# NTSB investigations, MI: 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 CEN24LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA318.md): Ayres S2R · Stanwood, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2024 · N4004K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during a low-level aerial application flight, which resulted in impact with terrain and a subsequent forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the location of the spray boom pressure gauge, which…
- [NTSB CEN23LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA219.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Pontiac, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 31, 2023 · N7102Z · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with the ground.
- [NTSB CEN21LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA283.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Edwardsburg, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2021 · N8523Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to identify rising terrain and to maintain terrain clearance from trees during an aerial application pass that resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN21LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA123.md): Piper J3F-50 · Weidman, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 3, 2021 · N26811 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low approach over a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the loss of depth perception due to the bright sunlight and snow.
- [NTSB CEN20LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA272.md): Golden Circle Air T-Bird · Grosse Ile, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2020 · N50JH · Substantial damage
  > The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at low altitude in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of flight experience.
- [NTSB CEN19LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA214.md): Piper PA18 · Bay City, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 6, 2019 · N796AB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a banner drop and pickup, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB GAA15CA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA102.md): Bell 206 - B11 · Caledonia, MI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 29, 2015 · N206ED · Substantial damage
  > A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering at low altitude, resulting in a collision with trees.
- [NTSB CEN13LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA086.md): Bell 47G-2 · Walkerville, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 1, 2012 · N3755Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude, which did not provide enough margin to recover from the descent.
- [NTSB CEN12LA578](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA578.md): Destiny XLT · Hart, MI · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 24, 2012 · N1674A · Substantial damage
  > The partial deflation of the powered parachute canopy when the pilot flew the aircraft into an area with gusty wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were the modifications that changed the flying characteristics of the parachute.

## 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" = 'MI' 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=MI

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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.
