# Loss of visual reference - Type: NTSB defining event - NTSB code: 402 - CICTT category: Unintended Flight Into IMC - Defining event in: 98 cases - In the sequence of: 242 cases - Fatal cases: 42 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/cases.md - Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402 ## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence) - 2008: 4 / 14 - 2009: 3 / 13 - 2010: 5 / 8 - 2011: 7 / 13 - 2012: 5 / 15 - 2013: 7 / 11 - 2014: 4 / 10 - 2015: 10 / 25 - 2016: 5 / 9 - 2017: 7 / 27 - 2018: 9 / 18 - 2019: 8 / 16 - 2020: 1 / 6 - 2021: 5 / 14 - 2022: 3 / 6 - 2023: 6 / 18 - 2024: 2 / 6 - 2025: 5 / 7 - 2026: 2 / 6 ## Phase of flight - Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 19 cases - Enroute-cruise: 16 cases - Approach-VFR pattern final: 12 cases - Initial climb: 11 cases - Landing: 7 cases - Takeoff: 7 cases - Approach: 4 cases - Maneuvering: 4 cases - Enroute: 4 cases - Landing-flare/touchdown: 3 cases ## In the probable cause of these cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 35 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 29 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 26 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 22 cases - [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 14 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 13 cases - [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 9 cases - [Visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015) (Personnel issues): 8 cases - [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 7 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 7 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 4 cases - [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 3 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3): 2 cases - [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2): 2 cases - [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b): 2 cases - [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 2 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 2 cases - [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f): 2 cases - [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN27LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA014), Oct 13, 2026: Cessna 210N (N1329U), Gonzales, LA, investigation ongoing - [NTSB WPR26LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA230), Jun 21, 2026: Stephen Aberle Chipper CH-2A (N618SA), Alva, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to taxi the tailwheel-equipped airplane over uneven terrain while operating with limited forward visibility, which resulted in the left main landing gear entering a hole. - [NTSB WPR25LA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA262), Aug 18, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N877DR), Burlington, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid the light pole, which resulted in a collision with the light pole and subsequent ground impact. - [NTSB WPR25LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA201), Jun 30, 2025: Lancair IV (N124GH), Alpine, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of visual reference during the landing approach which resulted in a collision with water. - [NTSB WPR25LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA194), Jun 30, 2025: Bellanca 7GCBC (N50476), Helena, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. - [NTSB ANC25LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA064), Jun 30, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N531AT), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain. - [NTSB CEN25LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA211), Jun 18, 2025: Cessna U206 (N932DB), Falun, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot experiencing the featureless terrain illusion during the approach which gave the perception that the airplane was at a higher altitude over the glassy water surface than it was, resulting… - [NTSB ERA24FA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA283), Jun 30, 2024: Piper PA46 (N85PG), Trout Creek, NY, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control in flight due to spatial disorientation during a climb to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight… - [NTSB ERA24LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA227), May 26, 2024: Brallier Scott Glasair I (N446KW), Gulf of Mexico, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation while flying over water in dark night conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to… - [NTSB WPR24FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA057), Dec 17, 2023: Cessna 172G (N3992L), Independence, OR, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with an obstacle while landing. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- 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.