# NTSB investigations, AZ: 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 WPR26LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA077.md): Cessna 150A · Coolidge, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 5, 2026 · N7235X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare.
- [NTSB WPR26LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA059.md): Waco RNF · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 14, 2025 · N110Y · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the low-wing airplane while taxiing.
- [NTSB WPR22FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA073.md): Mooney M20C · Marana, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 31, 2021 · N6796N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation after entering instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to use of methamphetamine before the flight.
- [NTSB WPR21LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA166.md): Cessna 140 · Williams, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 16, 2021 · N2506N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff in night visual meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB CEN20FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20FA034.md): Mooney M20C · Flower Pot, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 8, 2019 · N5557Q · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to initiate and continue the visual flight rules flight into an area of forecast instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control. Contributing was…
- [NTSB WPR17FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA045.md): Cessna T210K · Payson, AZ · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2017 · N272EF · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decisions to begin and to continue a flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR14TA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14TA236.md): Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Mesa, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Jun 8, 2014 · N504MP · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the decoupling of the engine’s turbine and compressor sections. Contributing to the decoupling was the excessive wear of the turbine-to-compressor coupling components due maintenance personnel’s placement…
- [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 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 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…

## 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" = 'AZ' 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=AZ

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