# NTSB investigations, 2015: 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 CEN16LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA084.md): Schweizer 269C · Warrenton, MO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 2015 · N292B · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night, which resulted in the loss of visual reference to the ground and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees. - [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 ERA16FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA074.md): Hinton Paul M RV 4 · Greenville, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 18, 2015 · N77BP · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to initiate the flight into known adverse weather conditions, in an airplane that was not approved for instrument flight, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and his subsequent spatial disorientation… - [NTSB ERA16WA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16WA069.md): Hawker Beech A36TC · Suvorovskaya, Russia · Accident · 4 fatal · Foreign investigation · Dec 13, 2015 · RA-2587G · Destroyed > On December 13, 2015, about 0826 Universal Time Coordinated (UTC), a Beech A36TC, Russian registration RA-2587G, registered to and operated by a private individual, experienced an in-flight loss of control and collided with terrain near Suvorovskaya Village,… - [NTSB ERA16FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA063.md): Timothy C Williams CCK-1865 · Linesville, PA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 7, 2015 · N541TC · Substantial damage > The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to attempt a flight under visual flight rules at night in instrument meteorological conditions to an unlit airstrip, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB CEN16FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA054.md): Cessna 140 · Keytesville, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 7, 2015 · N90123 · Substantial damage > The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to operate in dark night conditions with low clouds, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of methamphetamine, which impaired his… - [NTSB CEN16FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA042.md): Cessna 182G · Sandia Park, NM · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2015 · N2440R · Destroyed > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. - [NTSB GAA16LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA031.md): Airbus AS350 · Deadhorse, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 27, 2015 · C-GSLY · Substantial damage > The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance while attempting to land in flat light and whiteout conditions. - [NTSB ERA16LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA003.md): Beech S35 · Knoxville, TN · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Oct 7, 2015 · N449CT · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning and his improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in night instrument metrological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent collision with terrain. - [NTSB CEN16FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA005.md): Beech P35 · Chadron, NE · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2015 · N877DM · Destroyed > The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into rising terrain during cruise flight. - [NTSB CEN15FA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA400.md): Cessna 310H · Silverton, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 5, 2015 · N1099Q · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper judgment and his failure to maintain situational awareness, which resulted in the flight's encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and controlled flight into terrain during cruise flight. - [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 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 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 ERA15FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA220.md): Gulfstream American AA-5A · Rowdy, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 21, 2015 · N26886 · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. - [NTSB WPR15FA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA152.md): Piper PA 28-140 · Mt Tom, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 22, 2015 · N1729J · Destroyed > The noncertificated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation leading to the pilot's loss of control of the airplane and subsequent collision with mountainous terrain. - [NTSB WPR15LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA142.md): Schleicher ASW 27 · Reno, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 5, 2015 · N27QV · Substantial damage > The glider's encounter with severe turbulent atmospheric conditions after the pilot inadvertently entered clouds, which led to his inability to maintain a proper airspeed and the subsequent in-flight breakup of the glider. - [NTSB CEN15FA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA189.md): Cessna 152 · Batesville, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2015 · N65463 · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's controlled flight into terrain due to an inadvertent encounter with clouds in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly at night in marginal visual meteorological conditions without the… - [NTSB WPR15FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA135.md): Piper PA32R - 301 · Townsend, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 26, 2015 · C-GAUS · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to depart on and to continue a visual flight rules flight over mountainous terrain into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent… - [NTSB CEN15FA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA174.md): Cessna 182Q · El Paso, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 17, 2015 · N735KF · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into known instrument flight rules conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB CEN15FA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA171.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Eufaula, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 13, 2015 · N919EM · Destroyed > The flight's inadvertent encounter with night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot turning the helicopter and subsequently descending into trees and terrain due to spatial disorientation. - [NTSB ERA15FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA099.md): Cessna 152 · New Smyrna Beach, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 14, 2015 · N757ZM · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in night, instrument meteorological conditions, likely due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the outcome was the radar controller's failure to… - [NTSB WPR15FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA072.md): Bell 206 · Benson, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 1, 2015 · N57AW · Destroyed > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, during which he failed to identify forecasted… ## 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") = 2015 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=2015 --- 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.