# NTSB investigations, 2009: 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 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.

## 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") = 2009
  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=2009

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