-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/great-lakes-2t-1a-2): 2 cases
- [Waco RNF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-rnf): 1 cases
- [Vickers SPITFIRE MARK IX](https://openairdocs.org/model/vickers-spitfire-mark-ix): 1 cases
- [Taylorcraft BL-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65): 1 cases
- [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b): 1 cases
- [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300): 1 cases
- [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65): 1 cases
- [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b): 1 cases
- [Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC](https://openairdocs.org/model/construcciones-aeronauticas-c-212-cc): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540) (Personnel issues): 10 cases
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040) (Environmental issues): 6 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [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 ERA22LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA119), Feb 11, 2022: Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 (N87G), Naples, FL, minor damage. Probable cause: The biplane pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane while taxiing.
- [NTSB ANC20CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA067), Jul 10, 2020: Piper PA32 (N44851), Naknek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The PA-32 pilot's failure to see and avoid the other airplane.
- [NTSB WPR20FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA057), Jan 4, 2020: Thunder Mustang TM-1 (N151WR), Santa Clarita, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Engine detonation that resulted in material deformation of the crankcase and led to engine failure and restricted cockpit visibility.
- [NTSB GAA19CA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA138), Feb 13, 2019: Cessna 172RG (N5223V), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inability to see the landing gear position light because his iPad was blocking his view of…
- [NTSB GAA18CA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA319), Jun 3, 2018: Cessna 172 (N786SA), San Diego, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The biplane pilot’s failure to see and avoid the stopped airplane.
- [NTSB GAA17CA458](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA458), Jul 28, 2017: Randall Marvin L Vans RV 3A (N16MR), Spokane, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The other pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance and visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the stationary airplane.
- [NTSB GAA17CA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA223), Apr 8, 2017: Piper J3C (N88470), New Carlisle, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The other pilot’s decision to land on an occupied runway and his failure to see and avoid the airplane.
- [NTSB ERA17FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA143), Apr 1, 2017: Cessna 170B (N8082A), Edgewater, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The Cessna pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the Grumman during the transition to a different formation. Contributing to the accident was the stepped down configuration of the formation…
- [NTSB GAA17CA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA053), Oct 22, 2016: Boeing A75N1(PT17) (N68117), Valley Center, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and to see and avoid the airplane stopped on the edge of the runway.

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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