# NTSB investigations, 2021: 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 ERA22FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA096.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Cosby, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 29, 2021 · N544SC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s intentional, continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions in a helicopter that was not certified for instrument conditions, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control and a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN22FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA082.md): Cessna 172 · Hardy, AR · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 26, 2021 · N5798T · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power due to fuel…
- [NTSB GAA22WA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA22WA054.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Auxerre, France · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Dec 21, 2021 · N565CK · Destroyed
- [NTSB ERA22FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA085.md): Beech V35 · Crab Orchard, KY · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 10, 2021 · N5704V · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was…
- [NTSB ERA22FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA083.md): Cessna 182 · Statesboro, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 8, 2021 · N5776B · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to initiate a visual flight rules flight into dark night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control shortly after takeoff.
- [NTSB WPR22FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA054.md): Beech V35 · Visalia, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 5, 2021 · N7933M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to depart into night instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB CEN22FA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA058.md): Cessna 182L · Bonnerdale, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 4, 2021 · N182NS · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument rated pilot’s improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA22WA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA22WA082.md): Cubcrafters CC11-160 · Monterrey, Mexico · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 5 · Foreign · Nov 25, 2021 · N70CC · Substantial damage
- [NTSB ERA22LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA060.md): Cessna 150 · Wilkes-Barre, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2021 · N6714S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to commence the flight in marginal visual flight rules conditions at night, and his failure to maintain a safe altitude once instrument conditions were encountered.
- [NTSB WPR22LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA032.md): Bell OH-58A · Holtville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 9, 2021 · N902SF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.
- [NTSB CEN22FA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA023.md): Beech P35 · Harrison, NE · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 31, 2021 · N8625M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the flight into instrument and icing conditions, which resulted in loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain a timely weather briefing.
- [NTSB WPR22FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA021.md): Cessna 150L · Dunsmuir, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 20, 2021 · N5268Q · Substantial damage
  > The non-certificated pilot’s improper decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN22FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA013.md): New Glasair Glastar · Waukesha, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 12, 2021 · N628RS · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart and continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB ERA21FA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA362.md): Robinson Helicopter R66 · Monticello, GA · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 16, 2021 · N888DV · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather conditions during a dark night and over unlit terrain, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB ANC21FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21FA069.md): Dehavilland DHC-2 MK.I · Ketchikan, AK · Accident · 6 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Aug 5, 2021 · N1249K · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the FAA’s reliance on voluntary compliance with the Ketchikan…
- [NTSB ERA21LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA295.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Point Harbor, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 19, 2021 · N4529J · Destroyed
  > The noncertificated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation over a large body of water and a high velocity impact with the water. Contributing to the accident…
- [NTSB CEN21FA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA297.md): Earthstar Gull 2000 · Curtiss, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 30, 2021 · N1712L · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions with dense fog and low clouds, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-imposed…
- [NTSB ERA21LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA191.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Forkston, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 23, 2021 · N4055N · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions at night, spatial disorientation, and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA21FA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA189.md): Piper PA-28RT-201T · Brownsville, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 21, 2021 · N4303G · Destroyed
  > The student pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a rapid uncontrolled descent into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the self-induced and external…
- [NTSB CEN21FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA125.md): Cessna 177RG · Galt, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 8, 2021 · N8080G · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to takeoff into instrument meteorological conditions consisting of low ceilings and icing and his failure to remain clear of terrain while attempting to remain below the clouds, which resulted in impact 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") = 2021
  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=2021

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