# NTSB investigations, 2016: 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 ANC17LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA011.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 · Unalaska, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 2, 2016 · N7085K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during a precautionary landing in whiteout conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN17LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA043.md): Beech 200 · Moorhead, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 23, 2016 · N80RT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain a positive climb rate during an attempted missed approach in night instrument meteorological conditions that were at/near approach minimums, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR17FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA021.md): Hughes 369 · Pukoo, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2016 · N81GG · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions at night in rain, which resulted in his geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB GAA16CA444](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA444.md): P Z L -Warszawa-Cnpsl PZL 104 Wilga · Austin, NV · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 21, 2016 · N65ZA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the base to final turn, which resulted in a forced landing, and an intentional aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's excessive braking, which resulted in a nose over…
- [NTSB GAA16CA422](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA422.md): Cessna 195 · Hillsborough, OR · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 6, 2016 · N4026A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point and loss of directional control and her subsequent excessive brake application, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB ANC16FA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16FA023.md): Airbus AS350 · Skagway, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 7, 2016 · N94TH · Substantial damage
  > 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 were the…
- [NTSB ANC16LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA022.md): Airbus AS350 · Juneau, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2016 · N194EH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while on approach to land in flat light conditions. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was the inadequately restrained internal cargo, which shifted forward during the impact and struck the…
- [NTSB ERA16FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA143.md): Robinson R44 · Canadensis, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 27, 2016 · N776JM · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation, which occurred after ascending in order to clear rising terrain and inadvertently entering the clouds.
- [NTSB ERA16LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA106.md): Piper PA28 · Destin, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 13, 2016 · N2209W · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to turn the airplane away from the lighted airport at low altitude, over water, with no visible horizon, in dark night conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.

## 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") = 2016
  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=2016

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