# NTSB investigations, MN: 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 CEN25LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA286.md): Weatherly 620B · Rushmore, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2025 · N2032J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during low-level maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN24LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA006.md): Gyro Technic GT-VX2 · Saint Peter, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 8, 2023 · N557LJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a river valley.
- [NTSB CEN23LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA324.md): Air Tractor AT-402B · Clara City, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2023 · N291DL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN23LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA311.md): Air Tractor AT-802 · Benson, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 14, 2023 · N22FK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline. Contributing to the accident was the degraded visibility due to the smoke in the area.
- [NTSB CEN22LA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA387.md): Robinson Helicopter R66 · Millville, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 16, 2022 · N641RZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate inflight planning resulted in impact with a power line.
- [NTSB CEN22LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA340.md): Weatherly 620A · Stewart, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2022 · N4651W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from crops during an agricultural flight.
- [NTSB CEN22LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA342.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · East Grand Forks, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 21, 2022 · N1540S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a low-level application pass.
- [NTSB CEN21FA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA330.md): Robinson R44 · Elgin, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 19, 2021 · N44BJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to operate the helicopter under powerlines, which resulted in a main rotor blade striking a powerline, causing the helicopter to descend from a low altitude and impact terrain.
- [NTSB CEN18FA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA297.md): Aeronca 7AC · Alexandria, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2018 · N85506 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's intentional low-altitude flight, which resulted in an impact with power lines.
- [NTSB CEN18FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA011.md): Cessna 172M · Ramsey, MN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2017 · N7CF · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to fly along the river at a low altitude contrary to applicable regulations and safety of flight considerations which resulted in the impact with the power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to see the and avoid…
- [NTSB CEN16LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA326.md): Thrush S2R T660 · Ruthton, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 19, 2016 · N40499 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid the tower guy-wire during an agricultural spraying operation.
- [NTSB GAA16CA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA399.md): Air Tractor AT 301 · Bird Island, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 27, 2016 · N7311X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's diverted attention inside the cockpit and failure to maintain the airplane's altitude while maneuvering at a low altitude, resulting in an impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN14CA444](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA444.md): Hughes 369HS · Saint Peter, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 18, 2014 · N369GN · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not see the wires resulting in the subsequent wire collision.
- [NTSB CEN13LA537](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA537.md): Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Arlington, MN · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 6, 2013 · N9005T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering when he removed his hand from the collective control while plugging in his radio connection to his helmet, which resulted in the collective moving to the full-down position.
- [NTSB CEN13LA444](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA444.md): Eagle DW-1 · Eagle Lake, MN · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2013 · N8803Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudgment of tree heights, which resulted in the collision with a tree.
- [NTSB CEN12CA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA546.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Hanley Falls, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2012 · N1021D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a guy wire during an agricultural application pass.
- [NTSB CEN12CA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA319.md): Hughes 369HS · Delavan, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 25, 2012 · N11ZX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with power lines during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN11CA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA533.md): Garlick Helicopters OH-58C · Rushford, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 31, 2011 · N82855 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's diverted attention, which resulted in the failure to maintain clearance from the power line.
- [NTSB CEN11CA525](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA525.md): Bell 47G-2A · Nicolett, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 27, 2011 · N7578 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN09CA540](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA540.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · East Grand Forks, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 22, 2009 · N4516K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the crops while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CHI08CA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA252.md): Hiller UH-12E · Cokato, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 15, 2008 · N945HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not visually identify and maintain clearance with the power lines, and the pilot's inability to maintain control of the helicopter once it contacted the power lines. Factors associated with the accident were the low altitude operations being…
- [NTSB CHI08CA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA243.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Cosmos, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 11, 2008 · N7297Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the guide wire while maneuvering on an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the presence of the guide wire.
- [NTSB CHI08CA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA176.md): Aero Commander S2R · Clontarf, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 6, 2008 · N5519X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission lines. Contributing to the accident was the power transmission lines.
- [NTSB CHI08LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA080.md): Cessna 140 · Grand Meadow, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 8, 2008 · N3537V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into an area of known instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

## 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" = 'MN' 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=MN

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