# NTSB investigations, IL: 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 CEN26FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA049.md): Piper PA-28R-201 · Pittsfield, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Nov 24, 2025 · N47700 · Substantial damage
  > On November 23, 2025, about 2137 central standard time (all referenced times are CST), a Piper PA-28R-201 airplane, N47700, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pittsfield, Illinois. The pilot was fatally injured, and the 2…
- [NTSB CEN25LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA311.md): Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Monee, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 6, 2025 · N65818 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and altitude resulting in a collision with the ground during the base to final turn.
- [NTSB CEN25LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA283.md): Air Tractor AT-301 · Hartsburg, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2025 · N2371V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with a tailwind from a wet turf airstrip.
- [NTSB CEN20LA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA367.md): Cirrus SR22 · Lawrenceville, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 29, 2020 · N607SR · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain as a result of his failure to properly execute an instrument approach and maintain clearance from trees in night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unfamiliarity with a…
- [NTSB CEN18LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA082.md): Matheny Larry E Christavia MK 1 · Grand Detour, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 20, 2018 · N746LM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid the power line. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s intentional flight at low altitude.
- [NTSB GAA18CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA069.md): Weaver David A Pulsar 912XP · Plato Center, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 2, 2017 · N912GR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue to land without visual reference to the airport in low light conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to activate the private airport’s pilot-controlled lighting system due to its configuration.
- [NTSB CEN17FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA064.md): Piper PA 28R-200 · Vienna, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 31, 2016 · N2806R · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to descend through an overcast layer of weather during dark night conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting trees.
- [NTSB GAA16CA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA212.md): Cessna 140 · Poplar Grove, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 30, 2016 · N4242H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's visual disorientation and failure to monitor the altimeter during a night approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN15FA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA347.md): Grumman American Avn. AA 5A · Harrisburg, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2015 · N9684U · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in dark, night conditions and his subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN14FA522](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA522.md): Cessna T337G · Plano, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 29, 2014 · N37E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to recognize the airplane’s low altitude and arrest the airplane’s descent on approach to the airport in dark night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s degraded night…
- [NTSB CEN13LA442](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA442.md): Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A · Streator, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2013 · N10009 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's diverted attention during an agricultural application maneuver, which resulted in the helicopter impacting a corn field.
- [NTSB CEN13LA447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA447.md): Bell 206B · Tamaroa, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 19, 2013 · N23L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during an agricultural application maneuver.
- [NTSB CEN13LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA164.md): Bellanca 17-30A · Morris, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 16, 2013 · N93747 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN10FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA057.md): Cessna 182P · Kewanee, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 23, 2009 · N1986M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to initiate a visual night flight without recent night flight experience and his failure to maintain altitude during departure.
- [NTSB CEN09LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA061.md): Cessna 182 · Downers Grove, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2008 · N759HF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on final approach in night conditions, due to his impairment from recent use of alcohol, cocaine, and over-the-counter and prescription medications.
- [NTSB CEN09MA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09MA019.md): Bell 222 · Aurora, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Oct 16, 2008 · N992AA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the 734-foot-tall lighted tower during the visual night flight due to inadequate preflight planning, insufficient altitude, and a flight route too low to clear the tower. Contributing to the accident was the air…

## 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" = 'IL' 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=IL

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