# NTSB investigations, IA: 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 CEN26LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA256.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Coralville, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 16, 2026 · N322TC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN25LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA285.md): Air Tractor AT-802A · Walcott, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2025 · N802BF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the crops during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN24FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA287.md): Bell 206 · Nashua, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jul 29, 2024 · N94XA · Substantial damage
  > On July 29, 2024 about 1330 central standard time, a Bell 206-B3 Helicopter, N94XA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Nashua, Iowa. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part…
- [NTSB CEN23LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA342.md): Bell 206B · Denison, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2023 · N231RL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inflight distraction, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid wires.
- [NTSB CEN23LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA328.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Hanlontown, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2023 · N467HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a cable during spray operations.
- [NTSB CEN22LA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA366.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Maynard, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 5, 2022 · N619RB · Substantial damage
  > An impact with a powerline as a result of an unexpected wind gust.
- [NTSB CEN22LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA365.md): Ultramagic M56C · Indianola, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 4, 2022 · N801UM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines.
- [NTSB CEN22LA356](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA356.md): Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 150A · Indianola, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2022 · N316EB · Minor damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN22FA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA347.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Ute, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 30, 2022 · N501MW · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s inflight collision with a power line during aerial application.
- [NTSB CEN21LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA350.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Waukon, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 4, 2021 · N775AK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a powerline during an agricultural application pass.
- [NTSB CEN21LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA339.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · West Liberty, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2021 · N983HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a wire while maneuvering at low altitude during an aerial application flight, resulting in a collision with the wire.
- [NTSB CEN21LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA313.md): Air Tractor AT802 · Newell, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2021 · N949TM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from crops during an agricultural flight.
- [NTSB CEN20LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA330.md): Robinson R44 · Logan, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 8, 2020 · N89LA · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the lower actuator bearing support brackets, which resulted in the misalignment of the clutch actuator, a loss of belt tension on the main rotor drive system, and a subsequent forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN19FA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA259.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Sumner, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 8, 2019 · N6113C · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s impairment by medical conditions and/or medications, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with power lines and terrain.
- [NTSB GAA18CA453](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA453.md): Robinson R44 · Elma, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 27, 2018 · N466EL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB CEN18FA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA060.md): X-Air XA85 · Oskaloosa, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 23, 2017 · N20XA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's low altitude flight into a power line due to his impairment from an acute physiologic event during the flight. Contributing to the pilot's impairment was his use of two sedating medications.
- [NTSB CEN18LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA025.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Larchwood, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 6, 2017 · N7085M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of situational awareness, which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines.
- [NTSB CEN17CA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA346.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Logan, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 20, 2017 · N192E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB CEN14LA487](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA487.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Macedonia, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 6, 2014 · N699TQ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a static line.
- [NTSB CEN13LA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA533.md): Grumman G-164A · Atlantic, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 6, 2013 · N7843 · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s delay in releasing product to reduce the airplane’s weight and improve its climb performance, which was reduced because of the high density altitude.
- [NTSB CEN13LA484](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA484.md): Rockwell International S-2R · Larchwood, IA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 12, 2013 · N5610X · Substantial damage
  > A complete loss of engine power during an agricultural application flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB CEN11CA565](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA565.md): Weatherly 201C · Bronson, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 10, 2011 · N9054W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN11CA535](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA535.md): Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A · Joice, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 1, 2011 · N51857 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wire.
- [NTSB CEN10CA446](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA446.md): Bell 206 · St. Olaf, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 28, 2010 · N275RA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight.
- [NTSB CEN10CA445](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA445.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Zwingle, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 28, 2010 · N6030U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight.
- [NTSB CEN10CA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA428.md): Bell 206B · New Hampton, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 23, 2010 · N40TA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.
- [NTSB CEN10CA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA402.md): Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B · Independence, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 13, 2010 · N8260K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to pay attention to the power lines and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the corn field during the aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN09CA483](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA483.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Royal, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 3, 2009 · N6701Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the crop during an aerial application maneuver.
- [NTSB CEN09LA492](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA492.md): Stirling Starduster · Earlham, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2009 · N1XY · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground during an aerobatic maneuver.
- [NTSB CEN09LA409](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA409.md): Cessna 172 · Latimer, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2009 · N8138B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line while flying at a low altitude.
- [NTSB CHI08CA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA220.md): Air Tractor AT-401 · Lake View, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 26, 2008 · N9193F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot not obtaining/maintaining altitude/clearance from the power line while performing an aerial application maneuver.

## 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" = 'IA' 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=IA

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