# NTSB investigations, KY: 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 ERA25LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA240.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Hawesville, KY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 25, 2025 · N144WK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level agricultural spray operations.
- [NTSB ERA22LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA129.md): Lindstrand Balloons 60X · Louisville, KY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 11, 2022 · N377LX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot applicant’s delayed reaction to the balloon's increased rate of descent, which resulted in impact with a light pole.
- [NTSB WPR20CA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA160.md): Champion 7ECA · Vine Grove, KY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · May 28, 2020 · N9557S · Substantial damage
  > Aircraft control was not maintained during initial climb with gusting wind that resulted in a collision with power lines and the terrain.
- [NTSB GAA17CA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA402.md): Bell 206 · Uniontown, KY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 30, 2017 · N60KH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation from power lines, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB ERA11LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA083.md): Bell 206B · Isom, KY · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 10, 2010 · N263CH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known wire hazard during an aerial observation flight.
- [NTSB ERA10LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA348.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Marion, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2010 · N857PM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB NYC08LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA263.md): Osborne Challenger II · Fairdealing, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 3, 2008 · N69ER · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while climbing into rising terrain at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent.
- [NTSB MIA08CA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA145.md): Aeronca 7AC · Greensburg, KY · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 19, 2008 · N3624E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude maneuvers.

## 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" = 'KY' 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=KY

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.