# NTSB investigations, MI: 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 CEN23FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA257.md): Avid Magnum · Beaver Island, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 23, 2023 · N103DG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering in low visibility conditions due to smoke and haze.
- [NTSB CEN21FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA220.md): Cessna 182 · St. Louis, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 17, 2021 · N2430X · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate visual lookout to ensure clearance from the radio tower and its guy wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unnecessary use of his mobile device during the flight, which diminished his attention/monitoring…
- [NTSB CEN19LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA308.md): Cessna 150 · Whitehall, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 9, 2019 · N9492U · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s flight into a water tower while operating below minimum safe altitudes for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.
- [NTSB CEN18LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA106.md): Schweizer 269D · Stockbridge, MI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 13, 2018 · N471RA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain while maneuvering the helicopter at a low altitude after departure. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s distraction by the smoke in the cabin and the limited visible features in the…
- [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 CEN15LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA235.md): Lathrop Steven A B8M · Ravenna, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 1, 2015 · N5606X · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
- [NTSB CEN14FA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA110.md): Cessna 310R · Waterford, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 11, 2014 · N3829G · Destroyed
  > The pilot's controlled flight into terrain during an instrument landing system approach at night in instrument flight rules conditions. Contributing to the accident were the operator's inadequate training of the pilot, the operator's failure to provide a…
- [NTSB CEN13LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA094.md): Lsa America Allegro · Adrian, MI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 6, 2012 · N448SS · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s improper flight control input during a go-around and his interference with the flight instructor’s attempted remedial actions.
- [NTSB CEN13FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA067.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Hillsdale, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 21, 2012 · N40781 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a straight-in night visual flight rules approach to land in hazy weather conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of recent night flying experience, the nonfunctional…
- [NTSB CEN12LA678](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA678.md): Infinity 2003 · Merrill, MI · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 26, 2012 · N70319 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to attempt a takeoff from midfield, resulting in a collision with trees at the departure end of the field.
- [NTSB CEN12LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA197.md): Piper PA-22-150 · Pinconning, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 21, 2012 · N2389P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly align his airplane with the runway during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the sunglare that obscured the pilot's view of the runway.
- [NTSB CEN12FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA010.md): Brinkerhuff Gerald G Q200 · Holland, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2011 · N2935R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting an approach light. Contributing to the accident was the setting sun, which most likely obscured the pilot’s vision.
- [NTSB CEN11FA666](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA666.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Curren, MI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2011 · N8324F · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from multiple drugs.
- [NTSB CEN11FA663](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA663.md): Thorp T-18 · Plainwell, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 23, 2011 · N54WB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain clearance from a semitrailer along the approach path.
- [NTSB CEN09FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA083.md): Cessna 206H · Kalkaska, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 6, 2008 · N6053B · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain during the instrument-flight-rules flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to comply with instrument flight procedures and his lack of recent instrument flight experience.

## 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" = 'MI' 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=MI

---
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.