# NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-540 series: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA26FA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA271.md): Smith Aerostar 601 · Lake Clear, NY · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jul 14, 2026 · N800AA · Destroyed
  > On July 13, 2026, about 2236 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N800AA was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lake Clear, New York. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14…
- [NTSB ANC23FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA045.md): Piper PA-32-300 · Old Harbor, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 2, 2023 · N1132Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed decision to turn away from the terrain.
- [NTSB ERA23FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA108.md): Piper PA-32R-301 · Dayton, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 11, 2023 · N43156 · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while descending over mountainous terrain at night.
- [NTSB CEN22FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA113.md): Cessna 182T · Heath, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 1, 2022 · N716MC · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude after takeoff, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR22FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA044.md): Jahnke Lionel G Glasair III · Big Bear City, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 21, 2021 · N291KT · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC20CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA023.md): Robinson R44 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Feb 21, 2020 · N716JL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA20FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20FA014.md): Piper PA32 · Raleigh, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 20, 2019 · N534Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a safe glidepath during final approach to the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of recent instrument flight experience.
- [NTSB GAA17CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA279.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Vevay, IN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 10, 2017 · N428JG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power lines during an agricultural application flight due to distraction when reading a map.
- [NTSB GAA15CA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA196.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Forest City, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 2, 2015 · N824DK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance during takeoff, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.
- [NTSB ANC12FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA083.md): Piper PA-32-301 · Hoonah, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 2, 2012 · N8200M · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain while in cruise flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB ERA12CA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA190.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Swainsboro, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 18, 2012 · N47863 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glidepath during final approach in night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.
- [NTSB WPR12FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA105.md): Cessna 172S · North Bend, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 15, 2012 · N665SP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's physical impairment due to alcohol, which adversely affected his ability to operate the airplane and to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB CEN11CA492](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA492.md): Cessna 182S · Meeker, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 19, 2011 · N314FR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent flight into a downdraft, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.
- [NTSB CEN10LA556](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA556.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Duluth, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 17, 2010 · N145DM · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB ERA10FA471](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA471.md): Cessna 182T · Helena, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 8, 2010 · N804GK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continuance of the GPS approach below the minimum descent altitude while landing in instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB CEN10LA529](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA529.md): Piper Aerostar 601P · Baraboo, WI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 18, 2010 · N601PP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's diverted attention during an approach for landing that resulted in an altitude loss and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA10WA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10WA133.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Restauracion, Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic · Accident · 2 fatal · Foreign investigation · Feb 4, 2010 · N7535F · Destroyed
  > On February 4, 2010, about 1940 Atlantic standard time, a Robinson R44II helicopter, N7535F, impacted the side of Mount Jina Mocha, in the city of Restauracion, Dominican Republic, at night, while en route from Port Au Prince, Haiti to Cibao International…
- [NTSB WPR09FA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA385.md): Cessna 182S · Napa, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2009 · N23750 · Substantial damage
  > The instrument-rated pilot’s loss of situational awareness and failure to follow the prescribed instrument departure clearance/procedure, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the terrain.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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 x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41530', '41585')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '120'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/cases?engine=41530

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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.