# NTSB investigations, 2012: Altitude 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. Page 1 of 2 · 81 cases ## Latest cases - [NTSB WPR13FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA073.md): Beech B100 · Libby, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 19, 2012 · N499SW · Destroyed > The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering to land in dark night conditions likely due to his geographic disorientation (lost). Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to fly at night with a… - [NTSB ERA13LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA093.md): Russom Roy G Hummel H5 · Calhoun, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 18, 2012 · N156FH · Substantial damage > The pilot’s impairment or incapacitation due to the effects of medication, worsening cardiac disease, or cardiac arrhythmia, which resulted in his loss of control of the airplane. - [NTSB WPR13FA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA312.md): Mooney M20F · Yosemite Valley, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 17, 2012 · N9524M · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain situational awareness and sufficient altitude to clear mountainous terrain. - [NTSB WPR13LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA069.md): Powerchute Airwolf 912ULS · Dell, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 14, 2012 · N480QP · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and clearance from mountainous terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude in downdraft conditions. - [NTSB WPR13CA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA064.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Roosevelt Lake, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 7, 2012 · N557AC · Substantial damage > The pilot's visual disorientation, which resulted in a collision with the lake. - [NTSB CEN13LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA088.md): Cessna 172M · Rochester, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 3, 2012 · N9853Q · Substantial damage > The pilot’s spatial disorientation during the instrument approach in night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane descending below decision height and impacting terrain outside the lateral limits of the localizer. Contributing… - [NTSB ERA13CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA077.md): Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Middletown, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 2, 2012 · N5787S · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper altitude management in the landing pattern that caused the glider to impact trees on final approach. - [NTSB CEN13LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA086.md): Bell 47G-2 · Walkerville, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 1, 2012 · N3755Z · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude, which did not provide enough margin to recover from the descent. - [NTSB WPR13FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA061.md): Piper PA28 · Aurora, UT · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 25, 2012 · N8314E · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain while maneuvering in a remote mountainous region. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to traverse the remote mountainous area in high-density altitude conditions with the… - [NTSB CEN13FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA067.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Hillsdale, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 21, 2012 · N40781 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a straight-in night visual flight rules approach to land in hazy weather conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of recent night flying experience, the nonfunctional… - [NTSB ERA13FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA064.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Canton, CT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 19, 2012 · N8826J · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while performing a night visual approach to an airport. Contributing to the accident were the dark night and the pilot's lack of recent experience flying at night. - [NTSB ERA13FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA062.md): Cessna 172K · Savannah, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 18, 2012 · N78304 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while operating in night, instrument meteorological conditions, due to spatial disorientation. - [NTSB WPR13FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA053.md): Cessna 182D · Bondurant, WY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 17, 2012 · N61LN · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering around weather. - [NTSB WPR13IA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13IA059.md): Bell 407 · Riverton, WY · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2012 · N7160V · Minor damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear power lines while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow company operating specifications for minimum altitude. - [NTSB WPR13FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA041.md): American AA-1 · Morgan, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2012 · N5642L · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in frost remaining on the airplane's surfaces and led to its inability to produce enough lift to clear rising terrain. - [NTSB ERA13LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA057.md): Hughes 369D · Corning, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 15, 2012 · N369AW · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate altitude while conducting a power line aerial observation flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision with wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of total experience in the type of operation. - [NTSB CEN13LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA054.md): Cessna P210N · Conway, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2012 · N887JA · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect the lack of fuel and resulted in fuel exhaustion during climb, and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude from… - [NTSB ERA13GA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13GA046.md): Hughes OH-6A · Atlanta, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Final report · Nov 4, 2012 · N368PD · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude during maneuvering flight, which resulted in his failure to see and avoid a power pole and wires. - [NTSB WPR13FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA017.md): Cessna 182P · Yucca, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 18, 2012 · N20939 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to take corrective action to avoid terrain during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. - [NTSB ERA13FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA026.md): Aerospatiale AS 355 · Erwinna, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 17, 2012 · C-FXGM · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to depart under visual flight rules in dark night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in subsequent spatial disorientation, uncontrolled descent, and impact with trees and terrain. - [NTSB ERA13LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA019.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Charlotte Amalie · Accident · 3 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2012 · N5553Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's attempted visual flight rules (VFR) flight into marginal VFR conditions on a dark night over water and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s controlled flight into water. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB CEN13FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA009.md): Bell 206B · Crowley, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 10, 2012 · N333DR · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the broadcast tower guy-wires. - [NTSB WPR13FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA008.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · Laramie Peak, WY · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2012 · N110UM · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient clearance from rising terrain. - [NTSB ERA13LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA012.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Birmingham, AL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 2012 · N80KW · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's overreliance on the autopilot system and his inability to hand-fly the airplane once the autopilot… - [NTSB CEN12LA669](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA669.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Nocona, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2012 · N8341W · Substantial damage > The noncertificated pilot’s operation of the helicopter, which resulted in impact with the water. - [NTSB WPR12LA433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA433.