# NTSB investigations, WA: 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 WPR24FA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA156.md): Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L · Bandera, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 19, 2024 · N22MW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue flight into icing conditions and inclement weather, which likely led to spatial disorientation when he attempted to divert from the planned course to the destination airport.
- [NTSB WPR22FA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA298.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Blyn, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 10, 2022 · N379DH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued operation of the airplane with known mechanical malfunctions with the flight displays, and his continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain while maneuvering.
- [NTSB WPR22FA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA255.md): Aeronca 7BCM · Lake McMurray, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 16, 2022 · N2588C · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR16LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA189.md): Dehavilland Beaver DHC 2 MK.1 · Lopez Island, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2016 · N6781L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to land in an area of low visibility and ground fog, which resulted in collision with water.
- [NTSB WPR15FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA215.md): Piper PA 22-160 · Twin Sisters Mtn, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2015 · N9712D · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA212.md): Beech A35 · Mazama, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2015 · N8749A · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR14FA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA286.md): Cessna 182 · Fall City, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2014 · N5816B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to depart in low-ceiling conditions and his continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR14CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA019.md): Robinson R44 - II · Sedro Woolley, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 18, 2013 · N414CC · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions during initial climb and his improper decision to continue flight, which resulted in an in-flight impact with a tree and an emergency descent that resulted in a…
- [NTSB WPR11FA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA319.md): Piper PA-22-135 · Verlot, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2011 · N8721C · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into clouds and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in an area of reduced visibility, low clouds, and mountain obscuration.
- [NTSB LAX08FA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA246.md): Cessna 172N · McMurray, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2008 · N75558 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, reduced visibility, 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" = 'WA' 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=WA

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