# NTSB investigations, AK: 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.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ANC25LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA064.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2025 · N531AT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA036.md): Piper PA31 · Point Thomson, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 17, 2023 · N34WM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent descent below the published minimum descent altitude, while operating in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC23LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA032.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Skwentna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 9, 2023 · N704T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB ANC23LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA022.md): Cessna U206F · Chugiak, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 14, 2023 · N9572G · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC22LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA022.md): Cessna U206F · Newhalen, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 5, 2022 · N1853Q · Substantial damage
  > 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.
- [NTSB WPR21FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA143.md): Airbus Helicopters AS350-B3 · Palmer, AK · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 28, 2021 · N351SH · Substantial damage
  > The 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,…
- [NTSB ANC20CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA023.md): Robinson R44 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Feb 21, 2020 · N716JL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from snow covered terrain during an en route descent in flat light conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC20FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20FA017.md): Piper PA32R · Tuntutuliak, AK · Accident · 5 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 6, 2020 · N7632C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into reduced visibility, including likely flat light and/or white out conditions, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the operator’s inadequate operational…
- [NTSB ANC20LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA004.md): Piper PA32R · Goodnews Bay, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 11, 2019 · N7721C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to monitor the airplane instruments during a night visual flight rules departure in dark light conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and the airplane’s descent into water.
- [NTSB ANC18TA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18TA070.md): Cessna U206 · Willow, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Sep 9, 2018 · N8070Z · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC18FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA053.md): De Havilland DHC 3 · Hydaburg, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 10, 2018 · N3952B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC18FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA036.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Whittier, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · May 12, 2018 · N7061W · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's decision to depart and continue on a solo cross-country flight through mountainous terrain in marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC17FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17FA049.md): Piper PA-18AS · Tyonek, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 24, 2017 · N1905A · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to initiate a visual flight rules flight into dark night, marginal visual flight rules to instrument flight rules conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB ANC17LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA040.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Solomon, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 3, 2017 · N4138M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above water, and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in an inadvertent descent and collision with water.
- [NTSB ANC17FA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17FA039.md): Cessna U206 · Port Alsworth, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jul 27, 2017 · N1749R · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference and subsequent controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was (1) the inadequate preflight…
- [NTSB GAA17CA474](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA474.md): Cessna 210 · Bettles, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 8, 2017 · N9664X · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath during the approach to the runway over glassy water and in glaring sun conditions.
- [NTSB GAA17CA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA388.md): Cessna 207 · Hope, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 3, 2017 · N9620M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC17LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA025.md): Airbus AS350 · Juneau, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 23, 2017 · N207CH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to depart into an area of degraded visual meteorological and flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual references and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ANC17FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17FA021.md): Cessna 208B · Chignik Lake, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 1, 2017 · N803TH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into an area of mountainous terrain and instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). Contributing to the accident was the company's failure to provide the pilot…
- [NTSB GAA17CA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA147.md): Cessna A185 · Fairbanks, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 19, 2017 · N185AE · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to the runway and to use the vertical guidance system.
- [NTSB ANC17LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA011.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 · Unalaska, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 2, 2016 · N7085K · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC16FA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16FA023.md): Airbus AS350 · Skagway, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 7, 2016 · N94TH · Substantial damage
  > 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 were the…
- [NTSB ANC16LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA022.md): Airbus AS350 · Juneau, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2016 · N194EH · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB GAA16LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA031.md): Airbus AS350 · Deadhorse, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 27, 2015 · C-GSLY · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, and his subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance while attempting to land in flat light and whiteout conditions.
- [NTSB ANC14LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA007.md): Beech 1900C · Deadhorse, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 22, 2013 · N575X · Substantial damage
  > The captain’s decision to initiate a visual flight rules approach and attempted landing into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s…
- [NTSB ANC13CA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA006.md): Piper PA-18-125 · Cordova, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 20, 2012 · N3360P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during takeoff.
- [NTSB ANC12CA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA036.md): Short Bros. & Harland SC7 Series 3 · Chefornak, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 3, 2012 · N1906 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misidentification of a nearby snow-covered road as the snow-covered runway in flat light conditions.
- [NTSB ANC12IA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12IA024.md): Bombardier Learjet 35A · Anchorage, AK · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Mar 6, 2012 · N544LM · Minor damage
  > The flightcrew's loss of visual reference to the runway after encountering severe in-flight icing conditions, which resulted in a loss of control while landing and exceedence of the capabilities of the airplane's windscreen anti-ice systems. Contributing to…
- [NTSB ANC12FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA009.md): Cessna 207 · Chuathbaluk, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 29, 2011 · N1673U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of situational awareness after an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with tree-covered terrain.
- [NTSB ANC11TA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11TA110.md): Bell 206 B3 · Seward, AK · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Sep 23, 2011 · N204PA · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB ANC11FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA077.md): Cessna 207 · McGrath, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2011 · N91099 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain.
- [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 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 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 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 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 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.

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AK' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND 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?state=AK

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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.