# NTSB investigations, AZ: 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 WPR22LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA078.md): Hughes 369D · Strawberry, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 21, 2021 · N111AD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire during approach.
- [NTSB WPR21LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA193.md): Cessna 172R · Chandler, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 11, 2021 · N47AF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to locate the airport which resulted in an approach to a road and subsequent collision with powerlines during a go-around in low light conditions.
- [NTSB WPR20LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA177.md): Zenair CH601 · Maricopa, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 10, 2020 · N6402X · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of situational awareness and descent below pattern altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in collision with terrain at night.
- [NTSB WPR20LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA038.md): Piper PA-34-200T · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 11, 2019 · N2822F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel onboard, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the fuel starvation was the erroneous indications on the fuel gauges.
- [NTSB WPR19FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA026.md): Zenith CH601 · Overgaard, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Nov 16, 2018 · N322JL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to monitor the airport’s visual approach path indicator during the final approach to the upsloping runway, which resulted in a low approach path and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA263.md): Cessna A185 · Bullhead City, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 15, 2018 · N573BV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a collision with rising terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18FA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA245.md): Cessna P210 · Prescott, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Aug 30, 2018 · N6500W · Destroyed
  > The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude from the runway and his subsequent failure to maintain an approach path that provided clearance from the terrain due to a visual illusion in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB WPR18CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18CA028.md): Still Michael J Titan T-51 · Chandler, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 28, 2017 · N651P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent contact with the engine control unit toggle switch during flight, which resulted in the engine shutting down.
- [NTSB WPR18LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA014.md): American AA 1A · Maricopa, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 21, 2017 · N9239L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid unmarked power lines during the approach to land.
- [NTSB WPR17LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA099.md): Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG · Goodyear, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 20, 2017 · N154BY · Substantial damage
  > Loss of engine power due to the installation of an improper air induction hose, which failed and prevented sufficient air intake to the turbocharger.
- [NTSB WPR17FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA045.md): Cessna T210K · Payson, AZ · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2017 · N272EF · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decisions to begin and to continue a flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR16LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA043.md): Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20F · Nogales, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 26, 2015 · N6811V · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s impact with a hillside shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB WPR15FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA072.md): Bell 206 · Benson, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 1, 2015 · N57AW · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, during which he failed to identify forecasted…
- [NTSB WPR14FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA262.md): Mooney M20B · Page, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 20, 2014 · N74584 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain while maneuvering in a canyon in high-density altitude conditions.
- [NTSB WPR14CA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA168.md): Linstrand 240A · Mayer, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 14, 2014 · N2646Z · Substantial damage
  > The balloon's encounter with unexpected increased wind, which resulted in a hard landing on rough terrain.
- [NTSB WPR14CA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA003.md): Air Tractor AT 402B · Wellton, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 2, 2013 · N402TR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s distracted attention and failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB WPR13CA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA219.md): Piper PA-28 · Cottonwood, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 7, 2013 · N47717 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's decision to attempt a night landing on an unlit runway, which resulted in a misaligned approach and subsequent collision with a fence. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's improper set-up of the airplane radios, which…
- [NTSB WPR13CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA152.md): Cessna 172N · Gila Bend, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 17, 2013 · N5802J · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around.
- [NTSB WPR13CA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA064.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Roosevelt Lake, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 7, 2012 · N557AC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake.
- [NTSB WPR13TA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13TA051.md): Eurocopter AS350B3 2B1 · Newfield, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Nov 23, 2012 · N3984A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's distraction while retrieving an item behind him while the helicopter was on the ground with the engine running, which led to his aggressive overapplication of the flight controls after experiencing a ground resonance condition and subsequent loss…
- [NTSB WPR13FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA017.md): Cessna 182P · Yucca, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 18, 2012 · N20939 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to take corrective action to avoid terrain during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB WPR12MA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12MA046.md): Rockwell 690 · Apache Junction, AZ · Accident · 6 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Nov 24, 2011 · N690SM · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a safe ground track and altitude combination for the moonless night visual flight rules flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's complacency and lack of situational…
- [NTSB WPR11LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA375.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Willcox, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2011 · N5123L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the recent installation of the unmarked tower.
- [NTSB WPR11FA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA354.md): Cirrus SR20 · Fredonia, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 30, 2011 · N365DP · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilots’ loss of situational awareness during a dark night flight over a remote area, which resulted in their failure to maintain an altitude sufficient to ensure adequate terrain clearnance. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB WPR11FA490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA490.md): Radford RV-6 · Grand Canyon, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 11, 2011 · N650RV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's intentional flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR11FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA145.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 26, 2011 · N910PA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot and flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the flight task and environment while maneuvering to maintain sufficient altitude with rising terrain in dark night conditions and the flight instructor's improper decision to practice in an area…
- [NTSB WPR11CA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA036.md): Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20E · Seligman, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 1, 2010 · N9614V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning.
- [NTSB WPR10FA473](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA473.md): Hawker Beechcraft F33 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 27, 2010 · N1600W · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power during approach for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB WPR10FA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA305.md): Hawker Beechcraft A36 · Seligman, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 19, 2010 · N155FT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain in the dark night.
- [NTSB WPR10FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA120.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 28, 2010 · N293PA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s decision to take off in marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in an encounter with low clouds, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires while maneuvering in the traffic pattern for landing.
- [NTSB WPR10FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA005.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Black Canyon City, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2009 · N7471P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, reduced visibility, and mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR09FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA096.md): Cessna 205 · Flagstaff, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 23, 2009 · N8298Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of situational awareness and failure to maintain clearance from hilly terrain while flying in an area of a low cloud ceiling. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight due to a self-induced pressure.
- [NTSB LAX08LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA198.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B3 · Ash Fork, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2008 · N586AE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's spatial disorientation resulting in his failure to detect and compensate for an unintentional descent during a go-around. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate choice of landing approach, reduced visibility from brownout…

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AZ' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE 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?state=AZ

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