# NTSB investigations, ID: 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 WPR26FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA091.md): N126c CCX-1865 · Montour, ID · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jan 27, 2026 · N126C · Substantial damage
  > On January 27, 2026, about 1100 mountain standard time, an amateur-built, experimental CCX-1865 Carbon Cub, N126C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Montour, Idaho. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The…
- [NTSB WPR25FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA100.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505 · Ririe, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 20, 2025 · N118LG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and decision to maneuver the helicopter at a low altitude, and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from power lines.
- [NTSB WPR24LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA315.md): Cessna 172P · Kooskia, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 26, 2024 · N54829 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to descend into a canyon that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR24LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA138.md): Aerospatiale SA315B · Lewiston, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 2, 2024 · N42PL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a low level aerial application.
- [NTSB WPR21LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA360.md): Cessna 182E · Warren, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2021 · N3121Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering in a valley of mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR21LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA056.md): Cessna 172 · Howe, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2020 · N8278B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain after an encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR20LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA315.md): Air Tractor AT-802A · Emmett, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 23, 2020 · N836MM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s descent below surrounding terrain and his delayed decision to initiate a climb which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident were terrain and lighting conditions that affected the pilot’s ability to accurately assess terrain…
- [NTSB WPR20CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA179.md): Ayres S2R · Lenore, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 12, 2020 · N40226 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight, which resulted in a wire strike.
- [NTSB WPR20CA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA171.md): Enstrom 480 · Murphy, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 4, 2020 · N130JS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB GAA19CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA110.md): Robinson R44 · Grace, ID · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 3, 2019 · N4246Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines.
- [NTSB WPR18LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA227.md): Cessna 182 · Salmon, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 18, 2018 · N84CP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent encounter with downdraft conditions, which resulted in a loss of altitude, and the pilot’s subsequent decision to conduct a precautionary landing into a stand of trees.
- [NTSB WPR16FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA131.md): Cessna A185F · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 25, 2016 · N4585F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at low altitude in mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR16FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA120.md): Rockwell S2R · De Smet, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 6, 2016 · N4191X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from guy wires during an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reduced ability to see the guy wires due to sun glare.
- [NTSB WPR15LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA255.md): Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L · Jerome, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 2015 · N4BM · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while conducting a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver.
- [NTSB GAA15CA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA255.md): Aviat A-1C-200 · Irwin, ID · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 27, 2015 · N63BW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low level flight, which resulted in the airplane striking a wire, impacting water, and nosing over.
- [NTSB GAA15CA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA153.md): Grumman American Avn. AA 5A · Mackay, ID · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 1, 2015 · N9887U · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's disorientation in mountainous terrain and course deviation into a canyon, which resulted in the airplane's inability to out climb terrain and a forced landing.
- [NTSB WPR11LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA137.md): American Champion 8GCBC · Soda Springs, ID · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 2011 · N885AC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude in a valley.
- [NTSB WPR10CA410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA410.md): Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164B · Genesee, ID · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 18, 2010 · N8150K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during low-altitude maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR09CA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA358.md): Wsk-Pzl Meilec PZL M18B · Rockland, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 20, 2009 · N7813T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during an aerial application reversal turn.
- [NTSB SEA08CA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA168.md): WSL PZL Mielec · Caldwell, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 29, 2008 · N81541 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot failed to maintain clearance from a power line while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was a vehicle.

## 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" = 'ID' 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=ID

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