# NTSB investigations, WY: 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 WPR26LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA095.md): American Champion 8KCAB · Alpine, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 29, 2026 · N59SE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent descent while operating in flat light conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC25FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25FA098.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Wolf, WY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Sep 1, 2025 · N8307W · Substantial damage
  > On September 1, 2025 about 1612 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N8307W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wolf, Wyoming. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured; one passenger was fatally…
- [NTSB WPR24LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA115.md): Zenith Zodiac CH601 · Rawlins, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 15, 2024 · N43373 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to see and avoid powerlines during an unstabilized approach, which resulted the airplane landing short of the runway and coming to rest inverted.
- [NTSB WPR18LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA241.md): Cessna 172 · Afton, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 13, 2018 · N5660J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance after an encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering in a valley with a high-density altitude, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR16FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA046.md): Aerostar S A YAK 52 · Alpine, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 4, 2016 · N912EB · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain in flat light conditions.
- [NTSB WPR14FA382](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA382.md): Piper PA 28R-180 · Saratoga, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 21, 2014 · N4618J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff in dark, night conditions, which resulted in his controlled flight into terrain due to the lack of ground references or natural horizon.
- [NTSB WPR14FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA188.md): Mooney M20C · Cody, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 6, 2014 · N6704U · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilots’ decision to continue flight into known instrument meteorological conditions over mountainous terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR14CA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA013.md): Piper PA 28-180 · Cody, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 11, 2013 · N31BA · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power during climb to cruise for reasons that could not be determined due to no postaccident examination.
- [NTSB WPR13CA381](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA381.md): Cessna 172E · Meeteetse, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 20, 2013 · N516MA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of situational awareness.
- [NTSB WPR13FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA008.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · Laramie Peak, WY · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2012 · N110UM · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from rising terrain.
- [NTSB WPR12LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA301.md): Cessna A188B · Cheyenne, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 10, 2012 · N4831R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a power line. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare.
- [NTSB WPR11FA381](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA381.md): Beech A36 · Lander, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2011 · N324AT · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR11LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA233.md): Palmer RV6A · Cody, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 2011 · N52VC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s visual illusion and disorientation due to the flat light conditions.
- [NTSB WPR11FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA082.md): Aero Commander 114B · Lander, WY · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 2010 · N799RS · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight in instrument or marginal visual meteorological conditions in mountainous terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of…
- [NTSB WPR09CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA348.md): Cessna 172M · Thermopolis, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 16, 2009 · N5461Q · Substantial damage
  > The instructor pilot's failure to ensure that his dual student maintained clearance from the terrain during a dark night visual flight rules descent.
- [NTSB WPR09CA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA051.md): Beech B60 · Rock River, WY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 29, 2008 · N6693A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line due to the lack of forward visibility because of an ice-covered windshield. Contributing to the accident was the flight's encounter with icing weather conditions.

## 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" = 'WY' 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=WY

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