# Fatal NTSB investigations: Windshear or thunderstorm 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. Page 1 of 2 · 67 cases ## Latest cases - [NTSB WPR26FA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA294.md): Textron 172S · Provo, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Aug 7, 2026 · N1842E · Substantial damage > On August 7, 2026, about 1549 mountain daylight time, a Textron Aviation Inc. 172S, N1842E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Provo, Utah. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries, and the pilot undergoing instruction… - [NTSB WPR26FA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA254.md): Beech 95-B55 (T42A) · Waterloo, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Jul 10, 2026 · N202DK · Destroyed > On July 9, 2026, at about 2248 central daylight time, a Beech 95-B55, N202DK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Waterloo, Illinois. The pilot and pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of… - [NTSB ERA25FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA195.md): FFF Express 2000 FT · Polk, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · May 5, 2025 · N519EA · Substantial damage > On May 5, 2025, about 1940 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built FFF LLC Express 2000 FT airplane, N519EA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Polk, Ohio. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated… - [NTSB WPR24FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA257.md): Pilatus PC-12/47E · Recluse, WY · Accident · 7 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 26, 2024 · N357HE · Destroyed > The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction from the autopilot disconnecting due to an… - [NTSB ERA24FA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA283.md): Piper PA46 · Trout Creek, NY · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 30, 2024 · N85PG · Destroyed > The pilot’s loss of airplane control in flight due to spatial disorientation during a climb to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB ERA24FA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA217.md): Beech V35 · Franklin, TN · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 15, 2024 · N47WT · Destroyed > The pilot’s flight into convective weather, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and a subsequent inflight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of accurate weather intensity depiction on the… - [NTSB CEN24FA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA160.md): Piper PA 46-350P · Hartsburg, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 16, 2024 · N451MA · Destroyed > The pilot’s encounter with convective weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane’s never exceed speed, and the resulting overload failure of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent failure of the… - [NTSB CEN24FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA049.md): MD Helicopters 600 · Sterling City, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 29, 2023 · N745MB · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line pole’s static arm during forecasted gusting wind conditions, un-forecasted light turbulence, and un-forecasted low-level wind shear conditions, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the static… - [NTSB ERA23FA380](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA380.md): Piper PA28 · Whitesville, KY · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 28, 2023 · N3079M · Destroyed > The flight instructor’s improper decision to continue flight into a known area of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA23FA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA330.md): Cessna P210 · Junction City, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 10, 2023 · N210JT · Destroyed > The pilot’s continued flight into a known area of adverse weather, which resulted in the penetration of a severe thunderstorm, the pilot’s loss of airplane control, and the airplane’s subsequent in-flight breakup. - [NTSB GAA23WA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA23WA165.md): Piper PA-32R-301 · Stella Maris, Bahamas · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 4 · Foreign · Jun 9, 2023 · N9253M · Destroyed - [NTSB ERA23FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA219.md): Cessna 182 · Reliance, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 7, 2023 · N725AS · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue an instrument flight into an area of forecast weather with severe to extreme turbulence associated with a line of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing was the pilot’s operation of the airplane in… - [NTSB CEN23FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA113.md): Beech B200 · Little Rock, AR · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 22, 2023 · N55PC · Destroyed > The loss of control during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were the sudden wind shifts during the initial climb. - [NTSB ERA22LA395](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA395.md): Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 42 · Orlando, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 1, 2022 · N43RG · Substantial damage > The flight crew’s insufficient evaluation of the deteriorating weather conditions in the area, which resulted in an encounter with a microburst. - [NTSB ERA22FA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA354.md): Piper J3C-65 · Cynthiana, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 3, 2022 · N88550 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering to land with approaching convective activity. - [NTSB WPR21FA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA211.md): Textron 172S · Eden, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 29, 2021 · N1727T · Destroyed > The flight instructor’s improper aeronautical decision-making, which led to an encounter with a downdraft at a low altitude in mountainous terrain and resulted in the instructor’s loss of airplane control and an impact with terrain. - [NTSB WPR21LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA111.md): Piper PA46R-350T · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Feb 14, 2021 · N40TS · Destroyed > The pilot’s encounter with mountain wave activity with severe turbulence, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing. - [NTSB ERA20LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA315.md): Vans RV9 · Steinhatchee, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2020 · N4889R · Destroyed > The failure of the air traffic controller to provide hazardous weather information to the pilot, resulting in the flight’s encounter with strong updraft conditions, an inflight loss of airplane control, and an in-flight breakup. Contributing was the pilot’s… - [NTSB CEN20LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA379.md): Cirrus SR22 · Chester, AR · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 5, 2020 · N733CD · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued flight into dark night instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control. - [NTSB CEN20LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA127.md): Piper PA28R · Pleasant Plain, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 19, 2020 · N3943T · Destroyed > The pilot’s encounter with convective turbulence and low-level wind shear in dark night instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in spatial disorientation and the loss of airplane control. - [NTSB CEN19FA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA247.md): Piper PA28 · Ontonagon, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 3, 2019 · N5167L · Destroyed > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with thunderstorm activity, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control. - [NTSB ERA19FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA188.md): Piper PA46 · Castalia, NC · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 7, 2019 · N709CH · Destroyed > The pilot’s failure to navigate around hazardous weather, resulting in the penetration of a thunderstorm, a loss of airplane control, and an inflight breakup. The air traffic controller’s failure to provide the pilot with adequate and timely weather… - [NTSB WPR19FA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA123.md): Robinson R44 · Kailua, HI · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 29, 2019 · N808NV · Destroyed > The helicopter’s encounter with a strong downdraft or outflow boundary while operating at a higher than recommended airspeed in turbulence which resulted in a low-G condition, excessive main rotor flapping, and an in-flight breakup when the main rotor… - [NTSB CEN19FA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA094.md): Cessna T337 · Longview, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 9, 2019 · N922EJ · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to continue flight into convective weather conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its maximum maneuvering speed and the subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's… - [NTSB ERA18LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA157.md): Piper PA 31 · Amagansett, NY · Accident · 4 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 2, 2018 · N41173 · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to fly under a thunderstorm and a subsequent encounter with turbulence and restricted visibility in heavy rain, which resulted in a loss of control. - [NTSB ERA17FA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA313.md): Cirrus Design SR20 · Jacksonburg, WV · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 5, 2017 · N135CD · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions in the vicinity of adverse weather conditions. - [NTSB ERA17FA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA222.md): Piper PA23 · Chatsworth, GA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 1, 2017 · N44HJ · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an encounter with severe convective activity, spatial disorientation, a loss of airplane control, and a subsequent in-flight breakup.… - [NTSB ERA17FA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA174.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Clearwater, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 5, 2017 · N271TS · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to attempt to land while a line of rain showers with microburst activity was crossing the airport, which resulted in a loss of control during a subsequent attempted go-around. - [NTSB ERA17FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA145.md): Pipistrel Virus SW · Micanopy, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 4, 2017 · N155CL · Destroyed > The pilot's intentional flight into an area of known convective thunderstorm activity, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA17FA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA136.md): Cessna T210 · Hayden, AL · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 25, 2017 · N6563D · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to continue the flight into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control and in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA17FA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA052.md): Ryan Navion · New Gretna, NJ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 20, 2016 · N4976K · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning and in-flight weather evaluation, which resulted in an encounter with a strong cold front and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control. - [NTSB ERA16FA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA309.md): Cessna 172 · Hollywood, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 3, 2016 · N6091E · Destroyed > The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight weather planning, which resulted in continued flight into a thunderstorm and a subsequent loss of airplane control. - [NTSB CEN16LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA281.md): Vans RV9 · Springfield, OH · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 2016 · N807LK · Destroyed > The pilot’s decision to fly into known thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB ERA16LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA028.md): Schumacher Lancair Super ES · Pascagoula, MS · Accident · 3 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 26, 2015 · N817PR · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control after encountering convective shower activity. