# NTSB investigations: Piper PA-32R-300: 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 ERA25LA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA363.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · White Plains, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 23, 2025 · N47630 · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB ANC20FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA017.md): Piper PA32R · Tuntutuliak, AK · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 6, 2020 · N7632C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into reduced visibility, including likely flat light and/or white out conditions, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the operator’s inadequate operational…
- [NTSB CEN15FA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA342.md): Piper PA 32R-300 · Harbor Springs, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2015 · N43829 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees during the approach in dark, night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN14FA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA224.md): Piper PA 32R-300 · Highmore, SD · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 28, 2014 · N8700E · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue the flight into known deteriorating weather conditions at a low altitude and his subsequent failure to remain clear of an unlit wind turbine. Contributing to the accident was the inoperative obstruction light on the wind…
- [NTSB ERA13LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA042.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Sevierville, TN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 28, 2012 · N4478F · Substantial damage
  > The air traffic controller’s failure to comply with the required vectoring and safety alert procedures, which resulted in the airplane’s flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration’s continued practice of…
- [NTSB ERA12WA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12WA255.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Treasure Cay, Bahamas · Accident · 4 fatal · Foreign investigation · Mar 25, 2012 · N8415C · Substantial damage
  > On March 25, 2012, at 1830 UTC, a Piper PA-32R-300, N8415C, was substantially damaged when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Treasure Cay International Airport (MYAT), Abaco, Bahamas. The two certificated private pilots and two passengers were fatally…
- [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 CEN11FA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA263.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Fredricktown, MO · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 29, 2011 · N4085F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to attempt to maintain visual flight by descending below an area of deteriorating forecast weather to an altitude that did not provide adequate terrain clearance.
- [NTSB CEN09FA562](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA562.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Tulsa, OK · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 5, 2009 · N1228H · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to attempt flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and an in-flight collision with a radio tower guy wire.
- [NTSB ERA09CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA134.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Manteo, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 13, 2009 · N7918C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to follow the missed approach procedure while landing with a low ceiling.

## 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.aircraft_model_code IN ('7103213')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '120' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence?model=7103213

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