Charlotte/douglas Intl — Safety History & Runway Risks
NTSB accident analysis for KCLT: 16 events analyzed
Charlotte, NC · 747.9 ft MSL · 3 runways
Based on 16 NTSB events at KCLT (Charlotte/douglas Intl), the most important risks for pilots are:
- Complex ground operations and ramp collision hazard. At least 5 events involved ground collisions during taxi, pushback, or ramp movement (2008 pushback strike, 2008 tug/taxiway strike, 2009 runway incursion, 2010 taxi collision, 2017 tug collision). KCLT's busy hub environment means GA aircraft may share taxiways with large jets, tugs, and ground vehicles with limited situational awareness of small aircraft.
- Runway incursion risk. A May 2009 runway incursion involved a Pilatus PC-12 (Part 91 GA aircraft) that was cleared onto an occupied runway by ATC. This is the only event directly involving a GA aircraft and resulted from a controller error, but the GA pilot's exposure was real. High traffic density and multiple parallel runways increase the cognitive load on both pilots and controllers.
- Low visibility and IMC approach hazards. Three events occurred in IMC conditions (Mar 2019 ground collision at 0.75 SM visibility, Dec 2018 tailstrike with 200 ft ceiling, Dec 2009 wingtip scrape on Cat III approach at 300 ft ceiling). Low ceilings and reduced visibility significantly increase the risk of both surface and approach incidents at this airport.
Source: NTSB accident records analyzed by Tropiq. Updated 4/14/2026.
Safety History
16 eventsKCLT has recorded 16 NTSB events between 2008 and 2023, all without fatalities, reflecting its status as a major hub dominated by commercial airline operations. The most frequent incident types are ground operations collisions and landing-related events (tailstrikes, hard landings, gear failures), with very few events in recent years. GA pilots operating here should be especially alert to complex ground movement, heavy aircraft wake turbulence, and the airport's history of low-visibility surface incidents.
Over the full 15-year period, KCLT averaged slightly over one NTSB event per year, with no fatalities recorded in any event. The incident profile is heavily weighted toward ground operations and landing phases, consistent with a high-density hub airport.
- •Ground collision and taxi incidents account for approximately 5 of 16 events, making ramp and taxiway operations the single largest incident category.
- •Landing phase incidents (hard landings, tailstrikes, short landings, gear failures) account for approximately 5 events, spanning both commercial and GA aircraft.
- •IMC or reduced visibility conditions were present in at least 3 events, disproportionately associated with more serious outcomes.
- •The only GA aircraft directly involved in a NTSB event at KCLT was the Pilatus PC-12 runway incursion in 2009 and the Cessna 182 hard landing in 2018.
- •Event frequency peaked in 2008–2010 (6 events in 3 years) and has generally declined since, with only 4 events recorded across 2015–2023.
Runway Analysis
Key Risks
Common Causes
Seasonal Patterns
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database. Analysis generated 2026-04-14. This data is provided for flight planning awareness and does not replace official safety briefings.
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