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight into an area of known adverse weather. - [NTSB CEN16FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA011.md): Beech G35 · Eaton, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2015 · N394CW · Substantial damage > The pilot's loss of airplane control in gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear, following a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly monitor the fuel level inflight because of his… - [NTSB ERA16LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA008.md): Cessna 172S · Seville, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2015 · N5295Y · Substantial damage > The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft, and the pilot's decision to maneuver the airplane at a low altitude and airspeed, which provided insufficient time and altitude to recover before impacting terrain. - [NTSB ERA16FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA006.md): Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41 550FG · Erwin, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2015 · N1058S · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to fly into a known area of adverse weather, which resulted in the airplane entering a severe thunderstorm and a subsequent loss of control. - [NTSB ERA15FA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA325.md): Cessna 310R · Titusville, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 26, 2015 · N90PS · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight into known convective weather conditions, which resulted in the airplane's encounter with thunderstorms and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control during a missed approach. Contributing to the accident was the failure of… - [NTSB CEN15FA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA268.md): Piper PA 32 · Cuba, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 14, 2015 · N2966X · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight into thunderstorm activity, which resulted in his loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane's design limits, and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reliance on onboard… - [NTSB CEN14FA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA300.md): Piper PA 46-310P · Lehman, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 18, 2014 · N2428Q · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper decision to enter an area of known adverse weather, which resulted in the loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's failure to provide critical weather information to the pilot to help him… - [NTSB CEN14FA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA249.md): Raytheon G36 · Silver City, NM · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 23, 2014 · N536G · Destroyed > The airplane’s encounter with a strong tailwind and/or windshear, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s continuation of the unstable approach, long landing, and delayed decision to conduct a go-around. - [NTSB WPR14FA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA186.md): Cessna T207A · Page, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 10, 2014 · N7311U · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inability to maintain aircraft control due to a partial loss of engine power and an encounter with downdrafts and gusting crosswinds while on final approach to the runway. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined… - [NTSB WPR13FA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA138.md): Cessna 172M · Saratoga, WY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 3, 2013 · N5129R · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to attempt flight into approaching adverse weather, which led to his low-level flight, encounter with mountain obscuration and moderate turbulence, and his subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the severity of the pilot’s… - [NTSB CEN13FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA073.md): Cessna 421C · Wells, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2012 · N67SR · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue the flight into an area of extreme weather, which led to the in-flight encounter with a thunderstorm and structural failure of the wings and tail. - [NTSB WPR12FA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA378.md): Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000 · Nephi, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 2012 · N651AM · Substantial damage > The pilot's inability to maintain airplane control due to an encounter with a microburst/downdraft that exceeded the climb performance capabilities of the airplane. - [NTSB ERA12FA433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA433.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · New Site, MS · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2012 · N4386F · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to operate into a known area of adverse weather, which resulted in the inadvertent penetration of a severe thunderstorm, a subsequent loss of control, and in-flight breakup of the airplane. - [NTSB CEN12FA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA421.md): Beech E90 · Karnack, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 7, 2012 · N987GM · Destroyed > The pilot's inadvertent flight into thunderstorm activity, which resulted in the loss of airplane control and the subsequent exceedance of the airplane's design limits and in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the failure of air traffic control… - [NTSB ERA12FA376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA376.md): Hawker Beechcraft A36 · Macon, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 31, 2012 · N976S · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to continue flight into an area of known thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in actual instrument meteorological conditions and his reliance on datalink… - [NTSB CEN12FA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA320.md): Tackabury Air-Cam · Fort Morgan, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 28, 2012 · N788RJ · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. - [NTSB ERA12LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA231.md): Firefly Balloons Firefly 8 · Fitzgerald, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 16, 2012 · N14643 · Substantial damage > The pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing and his failure to follow the balloon manufacturer's published emergency procedure for weather deterioration during flight. Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?fatal=1&page=2 ## 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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '390' 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/390/sequence?fatal=1 --- 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.