# NTSB investigations, PA: 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 ERA26LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA307.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Altoona, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 14, 2026 · N586MA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s descent below the glidepath and collision with trees during a missed approach.
- [NTSB ERA25FA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA344.md): Hughes 369D · Jim Thorpe, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Sep 11, 2025 · N5072F · Destroyed
  > On September 11, 2025, about 1402 eastern daylight time, a Hughes (McDonnell Douglas) 369D helicopter, N5072F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and line technician were fatally injured. The…
- [NTSB ERA25FA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA272.md): Piper PA46-500TP · Lititz, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jul 20, 2025 · N819MA · Substantial damage
  > On July 20, 2025, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46-500TP Meridian airplane, N819MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Lititz, Pennsylvania. The pilot was the sole person on board and was fatally injured. The…
- [NTSB ERA24FA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA292.md): Cessna 172N · Lock Haven, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 4, 2024 · N739GV · Destroyed
  > The student pilot’s premature turn to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern at low airspeed and altitude, resulting in a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA347.md): Bell 206L-3 · Franklin, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 19, 2022 · N203PA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while flying at a low level over a river, which resulted in a wire strike.
- [NTSB ERA22LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA060.md): Cessna 150 · Wilkes-Barre, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2021 · N6714S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to commence the flight in marginal visual flight rules conditions at night, and his failure to maintain a safe altitude once instrument conditions were encountered.
- [NTSB ERA19FA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA161.md): Cessna 172 · Tyrone, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 1, 2019 · N733KZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA18LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA242.md): Stinson 108 · Indiana, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 2, 2018 · N4059C · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power as a result of debris contamination of the fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation.
- [NTSB GAA18CA506](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA506.md): Hughes 369 · Ridgeway, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 22, 2018 · N89ZC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial observation flight.
- [NTSB GAA17CA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA196.md): Schweizer SGS126 · Bangor, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 11, 2017 · N17933 · Substantial damage
  > The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB ERA16FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA215.md): Piper PA31 · State College, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 16, 2016 · N3591P · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue an unstabilized instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA16CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA105.md): Piper PA34 · Williamsport, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 9, 2016 · N234NC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude in cruise flight due to his diverted attention, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA16FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA063.md): Timothy C Williams CCK-1865 · Linesville, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 7, 2015 · N541TC · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to attempt a flight under visual flight rules at night in instrument meteorological conditions to an unlit airstrip, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA14LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA308.md): Taylor J-2 · Lock Haven, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 20, 2014 · N16667 · Substantial damage
  > The airplane owner’s failure to clean and lubricate the engine valve guides and stems, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an exhaust valve failure.
- [NTSB ERA13CA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA228.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Brogue, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 2, 2013 · N33677 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a power line.
- [NTSB ERA12CA548](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA548.md): Handy James L Buckeye Dream Mach · West Caln, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 1, 2012 · N4258M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind during the initial climb, which resulted in collision with a tree and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA12LA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA455.md): Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II · Hilltown, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 13, 2012 · N5448G · Substantial damage
  > The improper decision of the flight instructor receiving instruction to attempt a course reversal rather than land straight ahead following a simulated low-level rope break, and the inadequate remedial action of the flight instructor-in-command for allowing…
- [NTSB ERA12FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA327.md): Mooney M20J · Sterling, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 10, 2012 · N9154K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to take off on an uphill slope without utilizing the entire available runway, and his failure to abort the takeoff when he realized he wasn’t going to liftoff in time to clear the trees at the end of the runway.
- [NTSB ERA12CA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA304.md): Bell 206B · Hershey, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 27, 2012 · N16EP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's diverted attention while performing aerial application at low altitude, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to adjust the control friction to the position he was accustomed.
- [NTSB ERA12CA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA020.md): Cessna 177B · Honesdale, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 10, 2011 · N34218 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s excessive airspeed during final approach and his delayed decision to abort the landing, resulting in the in-flight collision with trees during the go-around.
- [NTSB ERA11FA467](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA467.md): Cessna 172M · Titusville, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2011 · N13126 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's improper decision to attempt a visual descent into instrument meteorological conditions while approaching the destination airport, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA11LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA104.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Benton, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 3, 2011 · N42997 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during the night flight.
- [NTSB ERA10LA373](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA373.md): Nadig Paul K Nadig · Franklin, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2010 · N579PN · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power due to the owner’s inadequate fuel system maintenance, which resulted in a collision with trees and subsequent impact with the ground.

## 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" = 'PA' 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=PA

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