# NTSB investigations, 2009: 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 ERA10FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA091.md): Cessna 172S · Kissimmee, FL · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 8, 2009 · N5269X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to depart under special VFR flight at night when instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport and along the route of flight and his continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted…
- [NTSB ERA10FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA062.md): Piper PA-28R-200 · Dennisville, NJ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 14, 2009 · N4499T · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to depart into known instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and overcontrol of the airplane and the subsequent in-flight structural failure. Contributing to the accident was…
- [NTSB CEN10LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA055.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Naytahwaush, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 14, 2009 · N7736N · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue the flight into known instrument meteorological conditions resulting in spatial disorientation and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN10LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA041.md): Wicks Air Center Hornet · Bonham, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2009 · N651WA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control shortly after takeoff due to spatial disorientation in fog and/or low-level clouds.
- [NTSB ERA10CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA017.md): Piper PA28 · Lebanon, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 10, 2009 · N43620 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into known deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA10LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA007.md): Case Richard L VAN RV-6 · Magnolia, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2009 · N455RC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meterological conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight evaluation of the weather.
- [NTSB WPR10FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA005.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Black Canyon City, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2009 · N7471P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, reduced visibility, and mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB ERA09FA537](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA537.md): Eurocopter AS-350 · Georgetown, SC · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 26, 2009 · N417AE · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and a loss of control of the helicopter. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate…
- [NTSB CEN09FA603](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA603.md): Cessna 182Q · Houma, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2009 · N96894 · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to take off into instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB CEN09LA597](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA597.md): Piper PA-12 · Columbia, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 22, 2009 · N3234M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which included low ceilings and fog, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power as a result of water…
- [NTSB ERA09LA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA527.md): Cessna 172 · Lowndesville, SC · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 2009 · N5845A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and improper decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation after entering instrument flight conditions.
- [NTSB WPR09FA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA428.md): Piper PA-22-150 · Canyonville, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 2009 · N2967P · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated and non-certificated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions in mountainous terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA09FA487](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA487.md): Socata TB20 · Pavo, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 27, 2009 · N654GT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, with embedded intense thunderstorms, heavy rain, and severe to extreme turbulence, resulting in an in-flight separation of the left wing due to overstress.
- [NTSB ERA09FA417](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA417.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Boonsboro, MD · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2009 · N7189W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to depart on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight at night in adverse weather conditions in close proximity to rising mountainous terrain in a helicopter that was only certified to be operated under VFR and his subsequent failure…
- [NTSB ERA09LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA392.md): Noles Vance L Vans RV7A · Sanderson, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2009 · N774US · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with convective activity and thunderstorms. Contributing to the accident was his failure to get an adequate weather briefing.
- [NTSB CEN09LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA350.md): Peterson Allen L Dragonfly II · Arthur, NE · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 11, 2009 · N360KK · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the use of a over-the-counter medication with sedative effects and spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB CEN09PA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09PA348.md): Agusta A109E · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 1 · Final report · Jun 10, 2009 · N606SP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to take off from a remote, mountainous landing site in dark (moonless) night, windy, instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were an organizational culture that prioritized mission execution over aviation safety…
- [NTSB CEN09FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA340.md): Gulfstream American AA-5B · Humbird, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2009 · N448DM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight into an area of known instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB ERA09CA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA314.md): Piper PA-22 · Aurora, WV · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 31, 2009 · N4824A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and preparation which resulted in a low fuel condition requiring an off-airport landing.
- [NTSB ERA09FA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA311.md): Mooney M20D · Clintwood, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 29, 2009 · N6628U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR09GA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09GA216.md): Lockheed P2V-7 · Stockton, UT · Accident · 3 fatal · Final report · Apr 25, 2009 · N442NA · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's failure to maintain terrain clearance during low altitude flight in low ceiling and visibility conditions. Contributing to the accident was the flight crew's failure to adequately monitor their location with respect to the rising terrain…
- [NTSB WPR09FA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA176.md): Maule M-4-220C · Hungry Horse, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2009 · N2007U · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper decision to continue flight into an area of reduced visibility and snow showers during cruise flight, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of aircraft control.
- [NTSB WPR09FA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA175.md): Piper PA-22-150 · Sherwood, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2009 · N9996D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
- [NTSB CEN09FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA195.md): Grumman American Avn. AA-1B · Golden, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 9, 2009 · N9646L · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's recent usage of alcohol and his subsequent impairment.
- [NTSB CEN09FA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA178.md): Cessna 182M · Albany, LA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 28, 2009 · N91593 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation after an encounter with marginal VMC and/or instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the flight with the preflight…
- [NTSB ANC09LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA019.md): Construcciones Aeronauticas C-212-CC · Kotzebue, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 2009 · N440RA · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew's decision to continue flight into adverse weather. Contributing to the accident was blowing snow which limited their visibility during final approach to land.
- [NTSB ERA09FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA145.md): Piper PA-34-200T · Huntington, WV · Accident · 6 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 30, 2009 · N8047C · Destroyed
  > (1) The pilot’s failure to perform adequate preflight planning and to use available in flight resources in a timely manner and (2) his decision to continue visual-flight-rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions despite his lack of an instrument…
- [NTSB WPR09FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA076.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · West Valley City, UT · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 9, 2009 · N168SH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent VFR flight into IMC conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of control of the helicopter. Also causal was the flight instructor’s delay in taking remedial action.
- [NTSB ERA09LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA124.md): Piper PA-28-160 · Indiana, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 4, 2009 · N5212W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to attempt VFR flight in IMC conditions, resulting in a collision with trees during a go-around.
- [NTSB ERA09LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA123.md): Piper PA-28-151 · Powder Springs, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 3, 2009 · N43631 · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue under visual flight rules into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA09LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA128.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Philadelphia, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2009 · N5013C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper preflight weather planning and his continued VFR flight into IMC conditions resulting in an in-flight collision with trees.

## 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2009
  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?year=2009

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