# NTSB investigations, NY: 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 ERA26FA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA271.md): Smith Aerostar 601 · Lake Clear, NY · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jul 14, 2026 · N800AA · Destroyed
  > On July 13, 2026, about 2236 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N800AA was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lake Clear, New York. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14…
- [NTSB ERA25FA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA367.md): Toop Thomas A Glasair Super II FT · Wallkill, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Sep 27, 2025 · N45BT · Destroyed
  > On September 27, 2025, at 1418 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Glasair Super II FT, N45BT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Wallkill, New York. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a…
- [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 ERA22LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA307.md): Mooney M20F · Cragsmoor, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 10, 2022 · N600FS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue toward rising terrain despite observing the airplane’s decreased climb performance after takeoff, which resulted in flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA007.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429 · Batavia, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 7, 2021 · N505TJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to disengage the autopilot prior to climbing out of a fog bank.
- [NTSB ERA21LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA035.md): Grumman GA7 · Ellicott, NY · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 1, 2020 · N791GA · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s continued descent below the minimum descent altitude while conducting an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB GAA18CA561](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA561.md): Apollo Fox · Chateaugay, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 19, 2018 · N791YE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a go-around.
- [NTSB ERA15CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA127.md): Schweizer 269C 1 · Carthage, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 1, 2015 · N20059 · Substantial damage
  > The non-helicopter-rated pilot's improper decision to operate the helicopter at low-level and his inability to adequately see the horizon over snow and ice, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA14FA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA372.md): Cessna 182F · Gansevoort, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 2, 2014 · N1DZ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during initial climb following a banner pick-up, resulting in collision with a tree.
- [NTSB ERA14CA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA366.md): Cessna 150M · Waterloo, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 29, 2014 · N66358 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from obstructions while on approach to the runway.
- [NTSB ERA13CA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA353.md): Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 · Eagle Bay, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 2, 2013 · N555AX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to set the engine throttle to full power during a go-around.
- [NTSB ERA13CA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA260.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Ellenville, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 30, 2013 · N5715F · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA13CA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA142.md): Dombroski Frank Vans RV-10 · Lake Placid, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 21, 2013 · N10FD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, which resulted in attempted visual flight in night instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA13CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA077.md): Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Middletown, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 2, 2012 · N5787S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper altitude management in the landing pattern that caused the glider to impact trees on final approach.
- [NTSB ERA12CA495](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA495.md): Piper PA-25-260 · Alexander, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 2, 2012 · N6802L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain altitude during aerial application, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA12LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA360.md): Piper PA-28R-201 · Kingston, NY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 19, 2012 · N6236C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees/foliage at an undetermined point during the flight.
- [NTSB ERA11FA422](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA422.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Berne, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 25, 2011 · N1279T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and rising terrain while attempting to reverse course. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather…
- [NTSB ERA11FA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA349.md): Cessna T210N · Armonk, NY · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 18, 2011 · N210KW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to depart on the flight with a suspected mechanical deficiency and his subsequent decision to fly the final approach at a reduced power setting. Contributing to the accident was the improper timing of the magneto(s) that resulted in a…
- [NTSB ERA11CA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA309.md): Beech A23 · Greene, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 21, 2011 · N3548R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue a visual approach with low visibility and in heavy rain and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees.
- [NTSB ERA11FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA055.md): Mooney M20F · Copake, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 11, 2010 · N6878V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to monitor and maintain clearance from mountainous terrain during a visual descent to the destination airport at night, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA10LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA066.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Newcomb, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2009 · N1723T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain during descent at night, with low clouds and fog.
- [NTSB ERA09FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA022.md): Robinson R22 · Dryden, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 16, 2008 · N943MH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

## 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" = 'NY' 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=NY

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