# NTSB investigations, VA: 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 ERA24FA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA136.md): Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 Westwind Astra · Hot Springs, VA · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 10, 2024 · N1125A · Destroyed > The PIC’s continuation of an unstabilized approach in gusting wind conditions and his failure to monitor the airplane’s altitude during the approach, which led to a descent into terrain short of the runway. Contributing was the flight crew’s failure to set… - [NTSB ERA24FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA053.md): Beech C23 · Midland, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 3, 2023 · N76SB · Destroyed > The pilot’s decision to descend below the minimum decision altitude of the instrument approach without having the appropriate runway visual references distinctively identified and with the visibility and ceiling below the minimum that was prescribed for the… - [NTSB ERA23FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA131.md): Cessna 150G · Hillsville, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 27, 2023 · N2991J · Substantial damage > The pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB ERA23FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA108.md): Piper PA-32R-301 · Dayton, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 11, 2023 · N43156 · Destroyed > The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while descending over mountainous terrain at night. - [NTSB ERA21FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA148.md): Beech C23 · Purcellville, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 4, 2021 · N67013 · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper decision to depart from the short turf runway with a tailwind. - [NTSB ERA19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA003.md): Piper J3C · Fancy Gap, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2018 · N38811 · Substantial damage > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to undertake a flight into forecast instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and his subsequent decision to continue the flight after encountering IMC, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.… - [NTSB GAA17CA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA306.md): Cessna 150 · Zepp, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 21, 2017 · N60579 · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor icing, which resulted from the student pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat and the flight instructor’s delayed response in applying carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive… - [NTSB ERA17CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA008.md): Algimantas Jonusas RV-10 · Ashwood, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 7, 2016 · N100UK · Substantial damage > The noninstrument-rated pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight weather planning and continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain. - [NTSB ERA15LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA315.md): Piper PA 28-161 · Bristow, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 2015 · N82587 · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student’s distraction due to other traffic in the airport traffic pattern. - [NTSB ERA15LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA282.md): North American Navion · Waynesboro, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 23, 2015 · N91418 · Substantial damage > The pilot's early rotation of the airplane and his failure to attain a positive climb rate during takeoff with the airplane near its aft center of gravity limit from a runway with little margin for error. - [NTSB ERA15FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA144.md): Mooney M20F · Norfolk, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 4, 2015 · N66BB · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to properly execute the instrument approach procedure. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper preflight planning and his decision to conduct the flight in instrument meteorological conditions at night into forecast moderate… - [NTSB ERA15FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA046.md): Cessna 172 · Hinton, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 8, 2014 · N2152T · Substantial damage > The flight instructor’s decision to conduct a night training flight in mountainous terrain without conducting or allowing the student to conduct appropriate preflight planning and his lack of situational awareness of the surrounding terrain altitude, which… - [NTSB ERA14LA433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA433.md): Piper J3C 65 · Carrol County, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 10, 2014 · N26105 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during an emergency landing after encountering deteriorating weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s poor preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with… - [NTSB ERA14FA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA231.md): Eagle C-7 · Ruther Glen, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 9, 2014 · N3016Z · Destroyed > The pilot’s inadequate approach and his failure to maintain clearance from power lines, which resulted in a subsequent fire. - [NTSB ERA13FA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA330.md): Cessna 172M · Fredericksburg, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 2013 · N61954 · Substantial damage > The pilot's intentional descent into the ground to commit suicide. - [NTSB ERA12FA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA527.md): Bell 407 · Abingdon, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 25, 2012 · N407N · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper decision to make a low-level departure over water in dark night conditions without lights, which resulted in controlled flight into the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's likely spatial disorientation due to a vestibular… - [NTSB ERA10CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA017.md): Piper PA28 · Lebanon, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 10, 2009 · N43620 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into known deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB ERA09FA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA311.md): Mooney M20D · Clintwood, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 29, 2009 · N6628U · Substantial damage > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB NYC08FA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08FA138.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Front Royal, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 15, 2008 · N141SR · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising mountainous terrain, and his failure to turn toward his assigned course during initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the low ceiling, reduced visibility, dark night conditions, and rising… ## 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" = 'VA' 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=VA --- 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.