# NTSB investigations, 2008: 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 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2008
  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?year=2008

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