# NTSB investigations, 2012: 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 ERA13FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA083.md): Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · Lake Park, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 11, 2012 · N840DS · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s improper decision to depart in dark, night marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB CEN13FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA096.md): MBB BK 117 A-3 · Compton, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 11, 2012 · N911BK · Substantial damage
  > The inadvertent encounter with inclement weather, including snow, freezing rain, and reduced visibility conditions, which led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of aircraft control.
- [NTSB WPR13CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA065.md): Bellanca 7ECA · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 8, 2012 · N8595V · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's continued descent into instrument meteorological conditions during the landing approach and his loss of situational awareness, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA13WA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13WA068.md): Embraer 810D · Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil · Accident · 4 fatal · Foreign investigation · Nov 1, 2012 · PT-VRV · Substantial damage
  > On November 1, 2012, at 1950 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), an Embraer Aircraft model EMB-810D (Piper Design PA-34-220T), Brazilian registration PT-VRV, operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged following an encounter with weather and a…
- [NTSB CEN13FA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA039.md): Cessna 320E · San Marcos, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 1, 2012 · N10PM · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to takeoff in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
- [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 CEN13FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA010.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Blanco, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 12, 2012 · N474FA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of helicopter control as a result of spatial disorientation due to dark night conditions and marginal visual flight rules weather conditions.
- [NTSB WPR13FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA008.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · Laramie Peak, WY · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2012 · N110UM · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from rising terrain.
- [NTSB CEN13FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA003.md): Bell 407 · Intracoastal City, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2012 · N406AL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to attempt a local flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions and his subsequent loss of control following an inadvertent encounter with instrument metrological conditions shortly after takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA12LA562](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA562.md): Republic RC-3 · Cedar Bluff, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 15, 2012 · N6072K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines during final approach to landing.
- [NTSB ERA12FA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA438.md): Cirrus Design SR20 · Moscow, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2012 · N764RV · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, a loss of airplane control, and subsequent impact with trees and terrain.
- [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 WPR12CA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA183.md): Bell 206B · Arvin, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 25, 2012 · N969W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain clearance from power lines during low altitude maneuvering.
- [NTSB CEN12CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA221.md): Air Tractor AT-402A · Ganado, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 2, 2012 · N4544S · Substantial damage
  > The improper positioning of the hopper vent, which allowed chemicals to escape and cover the airplane's windshield.
- [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…

## 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") = 2012
  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=2012

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