# NTSB investigations, NM: 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 WPR26FA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA186.md): Beech C90 · Lincoln, NM · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · May 14, 2026 · N249CP · Destroyed
  > On May 14, 2026, at 0015 mountain daylight time, a Beech C90, N249CP, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lincoln, New Mexico. Both pilots and passengers sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated by Generation Jets under the…
- [NTSB WPR25FA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA256.md): Beech M35 · Des Moines, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Aug 14, 2025 · N951T · Destroyed
  > On August 13, 2025, about 2300 mountain daylight time, a Beech M35, N951T, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Des Moines, New Mexico. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…
- [NTSB WPR24FA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA202.md): Air Tractor AT-802A · Capitan, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 21, 2024 · N331BS · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight through an apparent visual corridor that rapidly narrowed due to rising terrain and mountain obscuration, resulting in momentary instrument meteorological conditions and the pilot’s subsequent…
- [NTSB WPR19FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA266.md): American AA5 · Cowles, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 27, 2019 · N9774U · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to fly into terrain that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN19CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA017.md): Piper PA28R · Hobbs, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 28, 2018 · N6899C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's incorrect altimeter setting during the night visual approach, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR19TA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA005.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7 · Placitas, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Oct 10, 2018 · N7252H · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to properly estimate the height of terrain while descending the balloon, which resulted in the balloon impacting a hill and passengers sustaining serious injuries.
- [NTSB CEN18LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA226.md): Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164B · Arrey, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 15, 2018 · N6672Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a hillside during an agricultural application flight while facing the sun.
- [NTSB CEN18LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA207.md): Cessna T210 · Clovis, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 3, 2018 · N66ML · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB CEN18FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA192.md): Beech D17S · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 25, 2018 · N79091 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB CEN18FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA078.md): Bell UH-1H · Raton, NM · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2018 · N658H · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above mountainous terrain during cruise flight in dark night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN18FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA009.md): Cessna 182H · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2017 · N8338S · Substantial damage
  > Controlled flight into terrain in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB CEN17FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA355.md): Bell 206L 3 · Ancho, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2017 · N213TV · Destroyed
  > The pilot's distraction by a cell phone during a low-altitude flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB GAA15CA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA171.md): Weatherly 620B · Hatch, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 9, 2015 · N2034P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot failed to maintain obstacle clearance, and the airplane struck a transmission line wire during aerial application operations.
- [NTSB CEN14LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA007.md): Cameron Balloons US V 77 · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2013 · N9528A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines on approach to land, resulting in a collision with the wires, a spark, and a subsequent explosion and on-board fire.
- [NTSB CEN13LA571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA571.md): Cessna 182J · Santa Teresa, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 29, 2013 · N3078F · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because no anomalies were found during the postaccident engine examination.
- [NTSB CEN13LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA110.md): Beech 95-B55 (T42A) · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 21, 2012 · N30WC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly manage the airplane's fuel, which resulted in engine failure due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB CEN11FA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA347.md): Beech F33A · Taos, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 20, 2011 · N1533Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in loss of situational awareness, and a possible encounter with icing conditions.
- [NTSB CEN11FA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA312.md): Combs Earl W Kitfox Speedster · Elephant Butte, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 1, 2011 · N89MM · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control of the airplane for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB CEN11LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA307.md): Cessna 320 · Lake Heron, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 24, 2011 · N320AZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while conducting a flight at low altitude in instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB CEN10LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA282.md): Cessna 172 · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 30, 2010 · N2723U · Destroyed
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of water contamination in the fuel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing the accident was an inoperative number 5 cylinder exhaust valve.
- [NTSB DEN08FA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08FA162.md): Pilatus PC-12/47E · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2008 · N606SL · Destroyed
  > The pilot's incapacitation due to fatigue resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB DEN08LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA145.md): Cessna 340A · Angle Fire, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 1, 2008 · N397RA · Destroyed
  > Controlled flight into terrain for unknown reasons.

## 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" = 'NM' 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=NM

---
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.