# NTSB investigations: Lycoming IO-320 series: Loss of control in flight

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 CEN26FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA064.md): Piper PA-30 · West Chicago, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Dec 17, 2025 · N8693Y · Substantial damage
  > On December 17, 2025, about 1349 central standard time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, N8693Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was…
- [NTSB WPR23LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA348.md): Champion 7KCAB · Benson, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 19, 2023 · N998B · Substantial damage
  > The pilots’ failure to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN23FA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA284.md): Piper PA-30 · Sherman, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 8, 2023 · N4743M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to feather the left propeller following the loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA23FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA067.md): Piper PA-30 · Winston-Salem, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 19, 2022 · N7295Y · Substantial damage
  > Contamination and/or misalignment of the regulator section of the right engine’s fuel servo, which resulted in excessive idle fuel flow and a total loss of engine power. Also causal was the pilot's failure to land immediately on the nearest runway at the…
- [NTSB WPR23LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA013.md): Piper PA-30 · Tucson, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 15, 2022 · N7746Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB CEN22FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA145.md): Piper PA-30 · Pond Creek, OK · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 17, 2022 · N8357Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of control of the airplane, resulting in an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB WPR21LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA179.md): Piper PA-30B · Corvallis, OR · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 29, 2021 · N125RJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a simulated engine out landing which resulted in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN20LA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA399.md): Vans RV9 · Zeeland, MI · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 19, 2020 · N94KJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a visual approach in dark night conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent flight experience at night.
- [NTSB ERA20LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA272.md): Piper PA 30 · Alabaster, AL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2020 · N7750Y · Substantial damage
  > A loss of control and lack of climb performance shortly after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence, resulting in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18FA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA237.md): Champion 7KCAB · Descanso, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 22, 2018 · N1682G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to enter a spin without sufficient altitude to recover. Also causal to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weight and balance calculations, which placed the airplane outside the normal and acrobatic category flight envelope,…
- [NTSB CEN17FA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA297.md): Piper PA30 · Topeka, KS · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2017 · N22HW · Destroyed
  > The failure of the pilot and flight instructor to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern.
- [NTSB WPR17LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA164.md): Piper PA 28R-180 · San Jose, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 23, 2017 · N4594J · Substantial damage
  > Maintenance personnel's incorrect installation of the aileron control cables and subsequent failure to verify proper aileron functionality following the maintenance, which resulted in roll control that was opposite of that commanded by the pilot, and the…
- [NTSB WPR17FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA108.md): Piper PA 30 · Haines, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 27, 2017 · N7376Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to turn toward the inoperative engine after conducting a low-level pass, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at too low an altitude to recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform the flight and the engine…
- [NTSB CEN16FA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA276.md): Piper PA 30 · Plainfield, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 21, 2016 · N7409Y · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an en route climb near convective activity, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, an uncontrolled descent, and a subsequent in-flight breakup due to an exceedance of the airplane's design load…
- [NTSB CEN16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA014.md): Zidek Vans RV-4 · Cortland, NE · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 17, 2015 · N999ZF · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to intentionally maneuver at a low altitude and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the climbing right turn, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB ERA15FA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA378.md): Piper PA 30 · St. Petersburg, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2015 · N21ND · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain single-engine minimum controllable airspeed following a loss of right engine power during initial climb. Also causal was the loss of right engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the…
- [NTSB CEN15LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA059.md): Ross H/Herriott M Vans Aircraft RV 3 · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 24, 2014 · N625ZH · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain adequate familiarization in the accident airplane type before the accident.
- [NTSB ERA14FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA077.md): Piper PA-30 · Biglerville, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 26, 2013 · N8372Y · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's spatial disorientation after inadvertently encountering instrument meteorological conditions at night and his subsequent loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB CEN13FA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA420.md): Champion 7KCAB · Oak Ridge, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 18, 2013 · N2978G · Substantial damage
  > The private pilot’s and the flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control while performing agricultural operations turns low to the ground, which resulted in a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the private pilot’s impairment due to his…
- [NTSB WPR13CA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA164.md): Piper PA-30 · Fullerton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 23, 2013 · N7497Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
- [NTSB CEN11LA364](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA364.md): Piper PA30 · Phillipsburg, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 2011 · N7248Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff following a loss of left engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CEN09LA561](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA561.md): Champion 7KCAB · Stacy, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 4, 2009 · N2629G · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CEN09LA512](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA512.md): Hooper James A Bushby MUS · Gladwin, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 7, 2009 · N37JD · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA09LA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA398.md): Barber John A Glasair · Switzerland, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2009 · N132JB · Destroyed
  > A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's performance of aerobatic maneuvers at altitudes lower than those recommended by the kit manufacturer, resulting in insufficient terrain clearance to conduct a…
- [NTSB WPR09LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA324.md): Piper PA-30 · Tucson, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2009 · N7657Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional and lateral aircraft control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of left engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA09LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA158.md): Piper PA-30 · Lakeville, NY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 8, 2009 · N10JR · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a loss of engine power on the left engine for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA09LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA147.md): Bellanca 8KCAB · Moscow, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 31, 2009 · N31254 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's initiation of a low altitude maneuver followed by an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

## 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."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('41509')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '240'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/cases?engine=41509

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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.