NTSB investigations, CA

23 cases where the sequence of events included Loss of visual reference.

Cases per year

20092026
NTSB investigations, CA per year, 2009–2026: 23 cases
20091
20102
20122
20131
20142
20154
20172
20183
20191
20201
20211
20222
20231

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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 c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'CA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    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"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB WPR23FA172Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 172S · Los Angeles, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the hilly terrain resulting from his loss of situational awareness due to the deteriorating weather conditions as he descended to approach his destination airport.Apr 30, 2023 · N575ND · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA125Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter AS332L1 · Azusa, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree after encountering brownout conditions and a loss of visual reference during the approach to land.Mar 20, 2022 · N950SG · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA101Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas 500N · Newport Beach, CAThe helicopter’s encounter with unanticipated right yaw during a low-altitude, low-airspeed, tight-radius orbit. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction during the orbit, which resulted in the loss of control, his fatigue due to his early…Feb 20, 2022 · N521HB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22FA021Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 150L · Dunsmuir, CAThe non-certificated pilot’s improper decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.Oct 20, 2021 · N5268Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR20LA319Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna T182 · Santa Barbara, CAThe pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation after entering instrument meteorological conditions.Sep 27, 2020 · N157RC · DestroyedNTSB WPR19TA068Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3Final reportPitts S1 · Torrance, CAThe biplane pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while taxing, which resulted in a ground collision.Jan 19, 2019 · N31WK · 2 aircraft · Minor damageNTSB WPR19FA025Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Redding, CAThe pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control after takeoff in dark night instrument meteorological conditions.Nov 16, 2018 · N2629R · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18LA113Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer G 164B · Stockton, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.Mar 27, 2018 · N3629E · Substantial damageNTSB WPR18FA084Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182T · Santee, CAThe pilot's decision to take off into instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in spatial disorientation, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.Feb 6, 2018 · N3525T · Substantial damageNTSB WPR17FA105Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSocata TB 20 Trinidad · Sierraville, CAThe pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.Apr 17, 2017 · N28070 · DestroyedNTSB WPR17FA055Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportMooney M20J · Lake Hughes, CAThe pilot's controlled flight into mountainous terrain while attempting to operate under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).Jan 12, 2017 · N6201N · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA091Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 177 · Grass Valley, CAThe 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.Dec 28, 2015 · N29533 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16LA032Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPhilip D Anderson 601 · Hemet, CAThe 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.Oct 27, 2015 · N467SD · Substantial damageNTSB WPR16FA014Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA 28R-180 · Morongo Valley, CAThe 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…Oct 17, 2015 · N4972J · DestroyedNTSB WPR15FA166Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 210F · Pleasanton, CAThe pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument flight rules conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from rising terrain.May 21, 2015 · N1842F · DestroyedNTSB WPR14LA322Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer G 164B · Tulelake, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering during low-altitude operations.Aug 1, 2014 · N3627R · DestroyedNTSB WPR14CA115Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 47G 5A · Greenfield, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power pole during low-altitude maneuvering flight.Feb 18, 2014 · N715BH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR13FA080Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBell 206 · Delano, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering in low visibility, dark night conditions.Jan 2, 2013 · N828AC · DestroyedNTSB WPR13CA065Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBellanca 7ECA · Tehachapi, CAThe 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.Dec 8, 2012 · N8595V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR12CA183Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 206B · Arvin, CAThe pilot did not maintain clearance from power lines during low altitude maneuvering.Apr 25, 2012 · N969W · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10LA446Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G · Salinas, CAThe pilot's visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and loss of helicopter control.Sep 3, 2010 · N4427F · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10LA115Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172M · Joshua Tree, CAThe certified flight instructor's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in his inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent failure to maintain clearance with terrain.Jan 18, 2010 · N13073 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09FA158Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-300 · Corona, CAThe 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.Mar 20, 2009 · N55962 · Substantial damage