# NTSB investigations, CO: Low altitude operation/event

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 CEN25LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA240.md): Cub Crafters CCK-1865 · La Garita, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 7, 2025 · N952SA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude in mountainous terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and aeronautical decision making.
- [NTSB CEN24FA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA338.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Camden, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 5, 2024 · N602BA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power transformer that was mounted to a power pole during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN22LA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA414.md): Cessna 172M · Fort Collins, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 12, 2022 · N9049H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while intentionally maneuvering the airplane at low altitudes, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
- [NTSB CEN22FA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA240.md): HPH Spol Sro Glasflugel 304 MS · Rifle, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 9, 2022 · N249SD · Destroyed
  > The glider’s encounter with gusting tailwind and downdraft conditions that the pilot was unable to overcome.
- [NTSB CEN21LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA119.md): Cessna 172 · Silt, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 31, 2021 · N4376Q · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to avoid powerlines while flying at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN20CA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA311.md): Air Tractor AT 401 · Burlington, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 27, 2020 · N9190Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from guy-wires during low-altitude agricultural operations.
- [NTSB CEN20CA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA139.md): Rans S-12 Airaile · Hillrose, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 4, 2020 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > The noncertificated pilot's diverted attention while looking at a fire during low-altitude flying, which resulted in a collision with power lines.
- [NTSB GAA19CA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA262.md): Cub Crafters Carbon CUB EX · Grand Junction, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 11, 2019 · N56XC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a canyon.
- [NTSB CEN18LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA303.md): Buchanan Kitfox IV · Loma, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 31, 2018 · N125TY · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to conduct a low-altitude flight over a river and his inadequate monitoring of the environment, which resulted in a collision with a cableway.
- [NTSB CEN17LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA314.md): Hughes 369D · Villa Grove, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2017 · N58424 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a power line tower during low-level maneuvering.
- [NTSB GAA15CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA096.md): Aero Vodochody L39 · Grand Junction, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 28, 2015 · N6175C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and subsequent failure to remain clear of power line wires while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN15LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA004.md): Celier Xenon R · Loma, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2014 · N719MB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire and his decision to maneuver the gyroplane at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN14FA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA414.md): Piper PA 28R-201 · Steamboat Springs, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 9, 2014 · N3509M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inability to maintain a climb while attempting to cross over a mountain pass in high-density altitude conditions that degraded the airplane’s climb performance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the flight in…
- [NTSB CEN14CA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA360.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Englewood, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 11, 2014 · N69MP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff resulting in low rotor rpm and impact of the fuel trailer during the running landing.
- [NTSB CEN14FA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA230.md): Piper PA 25-235 · Northglenn, CO · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · May 5, 2014 · N4519Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to operate the banner-tow flight below the minimum safe altitude specified by federal regulation, which likely limited his ability to recover from a potential loss of airspeed due to a gusting wind condition. Also causal was the pilot’s…
- [NTSB CEN14CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA160.md): Piper PA 28-235 · De Beque, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 14, 2014 · N9172W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN14FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA122.md): Bell 206L 3 · Silt, CO · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 27, 2014 · N207DS · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning for a low-level aerial surveillance flight of power transmission lines, which led to his being unaware of the crossing power line while flying toward the sun and his subsequent failure to maintain sufficient clearance…
- [NTSB CEN13LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA368.md): Nanchang China CJ-6 · Wolcott, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2013 · N2726C · Substantial damage
  > The pilots decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude from which he was unable to recover.
- [NTSB CEN13LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA358.md): Piper PA-28R-180 · Durango, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 18, 2013 · N7444J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to take off with a tailwind at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to maintain the initial climb rate.
- [NTSB CEN13FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA327.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Mosca, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2013 · N7147R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while attempting to clear a mountain pass in turbulent conditions at a high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN12LA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA414.md): Cessna 172S · Glenwood Springs, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2012 · N917SA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly into a mountainous area where conditions were such that the airplane was unable to climb above rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's insufficient pilot-in-command experience and inadequate training in…
- [NTSB CEN11FA444](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA444.md): Boeing B75N1 · Wetmore, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2011 · N4473N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN11LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA239.md): Glasflugel Standard Libelle · Wellington, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 20, 2011 · N99AE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of glider control due to impairment or incapacitation caused by an episode of ventricular tachycardia.
- [NTSB CEN11FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA053.md): Bell 206 · Meeker, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 3, 2010 · N8533F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from electrical power lines during the low-altitude flight.
- [NTSB CEN10LA380](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA380.md): Champion 8KCAB · Estes Park, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2010 · N56BC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to downdrafts.
- [NTSB CEN10FA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA162.md): Maule M-6-235 · Bennett, CO · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 30, 2010 · N7613X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a utility line while maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN09CA528](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA528.md): Morse, Frank L. Kitfox · Crawford, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 16, 2009 · N39FM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued flight into a severe downdraft at low altitude after encountering tailwind over the area.
- [NTSB DFW08LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA238.md): Cessna R172K · Leadville, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 29, 2008 · N736LN · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

## 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" = 'CO' 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" = '220' 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/220/sequence?state=CO

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