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Firebaugh, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 22, 2012 · N4556S · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff after the engine stopped producing its full-rated torque while operating in high-density altitude conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission wires. - [NTSB ERA12FA572](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA572.md): Cessna 172S · Land O'Lakes, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 22, 2012 · N21750 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue the cross-country flight while fatigued, which resulted in him falling asleep during the initial descent for landing. - [NTSB ERA12CA585](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA585.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Maryville, TN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 22, 2012 · N56796 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to plan and execute a takeoff that assured obstacle clearance at the departure end of the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees. - [NTSB ERA12FA565](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA565.md): Yakovlev YAK 52 · Brownsboro, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2012 · N2207X · Substantial damage > The pilot's loss of control while performing a low-level aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in collision with terrain. - [NTSB WPR12FA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA420.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Strawberry, AZ · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 13, 2012 · N4188E · Substantial damage > The flight instructor's and the evaluator's failure to divert at an appropriate time during cruise flight, which resulted in the airplane's inability to maintain a sufficient altitude to clear rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight… - [NTSB CEN12FA639](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA639.md): Mooney M20J · Teddys Peak, CO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 13, 2012 · N58119 · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions, including fog and mountain obscuration, and his failure to maintain clearance with known rising terrain along the route of flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB CEN12LA615](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA615.md): Goodyear F2G · Valley City, ND · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 7, 2012 · N5577N · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to initiate the aerobatic maneuver at an altitude that did not allow for full recovery of the airplane before ground impact. - [NTSB WPR12LA371](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA371.md): Arrow Falcon Exporters OH58 · Escalon, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 27, 2012 · N503DR · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a low-altitude agricultural application, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with the ground. - [NTSB ERA12FA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA527.md): Bell 407 · Abingdon, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 25, 2012 · N407N · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper decision to make a low-level departure over water in dark night conditions without lights, which resulted in controlled flight into the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's likely spatial disorientation due to a vestibular… - [NTSB WPR12LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA359.md): Fechtner KR-2 · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2012 · N37686 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the approach to the airport. - [NTSB CEN12CA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA546.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Hanley Falls, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2012 · N1021D · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a guy wire during an agricultural application pass. - [NTSB WPR12FA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA349.md): Cessna P210N · Santa Monica, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 11, 2012 · N41KA · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during a return to the airport following an unspecified emergency; the nature of the emergency could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would… - [NTSB WPR12CA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA351.md): Robinson R22 · Monticello, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 11, 2012 · N7135J · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in the helicopter settling and subsequently colliding with the ground. Contributing to the accident was that the pilot had insufficient altitude to… - [NTSB CEN12FA517](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA517.md): Bellanca 7GCBC · Imperial, NE · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 4, 2012 · N36286 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from rising terrain while flying toward the rising sun, which interfered with his ability to see the terrain. - [NTSB ERA12CA495](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA495.md): Piper PA-25-260 · Alexander, NY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 2, 2012 · N6802L · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain altitude during aerial application, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. - [NTSB ANC12FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12FA083.md): Piper PA-32-301 · Hoonah, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 2, 2012 · N8200M · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain while in cruise flight in marginal visual meteorological conditions. - [NTSB CEN12LA490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA490.md): Smith Applebay Zuni II · Gregory, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 2012 · N1ZV · Substantial damage > The glider pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude and airspeed while turning to the base leg of the traffic pattern, which resulted in a stall/spin and impact with trees and terrain. - [NTSB CEN12CA464](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA464.md): Bertram William J Bertram 2000 · Shiocton, WI · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 21, 2012 · N115WB · Substantial damage > The pilot’s distraction with taking photographs, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid the guy wire. - [NTSB CEN12LA453](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA453.md): Air Tractor AT-402B · Britt, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 17, 2012 · N4843J · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines during an agricultural application operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distracted attention due to personal cell phone use during flight operations. - [NTSB ERA12LA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA455.md): Burkhart Grob G 103 Twin II · Hilltown, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 13, 2012 · N5448G · Substantial damage > The improper decision of the flight instructor receiving instruction to attempt a course reversal rather than land straight ahead following a simulated low-level rope break, and the inadequate remedial action of the flight instructor-in-command for allowing… - [NTSB WPR12LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA301.md): Cessna A188B · Cheyenne, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 10, 2012 · N4831R · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a power line. Contributing to the accident was the sun's glare. - [NTSB ANC12CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA067.md): Cessna 207A · Kotlik, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 6, 2012 · N2162C · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from terrain during cruise flight at low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water. A contributing factor was the pilot’s diverted attention to adjust the engine power. - [NTSB ERA12LA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA429.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Tallahassee, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 4, 2012 · N561CH · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain awareness of the helicopter’s altitude while attempting to troubleshoot the clutch actuator warning light, which resulted in an inadvertent descent and impact with water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's possible… - [NTSB WPR12FA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA282.md): Aerospatiale AS350B · Camp Verde, AZ · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2012 · N729DP · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper decision to fly at a low altitude through a river canyon, contrary to voluntary guidance within the Special Conservation Area, which led to collision with a cable. Contributing to the pilot’s decision were his cognitive and psychomotor… - [NTSB ERA12FA423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA423.md): Piper PA-31P · Dalton, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2012 · N33CG · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control following loss of power in the right engine for reasons that could not be determined because of fire and impact damage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delayed feathering of the right propeller… Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?year=2012&page=2 ## 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") = 2012 AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '01062012')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases?year=2012 --- 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.