# NTSB investigations, WA: 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 WPR27FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR27FA014.md): Piper PA-18-150 · Wauconda, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Oct 11, 2026 · N927JS · Destroyed
  > On October 10, 2026, about 2014 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N927JS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wauconda, Washington. The flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. The airplane was operated…
- [NTSB WPR25LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA259.md): Czech Aircraft Group Sro Sportcruiser · Puyallup, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Aug 25, 2025 · N538SF · Substantial damage
  > On August 25, 2025, about 1456 Pacific daylight time, a Czech Aircraft Group SRO Sportcruiser, N538SF was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Puyallup, Washington. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger was not…
- [NTSB WPR23LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA339.md): Eurocopter France AS350B2 · Silverton, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 9, 2023 · N350WW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain visual reference and altitude while maneuvering over a lake during dusk conditions, which resulted in the helicopter impacting water.
- [NTSB WPR22LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA360.md): Cessna 150L · Lyman, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 25, 2022 · N7471G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s delayed decision to exit the valley with rising terrain and failure to maintain clearance from trees.
- [NTSB WPR22FA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA255.md): Aeronca 7BCM · Lake McMurray, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 16, 2022 · N2588C · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA151.md): Cessna 150M · Bainbridge Island, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 28, 2018 · N6AF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water and his distraction by using the tablet for navigation, which resulted in his failure to detect that the airplane had entered a descent.
- [NTSB WPR18FA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA104.md): Piper PA 18-150 · La Center, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 11, 2018 · N4511Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.
- [NTSB ANC18FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA024.md): Mooney M20 · Chuckanut, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 13, 2018 · N123JN · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a visual approach in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR17FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA215.md): Piper PA 28-140 · Brinnon, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2017 · N9549W · Destroyed
  > The flight instructor's failure to completely and properly evaluate the student pilot's incorrectly- planned flight, and his failure to use all available resources to maintain situation awareness during the flight, which resulted in controlled flight into…
- [NTSB WPR17LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA084.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Brinnon, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2017 · N167CB · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's decision to fly into a valley without ensuring adequate clearance to avoid the rising terrain.
- [NTSB GAA17CA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA072.md): Piper PA 28R · Payallup, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 11, 2016 · N9466K · Substantial damage
  > The airport’s failure to issue a NOTAM regarding the deployment of the traffic monitoring camera system before the accident, which resulted in the airplane striking the camera system during a short-field approach and landing.
- [NTSB WPR15FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA215.md): Piper PA 22-160 · Twin Sisters Mtn, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2015 · N9712D · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA212.md): Beech A35 · Mazama, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2015 · N8749A · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR14FA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA286.md): Cessna 182 · Fall City, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2014 · N5816B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to depart in low-ceiling conditions and his continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR12FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA105.md): Cessna 172S · North Bend, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 15, 2012 · N665SP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's physical impairment due to alcohol, which adversely affected his ability to operate the airplane and to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB WPR12CA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA026.md): Ayres S2R-600 · Kahlotus, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 2, 2011 · N1206S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the ground due to his distraction with programming a global positioning system receiver.
- [NTSB WPR11FA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA319.md): Piper PA-22-135 · Verlot, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2011 · N8721C · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into clouds and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in an area of reduced visibility, low clouds, and mountain obscuration.
- [NTSB WPR11LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA306.md): Grumman American Avn. AA-5 · Yacoit, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2011 · N1334R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
- [NTSB WPR11LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA181.md): Cessna A188 · Palouse, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2011 · N5851G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain adequate clearance from obstacles during a low-level aerial application maneuver.
- [NTSB WPR11LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA076.md): Taylorcraft BC12-65 · College Place, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 2010 · N36041 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to abort the landing when he lost sight of the runway due to sun glare, and his inadequate compensation for the crosswind.
- [NTSB WPR11FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA061.md): American Champion 8GCBC · Bremerton, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 18, 2010 · N273MA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain clearance from terrain for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s use of oxycodone and his severe coronary artery disease.
- [NTSB WPR10LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA370.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Walla Walla, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 28, 2010 · N57PJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's partial incapacitation during cruise flight and his subsequent inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation.
- [NTSB WPR10FA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA223.md): Taylorcraft BC12-D1 · Skokomish, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 11, 2009 · N44362 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while flying over hilly, forested terrain.
- [NTSB LAX08FA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA246.md): Cessna 172N · McMurray, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2008 · N75558 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, reduced visibility, and mountainous 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" = 'WA' 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=WA

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