# NTSB investigations, 2015: 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 GAA16CA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA091.md): Cessna 177 · Grass Valley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 28, 2015 · N29533 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of directional control during the touchdown and the subsequent attempted aborted landing which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA16FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA074.md): Hinton Paul M RV 4 · Greenville, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 18, 2015 · N77BP · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to initiate the flight into known adverse weather conditions, in an airplane that was not approved for instrument flight, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and his subsequent spatial disorientation…
- [NTSB GAA16CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA077.md): Piper PA 28 · California, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 11, 2015 · N432FL · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's descent below the prescribed final approach path at night, and flight instructor's failure to correct the student pilot's descent, which resulted in a collision with trees and impact with the ground.
- [NTSB GAA16CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA066.md): Grumman American Avn. AA 5 · West Point, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 2, 2015 · N28295 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly a traffic pattern following an aborted instrument landing in night instrument metrological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference to the runway, an inadvertent aerodynamic stall, and a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN16FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA042.md): Cessna 182G · Sandia Park, NM · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2015 · N2440R · Destroyed
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
- [NTSB GAA16CA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA058.md): Cessna 172 · Greeley, CO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 15, 2015 · N4256Q · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The pilot of the following airplane failed to maintain adequate spacing during the taxi to the runway, resulting in a collision with the lead airplane.
- [NTSB ERA16FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA032.md): Piper PA 28-180 · Cornelia, GA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 5, 2015 · N57WV · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to initiate the flight into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB ERA16FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA031.md): Flight Design Ctls · Queens, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 5, 2015 · N622BT · Substantial damage
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control while maneuvering at low altitude, over water with no visible horizon, in dark night conditions, which resulted in a collision with the water.
- [NTSB GAA16CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA067.md): Taylorcraft BC12 65 · New Lisbon, WI · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 2, 2015 · N33939 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA16LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA032.md): Philip D Anderson 601 · Hemet, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 27, 2015 · N467SD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain the airplane's descent rate during a precautionary landing, which resulted in hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to secure the canopy before takeoff, which precipitated the precautionary landing.
- [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 WPR16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA014.md): Piper PA 28R-180 · Morongo Valley, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 17, 2015 · N4972J · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's improper inflight decision-making to attempt to outclimb clouds along his planned route rather than reverse course, which resulted in his inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions, spatial disorientation, and…
- [NTSB GAA16CA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA016.md): Central Missouri State Univ HP 14 · Jackson, NH · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 14, 2015 · N102MW · Substantial damage
  > The glider pilot's decision to descend into a broken to overcast cloud layer, which resulted in encountering instrument meteorological conditions and the pilot parachuting from the glider. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of planning for an…
- [NTSB ERA16LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA003.md): Beech S35 · Knoxville, TN · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · Oct 7, 2015 · N449CT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning and his improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in night instrument metrological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent collision with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA247.md): Cessna 172P · Townsend, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2015 · N62731 · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct a cross-country flight over a mountain range in dark night conditions with limited night flight experience, which resulted in a collision with mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB ERA15FA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA299.md): Piper PA-28R · Marathon, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2015 · N54380 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff due to spatial disorientation while turning after takeoff in dark night conditions in a sparsely populated area, which resulted in the airplane’s descent into water. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB GAA15CA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA205.md): Boeing B75N1 · Shelter Island, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 25, 2015 · N5820V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over.
- [NTSB WPR15FA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA212.md): Beech A35 · Mazama, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2015 · N8749A · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA166.md): Cessna 210F · Pleasanton, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 21, 2015 · N1842F · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument flight rules conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from rising terrain.
- [NTSB ERA15FA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA220.md): Gulfstream American AA-5A · Rowdy, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 21, 2015 · N26886 · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB ERA15FA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA178.md): Hughes 369D · Cherokee, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 6, 2015 · N555JC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's spatial disorientation during a low-level river crossing in rainy, gray, reduced visibility meteorological conditions, which resulted in the helicopter's subsequent descent and impact with the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's…
- [NTSB GAA15CA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA014.md): Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P92 Eaglet · Cambridge, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 19, 2015 · N731HG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN15FA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA171.md): Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Eufaula, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 13, 2015 · N919EM · Destroyed
  > The flight's inadvertent encounter with night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot turning the helicopter and subsequently descending into trees and terrain due to spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB ERA15CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA127.md): Schweizer 269C 1 · Carthage, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 1, 2015 · N20059 · Substantial damage
  > The non-helicopter-rated pilot's improper decision to operate the helicopter at low-level and his inability to adequately see the horizon over snow and ice, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR15FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA082.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Tooele, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 9, 2015 · N383GM · Substantial damage
  > The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to depart into low visibility conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impaired performance due to his use of the sedating antihistamine,…

## 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") = 2015
  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=2015

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