# NTSB investigations, 2020: 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 ERA21LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA028.md): Bell 206 · Point Lookout, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 21, 2020 · N716VL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to depart on a visual flight rules flight, and to continue that flight into forecasted and deteriorating instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in a helicopter that was not equipped for flight in IMC, which resulted in the pilot’s…
- [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 ERA20LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA335.md): Piper PA28 · Union, SC · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2020 · N33859 · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the development of carburetor icing.
- [NTSB WPR20LA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA304.md): Cessna 172 · Seeley Lake, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2020 · N3720R · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s encounter with instrument meteorological conditions during a night visual approach due to wildfire smoke, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA20LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA314.md): Zenair CH750 Cruzer · Boaz, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 10, 2020 · N656BN · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into an area of low clouds.
- [NTSB CEN20LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA379.md): Cirrus SR22 · Chester, AR · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 5, 2020 · N733CD · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued flight into dark night instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB ERA20LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA305.md): Piper PA20 · Luray, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 31, 2020 · N7323K · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA20LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA262.md): Beech F33 · Malbis, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 29, 2020 · N3156W · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart in deteriorating weather conditions, which led to restricted visibility and the pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the pilot’s poor decision-making was…
- [NTSB ERA20CA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA222.md): Beech 77 · Elizabethton, TN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 20, 2020 · N3815Z · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's decision to continue from visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB CEN20LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA186.md): Cessna T206 · Center, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 20, 2020 · N51610 · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot’s intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions (clouds) which resulted in spatial disorientation and an inflight loss of control.
- [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 ERA20FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20FA088.md): Aeropro CZ A220 · Grafton, WV · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 27, 2020 · N214K · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions and conditions favorable for airframe icing, which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane.
- [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…

## 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") = 2020
  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=2020

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