# Instrument flight capability - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106) › [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010610) › Instrument flight capability - NTSB code: 01061055 - Cases: 10 - In the probable cause: 6 - Fatal cases: 8 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061055/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061055/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061055 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 1 / 1 - 2015: 1 / 2 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2017: 0 / 1 - 2020: 1 / 1 - 2021: 1 / 2 - 2022: 1 / 1 - 2024: 0 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 8 cases - [Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270): 1 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 1 cases - [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a): 1 cases - [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK.I](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i): 1 cases - [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 1 cases - [Aeropro CZ A220](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeropro-cz-a220): 1 cases - [Hinton Paul M RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/hinton-paul-m-rv-4): 1 cases - [Smith David B CH 701 SP](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-david-b-ch-701-sp): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 7 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 6 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Total instrument experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030) (Personnel issues): 5 cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 4 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 4 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Personal pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03042035) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB CEN24FA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA327), Aug 26, 2024: Piper PA-28-140 (N9626K), Wayne, NE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. - [NTSB ERA22LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA180), Apr 2, 2022: Hughes 269A (N7057L), Fort White, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to fly a visual flight rules only helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. - [NTSB ANC21FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21FA069), Aug 5, 2021: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK.I (N1249K), Ketchikan, AK, destroyed, 6 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB ERA21LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA295), Jul 19, 2021: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N4529J), Point Harbor, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The noncertificated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation over a large body of water and a high… - [NTSB ERA20FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20FA088), Jan 27, 2020: Aeropro CZ A220 (N214K), Grafton, WV, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions and conditions favorable for airframe icing, which resulted in a loss of control of the… - [NTSB CEN17FA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA288), Jul 27, 2017: Zenith CH701SP (N701XL), Laddonia, MO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to take off at night and continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions. which resulted in the pilot becoming spatially disoriented and losing control of the… - [NTSB ERA17FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA017), Oct 16, 2016: Piper PA28 (C-GYSN), Austin, PA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control while maneuvering in night instrument conditions that included light-to-heavy rain with severe turbulence, updrafts and downdrafts, and hail. Contributing to the accident… - [NTSB ERA16FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA074), Dec 18, 2015: Hinton Paul M RV 4 (N77BP), Greenville, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB GAA16LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA031), Oct 27, 2015: Airbus AS350 (C-GSLY), Deadhorse, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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… - [NTSB CHI08LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA080), Feb 8, 2008: Cessna 140 (N3537V), Grand Meadow, MN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight into an area of known instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane… NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.