Skip to content

NTSB investigations, ID

11 cases where NTSB found Perception/orientation/illusion.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

20092026

Where

Latest cases

Query with 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 c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'ID' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '020220')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

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\" = 'ID' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '020220'))
  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 c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'ID' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '020220'))
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 WPR26LA053Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTecnam P2008 · Blackfoot, IDThe student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude and clearance from trees while maneuvering at night.Nov 10, 2025 · N208CM · Substantial damage NTSB WPR25LA036Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 180 · Owinza, IDThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a low pass over a lake.Oct 13, 2024 · N9493C NTSB WPR24FA201Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802 · Arco, IDA midair collision between two airplanes during aerial application operations due to both pilots’ insufficient awareness of their proximity to each other and their failure to see and avoid each other. Contributing to the accident was the operator and both…Jun 20, 2024 · N802TP · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB GAA18CA095Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 150 · Nampa, IDThe pilot’s geographic disoriention during a night flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.Jan 2, 2018 · N3229V · Substantial damage NTSB GAA15CA153Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrumman American Avn. AA 5A · Mackay, IDThe student pilot's disorientation in mountainous terrain and course deviation into a canyon, which resulted in the airplane's inability to out climb terrain and a forced landing.Jul 1, 2015 · N9887U · Substantial damage NTSB WPR14FA283Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 7GCBC · Landmark, IDThe failure of the overtaking airplane’s pilot to maintain visual contact and separation from the airplane being overtaken.Jul 7, 2014 · N162CG · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB WPR11FA448Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 182H · Stanley, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control due to spatial disorientation while executing a turn to reverse his course in dark night and low-visibility conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to initiate the flight into an area…Sep 13, 2011 · N2404X · Substantial damage NTSB WPR11FA156Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportDouglas AD-4N · Twin Falls, IDThe non-instrument-rated pilot’s encounter with localized instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.Mar 8, 2011 · N2088G · Substantial damage NTSB WPR10LA299Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportOliver Vans RV-9A · May, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during maneuvering flight due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's ingestion of an impairing level of over-the-counter medication.Jun 19, 2010 · N559B · Substantial damage NTSB WPR09CA181Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMax A Boesiger Jr Pulsar · Riddle, IDA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's becoming lost and disoriented. Contributing to the accident was fatigue, as reported by the pilot.Apr 6, 2009 · N610RJ · Substantial damage NTSB WPR09FA116Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24-260 · Hagerman, IDThe student pilot's spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's mental condition which could have contributed to the inappropriate decision to fly the…Feb 16, 2009 · N8810P · Destroyed