# NTSB investigations, 2018: 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 ERA19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA003.md): Piper J3C · Fancy Gap, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2018 · N38811 · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to undertake a flight into forecast instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and his subsequent decision to continue the flight after encountering IMC, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.…
- [NTSB CEN18WA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18WA390.md): Robinson R44 · Buttonville, Canada · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Sep 25, 2018 · C-GMCT · Substantial damage
  > On September 25, 2018, about 1800 hours universal coordinated time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, Canadian registration C-GMCT, impacted terrain while diverting due to deteriorating weather conditions near the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport (CYKZ),…
- [NTSB GAA18CA538](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA538.md): Avid Avid Magnum · Carrabassett Valley, ME · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 6, 2018 · N2137G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper decision to initiate the flight in marginal visual flight rules over mountainous terrain, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological and downdraft conditions and the subsequent controlled flight into trees…
- [NTSB CEN18FA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA358.md): Beech B60 · Fort Walton Beach, FL · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 2018 · N1876L · Destroyed
  > The pilot's controlled flight into terrain after misidentifying the destination airport during a period of restricted visibility due to weather.
- [NTSB ERA18FA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA197.md): Piper PA32R · Lincolnton, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2018 · N38523 · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's intentional visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to complete…
- [NTSB ANC18FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA053.md): De Havilland DHC 3 · Hydaburg, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 10, 2018 · N3952B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA18FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA148.md): Piper PA34 · Bennington, VT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 20, 2018 · N1101X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during a turn.
- [NTSB WPR18FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA141.md): Cessna 182G · Cascade, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 13, 2018 · N2377R · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to initiate a visual flight rules flight into an area with low ceilings due to mountain obscuration, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN18FA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA168.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Lone Tree, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 12, 2018 · N507TX · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to fly the airplane at night in marginal weather conditions.
- [NTSB ERA18TA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA142.md): Barry Maggio Apollo AG-1 · Smith Beach, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · May 6, 2018 · N141C · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight weather planning, which resulted in an off-airport precautionary landing to avoid weather and a subsequent collision with power lines.
- [NTSB WPR18LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA135.md): Cessna 152 · Tamiami, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 4, 2018 · N6198Q · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of control during an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart on the flight without obtaining approval to fly at night in accordance…
- [NTSB ANC18LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA031.md): Cessna 208B · Atqasuk, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2018 · N814GV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions and his subsequent failure to level the airplane after the autopilot disconnected, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA18FA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA114.md): Beech V35 · Hydro, OK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 26, 2018 · N7019N · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue the night visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing was the pilot's lack of instrument/night currency, and his failure…
- [NTSB CEN18LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA077.md): Bryk Steven L Velocity XL RG · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 16, 2018 · N787SB · Substantial damage
  > The airplane’s inadvertent encounter with unforecasted icing conditions during cruise flight, which resulted in the accumulation of airframe icing, the airplane’s inability to maintain altitude, and a subsequent forced landing on rough terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA073.md): Piper PA 23-250 · Elko, NV · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 12, 2018 · N54857 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in the flight over mountainous terrain into forecast instrument meteorological conditions, icing, and mountain wave, and resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2018
  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=2018

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