# NTSB investigations, 2017: 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 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 CEN18FA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA060.md): X-Air XA85 · Oskaloosa, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 23, 2017 · N20XA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's low altitude flight into a power line due to his impairment from an acute physiologic event during the flight. Contributing to the pilot's impairment was his use of two sedating medications.
- [NTSB ERA18WA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18WA060.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Rivadavia, Argentina · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Dec 13, 2017 · LV-ZZX · Substantial damage
  > The government of Argentina has notified the NTSB of an accident involving an Air Tractor AT-502B airplane that occurred on December 13, 2017. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Argentina's investigation under…
- [NTSB CEN18WA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18WA046.md): MD Helicopter 369HS · La Morita, Mexico · Accident · 2 fatal · Foreign investigation · Nov 22, 2017 · XC-TIJ · Destroyed
  > On November 22, 2017, about 1437 pacific standard time, a MD Helicopters 369HS single-engine helicopter, serial number 920414S, Mexican registration XC-TIJ, crashed while providing aerial support for police activity near La Morita, Mexico. The pilot and his…
- [NTSB CEN18FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA035.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Electra, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 20, 2017 · N4179M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB GAA18CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA054.md): Quicksilver MXL Sport · Point Mugu, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 19, 2017 · N7712 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power wires.
- [NTSB CEN18LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA026.md): Hughes 369D · Sulphur, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2017 · N138WH · No damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation between a long line being used to hoist linemen from a shield wire during an external load flight, which resulted in the long line being severed.
- [NTSB CEN18LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA025.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Larchwood, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 6, 2017 · N7085M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of situational awareness, which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines.
- [NTSB WPR18FA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA016.md): Robinson R22 · Arlington, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 24, 2017 · N8537J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the water while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [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 CEN17WA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17WA383.md): Bell 47G · Llano Bonito de Pococí, Costa Rica · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Sep 18, 2017 · TI-BGH · Substantial damage
  > On September 18, 2017, at 0720 central daylight time, a Bell 47G2 helicopter, Costa Rican registration TI-BGH, serial number 1459, impacted terrain during an aerial application flight, near Llano Bonito de Pococí, Costa Rica. The pilot was fatally injured,…
- [NTSB CEN17FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA355.md): Bell 206L 3 · Ancho, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2017 · N213TV · Destroyed
  > The pilot's distraction by a cell phone during a low-altitude flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN17FA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA342.md): Rans S-6 · Stonewall, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 10, 2017 · N112CD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while conducting aerobatic flight maneuvers with insufficient altitude to recover.
- [NTSB ERA17FA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA279.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Philipp, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 2017 · N6082B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, below a low overcast ceiling, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB GAA17CA491](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA491.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Westby, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2017 · N97UP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN17LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA314.md): Hughes 369D · Villa Grove, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2017 · N58424 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a power line tower during low-level maneuvering.
- [NTSB ANC17LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA040.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Solomon, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 3, 2017 · N4138M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above water, and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in an inadvertent descent and collision with water.
- [NTSB CEN17FA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA281.md): Cessna 150F · Farmerville, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 23, 2017 · N8661S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the lake during a low-level maneuver.
- [NTSB CEN17CA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA346.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Logan, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 20, 2017 · N192E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB ERA17LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA249.md): Grumman G 164 · Marydel, DE · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 19, 2017 · N691Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while conducting an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN17LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA272.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Pierce, NE · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 18, 2017 · N7388Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a low-level agricultural aerial application flight.
- [NTSB ANC17FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17FA035.md): Aeronca 15AC · Big Lake, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 15, 2017 · N1370H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during low-altitude flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA17CA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA401.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Paoli, IN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 7, 2017 · N3203D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to maneuver an overgross weight helicopter at a low altitude and airspeed with a gusting tailwind, which resulted in a high descent rate and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to…
- [NTSB GAA17CA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA388.md): Cessna 207 · Hope, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 3, 2017 · N9620M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent controlled flight into 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 WPR17FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA120.md): Piper PA 28-180 · Santa Rosa Valley, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 4, 2017 · N4871L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while intentionally maneuvering in a steep bank at low altitude, which resulted in an accelerated aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.
- [NTSB CEN17FA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA169.md): Champion 7KCAB · Collinston, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 30, 2017 · N1899G · Destroyed
  > The failure of the flight instructor and the commercial pilot to maintain adequate clearance from a power line during an aerial application training flight.
- [NTSB ERA17FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA144.md): Buckeye Dream Machine · Knoxville, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2017 · N4017L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to maneuver the aircraft at low altitude, towards rising terrain, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.
- [NTSB ERA17WA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17WA146.md): Grumman G164 · Pista La Julia, Ecuador · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Mar 30, 2017 · HC-BPI · Destroyed
  > On March 30, 2017, about 1645 universal coordinated time, a Grumman 164A, Ecuadorian registration HC-BPI, was destroyed when it impacted electrical wires and terrain near Pista La Julia, Ecuador. The foreign certificated pilot was fatally injured. The flight…
- [NTSB CEN17WA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17WA129.md): MD Helicopter 369 · Mexicali, Mexico · Accident · 5 fatal · Foreign investigation · Mar 13, 2017 · XC-PEP · Destroyed
  > On March 13, 2017, about 1600 hours pacific daylight time, a MD Helicopters model 369FF single-engine helicopter, serial number 0079FF, Mexican registration XC-PEP, collided with high-voltage power lines while maneuvering near Mexicali, Mexico. The pilot and…
- [NTSB GAA17CA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA170.md): Maule M5 · Roxbury, KS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 2, 2017 · N56552 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around.
- [NTSB CEN17CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA120.md): Aero Commander S2R · Fairmont, OK · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 2, 2017 · N1755S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line while conducting agricultural spray operations.
- [NTSB ERA17WA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17WA349.md): Piper PA25 · Santa Catarina, Brazil · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Feb 23, 2017 · PT-WBO · Substantial damage
  > On February 23, 2017, about 1030 coordinated universal time, an Piper PA-25-235, Brazilian registration PT-WBO, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aerial application flight near Santa Catarina, Brazil. The foreign certificated pilot…
- [NTSB WPR17LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA068.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Holbrook, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 18, 2017 · N7095A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to compensate for a loss of effective translational lift while turning from an upwind to a downwind condition at a low altitude and low airspeed, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB GAA17CA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA151.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Holtville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 14, 2017 · N4534G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s initiation of a left turn at a low altitude with low airspeed and a tailwind while operating near maximum gross weight, which resulted in the helicopter losing altitude, touching down on a dirt surface, and a subsequent dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB ANC17LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA016.md): Piper PA18 · Sterling, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 9, 2017 · N1268A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB CEN17FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA095.md): Cessna 177 · Price, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 31, 2017 · N2810X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a communications tower guy-wire. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct a long distance transition flight at a low altitude.
- [NTSB CEN17FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA080.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Wellington, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 21, 2017 · N91Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper decision to perform a steep turn at low altitude, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB GAA17CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA118.md): Cessna 140 · Markleeville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 17, 2017 · N5623C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low pass and the subsequent impact with a snow berm, which resulted in a nosed-over.
- [NTSB ERA17FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA088.md): Sharpe William L Buccaneer II B · Mayo, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 14, 2017 · N696FT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while flying 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2017
  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?year=2017

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