NTSB investigations, AK

17 cases where the defining event was Loss of visual reference.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations, AK per year, 2008–2026: 17 cases
20082
20091
20101
20111
20121
20162
20173
20182
20211
20221
20231
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
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 c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'AK' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '402')
  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.

NTSB ANC25LA064Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain.Jun 30, 2025 · N531AT · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23LA022Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206F · Chugiak, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in flat light conditions which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a snow berm.Feb 14, 2023 · N9572G · Substantial damageNTSB ANC22LA022Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206F · Newhalen, AKThe pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot experiencing a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.Mar 5, 2022 · N1853Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21FA143Accident · 5 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAirbus Helicopters AS350-B3 · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s failure to adequately respond to an encounter with whiteout conditions, which resulted in the helicopter’s collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the (1) operator’s inadequate pilot training program and pilot competency checks,…Mar 28, 2021 · N351SH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC18TA070Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportCessna U206 · Willow, AKThe pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain control during a night landing pattern crosswind turn due to spatial disorientation and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in impact with terrain.Sep 9, 2018 · N8070Z · Substantial damageNTSB ANC18FA053Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportDe Havilland DHC 3 · Hydaburg, AKThe pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Jul 10, 2018 · N3952B · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA474Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 210 · Bettles, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath during the approach to the runway over glassy water and in glaring sun conditions.Jul 8, 2017 · N9664X · DestroyedNTSB GAA17CA388Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 207 · Hope, AKThe pilot’s inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.Jul 3, 2017 · N9620M · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA147Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna A185 · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to the runway and to use the vertical guidance system.Feb 19, 2017 · N185AE · Substantial damageNTSB ANC17LA011Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Unalaska, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a precautionary landing in whiteout conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.Dec 2, 2016 · N7085K · Substantial damageNTSB ANC16LA022Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAirbus AS350 · Juneau, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while on approach to land in flat light conditions. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was the inadequately restrained internal cargo, which shifted forward during the impact and struck the…May 5, 2016 · N194EH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC13CA006Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA-18-125 · Cordova, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during takeoff.Oct 20, 2012 · N3360P · Substantial damageNTSB ANC11TA110Accident · No injuriesFinal reportBell 206 B3 · Seward, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain during hover in deteriorating weather and flat light conditions, which resulted in a tail rotor strike.Sep 23, 2011 · N204PA · Substantial damageNTSB ANC10LA071Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Chickaloon, AKThe pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain.Aug 8, 2010 · N3432W · Substantial damageNTSB ANC09CA020Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeech 65-A90-1 · Soldotna, AKThe pilot's misidentification of the runway surface during landing. Contributing to the accident were the snow-covered terrain, and low-light conditions.Feb 16, 2009 · N418SP · Substantial damageNTSB ANC08LA046Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32 · Koliganek, AKThe pilot's VFR flight into adverse weather conditions that resulted in a collision with snow-covered terrain during a turn to reverse direction. Factors contributing to the accident were low ceilings, flat lighting conditions, and the snow-covered terrain.Apr 1, 2008 · N8327S · Substantial damageNTSB ANC08LA042Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · White Mountain, AKThe pilot’s inadvertent flight into flat light/whiteout conditions over snow-covered terrain.Mar 11, 2008 · N66036 · Substantial damage