Skip to content

NTSB investigations, 2019

24 cases where the sequence of events included VFR encounter with IMC.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

20082026

Where

Latest cases

Query with 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") = 2019 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

duckdb -csv -c "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\") = 2019
    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"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

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") = 2019
  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

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB ANC20MA010Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportAirbus AS350B2 · Kekaha, HIThe pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in the collision into terrain. Contributing to the accident was Safari Aviation Inc.’s lack of safety management processes…Dec 27, 2019 · N985SA · Destroyed NTSB CEN20WA011Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationCessna 172 · San Salvador, El SalvadorOct 19, 2019 · N7381G · Destroyed NTSB WPR20WA003Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationCessna 172 · Sultanpur, IndiaOn October 6, 2019, about 0750 coordinated universal time, a Cessna 172, VT-RGF, impacted terrain near Sultanpur, India after requesting to turn back due to bad weather. The student pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The…Oct 6, 2019 · VT-RGF · Substantial damage NTSB CEN20FA003Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportLancair Legacy · Bixby, MOThe pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.Oct 6, 2019 · N10LG · Substantial damage NTSB CEN19FA332Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 150 · Prairie Grove, ARThe noninstrument-rated pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation after encountering instrument meteorological conditions at night.Sep 24, 2019 · N4658X · Substantial damage NTSB WPR19FA263Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Nixon, NVA loss of airplane control while maneuvering due to spatial disorientation after inadvertently entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inexperience in IMC conditions.Sep 19, 2019 · N1891X · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA256Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA32 · La Grande, ORThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.Sep 8, 2019 · N6300Z · Destroyed NTSB CEN19FA247Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA28 · Ontonagon, MIThe non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with thunderstorm activity, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.Aug 3, 2019 · N5167L · Destroyed NTSB ANC19FA033Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA 24-180 · Ketchikan, AKThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.Jul 11, 2019 · N5840P · Substantial damage NTSB CEN19FA177Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech A36 · Elida, OHThe noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing was the pilot not obtaining a weather…Jun 20, 2019 · N6150X · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA175Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson R44 · Two Harbors, CAThe pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Jun 18, 2019 · N7187D · Destroyed NTSB ERA19FA181Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA28R · Auburn Township, OHThe pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was his inadequate weather planning, lack of experience flying at night and the deteriorating weather conditions.May 28, 2019 · N3933T · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA148Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson R44 · Alpine, UTThe noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was hypoxia due to the high altitude at which…May 17, 2019 · N744TW · Substantial damage NTSB CEN19FA140Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Eagle Lake, TXThe non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to fly into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, and a subsequent impact with terrain.May 11, 2019 · N713LA · Destroyed NTSB ERA19FA163Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportGuimbal Cabri · Kent Island, MDThe noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an inadvertent descent into the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct the flight at a low altitude without…May 4, 2019 · N572MD · Destroyed NTSB ERA19FA161Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172 · Tyrone, PAThe pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into trees and terrain.May 1, 2019 · N733KZ · Substantial damage NTSB ANC19TA017Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3Final reportCessna A185 · Nome, AKThe pilot's decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into an area of mountainous terrain and instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the…Apr 15, 2019 · N5163E · Substantial damage NTSB WPR19FA103Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Farmington, NMThe noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into an area of forecast instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of control.Mar 31, 2019 · N173CT · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA086Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech D55 · Stallion Springs, CAThe pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions associated with mountain obscuration conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain a weather…Feb 22, 2019 · N533Q · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA084Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportCirrus SR22 · Ely, NVThe pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions and icing conditions which resulted in a high rate of descent and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the inaccurate weather reporting…Feb 16, 2019 · N917SR · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA079Accident · 5 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 414 · Yorba Linda, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while climbing due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s design stress limits and subsequent in-flight break-up.…Feb 3, 2019 · N414RS · Destroyed NTSB CEN19FA078Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMooney M20K · Katy, TXThe noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.Jan 31, 2019 · N56359 · Destroyed NTSB WPR19FA075Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA28 · Oceanside, CAThe pilot’s improper decision to depart on the night visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in an in-flight encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and collision with rising terrain.Jan 29, 2019 · N37RV · Substantial damage NTSB CEN19FA072Accident · 3 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportBell 407 · Zaleski, OHThe NTSB determines that the probable cause of this accident was Survival Flight's inadequate management of safety, which normalized pilots' and operations control specialists' noncompliance with risk analysis procedures and resulted in the initiation of the…Jan 29, 2019 · N191SF · Destroyed