# NTSB investigations, FL: 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 ERA27FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA27FA010.md): Bell 407 · Myakka City, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Investigation open · Oct 16, 2026 · N618TS
- [NTSB ERA23LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA245.md): Piper PA-25-260 · Hollywood, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 25, 2023 · N454AB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper banner pickup approach, which resulted in the banner tow hook contacting the airplane, and the subsequent overload separation of the right rudder control horn, resulting in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB ERA22LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA206.md): Bell 206 · Lake Apopka, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 26, 2022 · N206BX · Substantial damage
  > A collision with water following a loss of visual reference to the water surface due to sun glare.
- [NTSB ERA22LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA180.md): Hughes 269A · Fort White, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 2, 2022 · N7057L · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to fly a visual flight rules only helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA151.md): Cirrus SR22 · The Hammocks, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 1, 2022 · N21EU · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate altitude above obstacles, which resulted controlled flight into a powerline.
- [NTSB ERA20LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA330.md): Piper PA25 · Floral City, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 23, 2020 · N6106Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a tree while flying towards the rising sun during an aerial application flight, which resulted in a collision with the tree and a subsequent loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB ERA20LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA094.md): Airborne America AX9-140 · Homestead, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 19, 2020 · N970TC · Minor damage
  > The pilot's decision to operate the balloon at low altitude near obstructions, structures, and powerlines, which resulted in the balloon contacting powerlines. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's inadequate oversight of…
- [NTSB ERA20FA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20FA027.md): Grumman OV-1 · Stuart, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 1, 2019 · N10VD · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s improper recovery from a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in descent into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA19LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA246.md): Cessna 172 · Jay, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 13, 2019 · N84287 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to fly over a river at a very low altitude, which resulted in a collision with power lines.
- [NTSB ERA19LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA227.md): Piper PA22 · Hastings, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 14, 2019 · N7833D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to secure the engine primer control, which resulted in an overly rich fuel/air mixture and degraded engine performance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner.
- [NTSB ERA19FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA112.md): Piper PA25 · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 1, 2019 · N145AB · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance while maneuvering during a banner tow flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a 19-story building in a heavily congested area. Contributing to the accident were the easterly wind…
- [NTSB ERA17FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA088.md): Sharpe William L Buccaneer II B · Mayo, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 14, 2017 · N696FT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while flying at low altitude.
- [NTSB ERA15CA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA010.md): Toerner Bob SEA REY · Tampa, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 6, 2014 · N345BT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear after takeoff, which resulted in the landing gear contacting the water while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB ERA14CA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA229.md): Gingras Michel Aventura II · Punta Gorda, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 27, 2014 · N543MG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while operating at a low altitude.
- [NTSB ERA14LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA011.md): Boeing B75N1 · Tampa, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 19, 2013 · N65355 · No damage
  > The parachutist’s low altitude departure from the right wing before the planned altitude and his delayed opening of his parachute canopy, which resulted in impact with a tree and then the ground before the parachute fully opened.
- [NTSB ERA13CA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA130.md): Dratbe Shmiel Amir Classic Edge X · Miami, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 9, 2013 · N662DA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's decision to fly at low altitude surrounded by tree, wire, and water hazards, and his failure to maintain clearance from those obstacles.
- [NTSB ERA12FA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA345.md): Shepard Jimmy D JR Pitts S1D · Port Richey, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 21, 2012 · N360MW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to conduct aerobatic flight at a low altitude, which resulted in a collision with the water.
- [NTSB ERA12FA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA068.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Boynton Beach, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 13, 2011 · N661FT · Substantial damage
  > The right seat pilot's decision to attempt a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver in a non-aerobatic airplane.
- [NTSB ERA12CA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA050.md): Air Tractor AT-301 · McAlpin, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 24, 2011 · N3169C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudgment of the airplane's distance from known transmission lines.
- [NTSB ERA11CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA082.md): Bell 206L-3 · Canal Point, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 8, 2010 · N955GT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.
- [NTSB ERA10LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA266.md): Aerostar S A YAK-52 · Jensen Beach, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 15, 2010 · N6868Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude, which resulted in insufficient clearance from the water to conduct a recovery. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s extended landing gear, which resulted in a degradation of…
- [NTSB ERA10CA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA046.md): American AA1 · Lake Placid, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 3, 2009 · N7266L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line.
- [NTSB ERA09LA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA398.md): Barber John A Glasair · Switzerland, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2009 · N132JB · Destroyed
  > A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's performance of aerobatic maneuvers at altitudes lower than those recommended by the kit manufacturer, resulting in insufficient terrain clearance to conduct a…
- [NTSB ERA09CA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA129.md): Buckeye Dream Machine · Grant, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 28, 2008 · N6068E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wire.
- [NTSB ERA09CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA090.md): Bell OH-58C · Osceola County, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 15, 2008 · N659HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudgment of altitude during low-altitude spraying operations, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water.

## 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" = 'FL' 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=FL

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