# NTSB investigations, CA: VFR encounter with IMC

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 WPR25FA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA257.md): Cessna 140 · Shelter Cove, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Aug 17, 2025 · N89447
  > On August 17, 2025 about 1521 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N89447, was involved in an accident near Shelter Cove, California. The student pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14…
- [NTSB CEN24MA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24MA111.md): Airbus Helicopters EC 130 · Halloran Springs, CA · Accident · 6 fatal · Class 2 · Major · Final report · Feb 10, 2024 · N130CZ · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate oversight of its…
- [NTSB WPR22FA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA172.md): Vans RV10 · Sausalito, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 6, 2022 · N54MG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into an area of limited visibility conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB WPR22FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA054.md): Beech V35 · Visalia, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 5, 2021 · N7933M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to depart into night instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB WPR22LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA032.md): Bell OH-58A · Holtville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 9, 2021 · N902SF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.
- [NTSB WPR22FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA021.md): Cessna 150L · Dunsmuir, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 20, 2021 · N5268Q · Substantial damage
  > The non-certificated pilot’s improper decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR20LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA319.md): Cessna T182 · Santa Barbara, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2020 · N157RC · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation after entering instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB WPR20CA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA089.md): Cessna 208 · Eureka, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 6, 2020 · N24MG · Destroyed
  > The pilot's delayed response to initiate a go-around during a night visual approach over water after the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of forward visibility and subsequent impact with the water.
- [NTSB DCA20MA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA20MA059.md): Sikorsky S76 · Calabasas, CA · Accident · 9 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Jan 26, 2020 · N72EX · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s likely self-induced pressure…
- [NTSB WPR19FA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA175.md): Robinson R44 · Two Harbors, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 18, 2019 · N7187D · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR19FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA086.md): Beech D55 · Stallion Springs, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 22, 2019 · N533Q · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions associated with mountain obscuration conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain a weather…
- [NTSB WPR19FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA079.md): Cessna 414 · Yorba Linda, CA · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 3, 2019 · N414RS · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while climbing due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s design stress limits and subsequent in-flight break-up.…
- [NTSB WPR19FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA075.md): Piper PA28 · Oceanside, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 29, 2019 · N37RV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to depart on the night visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in an in-flight encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and collision with rising terrain.
- [NTSB GAA17CA559](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA559.md): Cessna 182 · San Diego, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 27, 2017 · N9346G · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological, dark night conditions and the pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate approach for landing.
- [NTSB WPR17LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA124.md): Piper PA28 · Carpinteria, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 10, 2017 · N2171D · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR17FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA125.md): Beech 95 C55 · Mountain Ranch, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 9, 2017 · N3717Q · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions and mountain obscuration that resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR17FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA105.md): Socata TB 20 Trinidad · Sierraville, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 17, 2017 · N28070 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR17FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA055.md): Mooney M20J · Lake Hughes, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 12, 2017 · N6201N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's controlled flight into mountainous terrain while attempting to operate under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- [NTSB WPR16FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA041.md): Piper PA 32RT-300T · Bakersfield, CA · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 19, 2015 · N36402 · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct and continue the flight despite forecast and en route instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which were not conducive to safe operation under visual flight rules. Also causal to the accident was the…
- [NTSB WPR15FA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA227.md): Cessna P337G · Santa Paula, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2015 · N4CU · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct a visual flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA166.md): Cessna 210F · Pleasanton, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 21, 2015 · N1842F · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument flight rules conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from rising terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA070.md): Cessna 172 · Sutter Creek, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 24, 2014 · N8518B · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's encounter with instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt to…
- [NTSB WPR14TA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14TA149.md): Bell OH-58A · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Mar 27, 2014 · N497E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to attempt a mission at night with known en route weather conditions below operating minimums, likely due to self-induced pressure, and then continue flight beyond the alternate landing airport as weather conditions deteriorated, which…
- [NTSB WPR13FA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA312.md): Mooney M20F · Yosemite Valley, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 17, 2012 · N9524M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain situational awareness and sufficient altitude to clear mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR13CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA065.md): Bellanca 7ECA · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 8, 2012 · N8595V · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's continued descent into instrument meteorological conditions during the landing approach and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR13FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA013.md): Aeropro CZ A240 · Half Moon Bay, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 15, 2012 · N72AH · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB WPR11FA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA230.md): Cameron Lancair Legacy · Pioneer, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 18, 2011 · N121J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions at an insufficient altitude to clear terrain.
- [NTSB WPR10LA446](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA446.md): Bell 47G · Salinas, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 3, 2010 · N4427F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB WPR10LA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA259.md): Socata TB-20 · Happy Camp, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 22, 2010 · N3041Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and decision to continue to operate under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an encounter with an embedded thunderstorm and rain showers and moderate to severe turbulence,…
- [NTSB WPR10FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA234.md): Piper PA-28-235 · Livermore, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 9, 2010 · N56626 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with obstacles and terrain.
- [NTSB WPR10FA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA142.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · Groveland, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 20, 2010 · N4175A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued flight into night instrument meteorological conditions during the landing approach, which resulted in an in-flight loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB WPR10LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA115.md): Cessna 172M · Joshua Tree, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2010 · N13073 · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in his inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent failure to maintain clearance with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR10CA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA106.md): Cessna 140 · Chico, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 9, 2010 · N3160N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate weather evaluation and failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering in low visibility conditions.
- [NTSB LAX08CA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA188.md): Piper PA-36-375 · Lodi, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 19, 2008 · N3859E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to continue the flight into an area of obscured visibility and his failure to maintain clearance above obstacles.
- [NTSB LAX08CA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA150.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Rockport, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 19, 2008 · N90930 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's performance of VFR flight into IMC, resulting in failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the fog.
- [NTSB LAX08FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA058.md): Cessna 340A · Cabazon, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 2, 2008 · N354TJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain terrain clearance while en route. Contributing to the accident were clouds and mountainous 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' 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" = '401' 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/401/sequence?state=CA

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