NTSB investigations, 2025
7 cases where the sequence of events included Loss of visual reference.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 14 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2025
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.
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") = 2025 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
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB WPR26LA059Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWaco RNF · Phoenix, AZThe biplane pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the low-wing airplane while taxiing.NTSB WPR25LA262Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Burlington, WAThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid the light pole, which resulted in a collision with the light pole and subsequent ground impact.NTSB WPR25LA201Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLancair IV · Alpine, WYThe pilot’s loss of visual reference during the landing approach which resulted in a collision with water.NTSB WPR25LA194Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBellanca 7GCBC · Helena, MTThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.NTSB ANC25LA064Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AKThe pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain.NTSB CEN25LA211Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206 · Falun, WIThe pilot experiencing the featureless terrain illusion during the approach which gave the perception that the airplane was at a higher altitude over the glassy water surface than it was, resulting in the airplane impacting the water.NTSB ERA25FA119Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 208 · Pierson, FLThe non-instrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of control.