# NTSB investigations: Loss of visual reference

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.

Page 5 of 5 · 242 cases

## Cases, newest first

- [NTSB CEN11FA557](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA557.md): Piper PA-23 · Millersburg, OH · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2011 · N2286P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with terrain during the landing approach in night conditions and fog. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.
- [NTSB CEN11CA545](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA545.md): Ayres S2R-G6 · Forest City, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 28, 2011 · N331BF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during an aerial application run, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a windmill.
- [NTSB ANC11FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA069.md): Cessna 182P · Juneau, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2011 · N7304S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to reach his destination.
- [NTSB ERA11FA412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA412.md): Cessna 182S · Erwin, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 21, 2011 · N23739 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB CEN11FA468](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA468.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Rising Sun, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 9, 2011 · N42333 · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
- [NTSB CEN11CA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA314.md): Prichard Kevin Legacy 2K · Kansas City, MO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 2, 2011 · N50KP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudgment of the landing area, which resulted in the airplane touching down on a grass area adjacent to the runway and between parallel taxiways.
- [NTSB ERA11CA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA226.md): Cessna U206C · Bridgeport, CT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 2, 2011 · N100HA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's delayed decision to perform a go-around which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR11LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA076.md): Taylorcraft BC12-65 · College Place, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 2010 · N36041 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to abort the landing when he lost sight of the runway due to sun glare, and his inadequate compensation for the crosswind.
- [NTSB CEN10CA539](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA539.md): Cessna A185F · Rushville, NE · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 13, 2010 · N714AL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the loss of visual reference due to the sun glare.
- [NTSB WPR10LA446](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA446.md): Bell 47G · Salinas, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 3, 2010 · N4427F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of helicopter control.
- [NTSB ERA10LA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA421.md): Cessna 172R · Key West, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2010 · N2435X · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's spatial disorientation during night, over-water, low-ambient-light conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting the ocean.
- [NTSB ANC10LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA071.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Chickaloon, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2010 · N3432W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR10FA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA273.md): Piper PA-34-220T · Lincoln, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 30, 2010 · N44MC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue flight into an area of low ceilings and low visibility and his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB ANC10CA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA027.md): Cessna 182B · Port Alsworth, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 18, 2010 · N2266G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to enter adverse weather conditions, resulting in a loss of visibility and collision with terrain during a turn to reverse direction.
- [NTSB WPR10LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA115.md): Cessna 172M · Joshua Tree, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2010 · N13073 · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in his inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent failure to maintain clearance with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN10LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA041.md): Wicks Air Center Hornet · Bonham, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2009 · N651WA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control shortly after takeoff due to spatial disorientation in fog and/or low-level clouds.
- [NTSB WPR10FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA005.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Black Canyon City, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2009 · N7471P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, reduced visibility, and mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB CEN09FA603](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA603.md): Cessna 182Q · Houma, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2009 · N96894 · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s decision to take off into instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB WPR09FA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA391.md): Navion Navion A · Adrian, OR · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 7, 2009 · N4898K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an exceedence of the design stress limits of the aircraft and led to an in-flight structural failure.
- [NTSB CEN09CA500](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA500.md): Cessna P210N · Wheeling, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 29, 2009 · N4648A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.
- [NTSB CEN09PA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09PA348.md): Agusta A109E · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 1 · Final report · Jun 10, 2009 · N606SP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to take off from a remote, mountainous landing site in dark (moonless) night, windy, instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were an organizational culture that prioritized mission execution over aviation safety…
- [NTSB CEN09FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA340.md): Gulfstream American AA-5B · Humbird, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2009 · N448DM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight into an area of known instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB CEN09CA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA269.md): Let L-23 Super Blanik · Adrian, MI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 26, 2009 · N238SB · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the strong, gusting crosswind during landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's decision to attempt flight with known adverse weather approaching the airport.
- [NTSB WPR09FA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA158.md): Piper PA-32-300 · Corona, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 20, 2009 · N55962 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain airplane control during climb due to spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent instrument flying experience.
- [NTSB WPR09LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA125.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Cave Creek, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 23, 2009 · N353P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misjudged landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the brownout condition created by the dust cloud that interfered with the pilot's perception of proximity to the ground, and the glare interference from the parked fire vehicles headlights…
- [NTSB ANC09CA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA020.md): Beech 65-A90-1 · Soldotna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 16, 2009 · N418SP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misidentification of the runway surface during landing. Contributing to the accident were the snow-covered terrain, and low-light conditions.
- [NTSB ERA09CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA134.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Manteo, NC · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 13, 2009 · N7918C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to follow the missed approach procedure while landing with a low ceiling.
- [NTSB CEN09LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA116.md): Learjet 45XR · Telluride, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 3, 2009 · N279AJ · Substantial damage
  > The failure of both pilots to positively identify the runway prior to landing.
- [NTSB ERA09FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA036.md): Robinson R-44 · Gallatin, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 3, 2008 · N300FX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent descent into water as a result of the dark night and limited outside visual references.
- [NTSB NYC08LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA310.md): Dufault Mark V Pitts S-1D · Ridgely, MD · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 9, 2008 · N511MD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation which resulted in an attempted landing in fog and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB DFW08FA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08FA212.md): Piper PA-24-250 · Yuma, CO · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 24, 2008 · N5476P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB ANC08FA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08FA133.md): Cessna 182 · Juneau, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2008 · N9350X · Destroyed
  > The 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. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB LAX08FA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA246.md): Cessna 172N · McMurray, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 2008 · N75558 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions. Contributing to the accident were low ceilings, reduced visibility, and mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB LAX08LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA198.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B3 · Ash Fork, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2008 · N586AE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's spatial disorientation resulting in his failure to detect and compensate for an unintentional descent during a go-around. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate choice of landing approach, reduced visibility from brownout…
- [NTSB NYC08LA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA223.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Rockland, ME · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 21, 2008 · N8776N · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot becoming spatially disorientated after inadvertently entering instrument flight conditions.
- [NTSB DEN08FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08FA101.md): Bell 407 · Huntsville, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2008 · N416PH · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent, which resulted in its impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the limited outside visual reference due to the dark night conditions.
- [NTSB MIA08FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08FA115.md): Cessna T206H · Cedar Key, FL · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2008 · N206GG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a dark night approach to a coastal airport.
- [NTSB DEN08FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08FA100.md): Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/L · Gothenburg, NE · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 5, 2008 · N12XT · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after encountering instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's recent usage of Marihuana, his impaired judgement and decision making, and the low visibility weather…
- [NTSB NYC08FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08FA155.md): SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 · Belfast, ME · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 6, 2008 · N601RH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation during an aerobatic maneuver.
- [NTSB ANC08LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA046.md): Piper PA-32 · Koliganek, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2008 · N8327S · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC08LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA042.md): Cessna 180 · White Mountain, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 11, 2008 · N66036 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent flight into flat light/whiteout conditions over snow-covered terrain.
- [NTSB DFW08FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08FA057.md): Piper PA46-500TP · San Antonio, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2008 · N169CA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to execute an instrument approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to recent use of over-the-counter medication.

## 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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '402' 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/402/sequence?page=5

---
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.