NTSB investigations, CO

28 cases where the sequence of events included Low altitude operation/event.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations, CO per year, 2008–2026: 28 cases
20081
20091
20103
20112
20121
20133
20146
20151
20171
20181
20191
20202
20211
20222
20241
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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\" = 'CO' 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"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CEN25LA240Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCub Crafters CCK-1865 · La Garita, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude in mountainous terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and aeronautical decision making.Jul 7, 2025 · N952SA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA338Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Camden, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power transformer that was mounted to a power pole during an aerial application flight.Sep 5, 2024 · N602BA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA414Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172M · Fort Collins, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while intentionally maneuvering the airplane at low altitudes, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.Sep 12, 2022 · N9049H · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA240Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportHPH Spol Sro Glasflugel 304 MS · Rifle, COThe glider’s encounter with gusting tailwind and downdraft conditions that the pilot was unable to overcome.Jun 9, 2022 · N249SD · DestroyedNTSB CEN21LA119Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Silt, COThe pilot’s failure to avoid powerlines while flying at low altitude.Jan 31, 2021 · N4376Q · DestroyedNTSB CEN20CA311Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 401 · Burlington, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from guy-wires during low-altitude agricultural operations.Jul 27, 2020 · N9190Q · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA139Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportRans S-12 Airaile · Hillrose, COThe noncertificated pilot's diverted attention while looking at a fire during low-altitude flying, which resulted in a collision with power lines.Apr 4, 2020 · UNREG · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA262Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCub Crafters Carbon CUB EX · Grand Junction, COThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering through a canyon.May 11, 2019 · N56XC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18LA303Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBuchanan Kitfox IV · Loma, COThe pilot's improper decision to conduct a low-altitude flight over a river and his inadequate monitoring of the environment, which resulted in a collision with a cableway.Jul 31, 2018 · N125TY · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17LA314Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 369D · Villa Grove, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor clearance from a power line tower during low-level maneuvering.Aug 10, 2017 · N58424 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA096Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAero Vodochody L39 · Grand Junction, COThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning and subsequent failure to remain clear of power line wires while maneuvering at low altitude.May 28, 2015 · N6175C · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15LA004Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportCelier Xenon R · Loma, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a static wire and his decision to maneuver the gyroplane at low altitude.Oct 5, 2014 · N719MB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14FA414Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 28R-201 · Steamboat Springs, COThe pilot’s inability to maintain a climb while attempting to cross over a mountain pass in high-density altitude conditions that degraded the airplane’s climb performance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the flight in…Aug 9, 2014 · N3509M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14CA360Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Englewood, COThe pilot did not maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff resulting in low rotor rpm and impact of the fuel trailer during the running landing.Jul 11, 2014 · N69MP · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14FA230Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 25-235 · Northglenn, COThe pilot's decision to operate the banner-tow flight below the minimum safe altitude specified by federal regulation, which likely limited his ability to recover from a potential loss of airspeed due to a gusting wind condition. Also causal was the pilot’s…May 5, 2014 · N4519Y · DestroyedNTSB CEN14CA160Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 28-235 · De Beque, COThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.Mar 14, 2014 · N9172W · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14FA122Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206L 3 · Silt, COThe pilot’s inadequate preflight planning for a low-level aerial surveillance flight of power transmission lines, which led to his being unaware of the crossing power line while flying toward the sun and his subsequent failure to maintain sufficient clearance…Jan 27, 2014 · N207DS · DestroyedNTSB CEN13LA368Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNanchang China CJ-6 · Wolcott, COThe pilots decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude from which he was unable to recover.Jun 23, 2013 · N2726C · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA358Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28R-180 · Durango, COThe pilot's improper decision to take off with a tailwind at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to maintain the initial climb rate.Jun 18, 2013 · N7444J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13FA327Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-140 · Mosca, COThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while attempting to clear a mountain pass in turbulent conditions at a high density altitude, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.Jun 8, 2013 · N7147R · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA414Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172S · Glenwood Springs, COThe pilot's decision to fly into a mountainous area where conditions were such that the airplane was unable to climb above rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's insufficient pilot-in-command experience and inadequate training in…Jun 30, 2012 · N917SA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA444Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBoeing B75N1 · Wetmore, COThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.Jul 3, 2011 · N4473N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA239Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportGlasflugel Standard Libelle · Wellington, COThe pilot's loss of glider control due to impairment or incapacitation caused by an episode of ventricular tachycardia.Mar 20, 2011 · N99AE · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA053Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Meeker, COThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from electrical power lines during the low-altitude flight.Nov 3, 2010 · N8533F · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10LA380Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportChampion 8KCAB · Estes Park, COThe pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and weather conditions conducive to downdrafts.Jul 8, 2010 · N56BC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10FA162Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportMaule M-6-235 · Bennett, COThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a utility line while maneuvering.Jan 30, 2010 · N7613X · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09CA528Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMorse, Frank L. Kitfox · Crawford, COThe pilot's continued flight into a severe downdraft at low altitude after encountering tailwind over the area.Aug 16, 2009 · N39FM · Substantial damageNTSB DFW08LA238Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna R172K · Leadville, COThe flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.Sep 29, 2008 · N736LN · Substantial damage