# NTSB investigations, UT: 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 WPR26LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA180.md): Cessna 172 · Marysvale, UT · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 10, 2026 · N6643A · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering in mountainous terrain prior to encountering a downdraft.
- [NTSB WPR26LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA104.md): Aerosport Ikarus C42E · Wendover, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 16, 2026 · N420MS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s mismanagement of engine power during a maximum performance, 180° climbing left turn at a low altitude that resulted in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR25LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA056.md): Piper PA-12 · Marysvale, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 5, 2024 · N1706B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR23LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA147.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Midway, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 8, 2023 · N7530D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during a pinnacle landing that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.
- [NTSB WPR23LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA103.md): Piper PA-12 · Porterville, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 4, 2023 · N3969B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR23LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA053.md): Aviat A-1C-180 · Morgan, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 3, 2022 · N60WY · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low attitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s loss of visual reference due to snow and flat light conditions.
- [NTSB WPR19FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA183.md): Schempp Hirth Arcus · Ephraim, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 1, 2019 · N215MM · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to maneuver in close proximity to terrain while attempting to remain in an area of lift, which resulted in a collision with trees.
- [NTSB WPR18FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA063.md): Cessna 172M · Ogden, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 29, 2017 · N4395R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while flying over a lake with glassy surface conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of three impairing medications.
- [NTSB GAA16CA488](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA488.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Cedar City, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 14, 2016 · N46HF · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action while providing hover instruction in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in dynamic roll-over.
- [NTSB GAA16CA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA358.md): Cessna 172 · Bountiful, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 1, 2016 · N52071 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly into a canyon without sufficient room to reverse course if necessary, which resulted in an emergency landing, loss of directional control, collision with terrain, and a post-crash fire.
- [NTSB WPR14CA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA347.md): Eipper Formance Mxii · Salt Lake City, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 16, 2014 · N1624Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR14CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA066.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Monticello, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 6, 2013 · N2066W · Substantial damage
  > The passenger's accidental discharge of the net gun which resulted in the net going through a main rotor blade.
- [NTSB WPR13FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA095.md): Cessna 140 · Boulder, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 19, 2013 · N2341N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to maneuver at a low altitude and failure to adequately monitor the environment to maintain clearance from power lines.
- [NTSB WPR12GA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12GA243.md): Lockheed P2V-7 · Modena, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Final report · Jun 3, 2012 · N14447 · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's misjudgment of terrain clearance while maneuvering for an aerial application run, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to follow the lead airplane's track and to…
- [NTSB WPR11LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA133.md): Buckeye Breeze LX · Bullfrog, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 13, 2011 · N75752 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering to land at an off-airport site.
- [NTSB WPR11LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA056.md): Bell 407 · Riverdale, UT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 22, 2010 · N408UH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a highway marker sign while maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR11CA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA041.md): Aviat A-1B · Heber City, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 6, 2010 · N178WW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground during low-level maneuvering in mountainous/hilly terrain.
- [NTSB WPR11FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA005.md): Cessna 172 · Panguitch, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 8, 2010 · N8437A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to conduct a low-level flight into a canyon in windy conditions at a high density altitude, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR10CA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA320.md): Cessna 175 · Huntsville, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 30, 2010 · N9247B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during climb.
- [NTSB WPR10CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA279.md): Cessna 172H · Bountiful, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 5, 2010 · N3948R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.
- [NTSB WPR09LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA269.md): Storch Aviation Australia PTY SS-MK4 · Boulder, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 29, 2009 · N2898J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low altitude maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR09CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA105.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Bountiful, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 1, 2009 · N944U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to fly at low altitude while maneuvering in mountainous terrain in a canyon and inadvertently exceeding the climb capability of the helicopter. Contributing to the accident were a high density altitude, mountainous terrain, and a…
- [NTSB LAX08CA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA297.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · American Fork, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 21, 2008 · N11698 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's selection of an inadequate altitude to enter a box canyon, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB SEA08FA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA174.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Monticello, UT · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2008 · N2190X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude.
- [NTSB LAX08CA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA178.md): Schweizer 269C · Cedar Valley, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 13, 2008 · N54LC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.
- [NTSB SEA08FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA146.md): Cessna 172R · Monticello, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 30, 2008 · N389ES · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight collision with mountainous terrain for undetermined reasons. *This report was modified on December 10, 2009.

## 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" = 'UT' 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=UT

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