# NTSB investigations: Visual illusion/disorientation

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 · 51 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR25LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA201.md): Lancair IV · Alpine, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2025 · N124GH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of visual reference during the landing approach which resulted in a collision with water.
- [NTSB CEN25LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA211.md): Cessna U206 · Falun, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 18, 2025 · N932DB · Substantial damage
  > The 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 ANC24FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA089.md): Bell 206B · King Salmon, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 7, 2024 · N306FW · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to initiate the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, failure to maintain helicopter control and subsequent impact with water.
- [NTSB WPR24LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA303.md): Cessna T206H · Big Bend-Gold Bar, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2024 · N379ME · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA24LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA171.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · South Kingstown, RI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 9, 2024 · N331EL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR24FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA002.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Moab, UT · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 2, 2023 · N7153R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s loss of visual reference to the horizon while departing during dark night, which resulted in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN23LA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA355.md): Cessna 172S · Waco, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 7, 2023 · N6319G · Substantial damage
  > The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent bounced landing.
- [NTSB ANC23FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA056.md): Bell 206-L4 · Wainwright, AK · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 20, 2023 · N311MH · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude over a large body of water toward featureless terrain, which resulted in a loss of visual clues and controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB WPR23FA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA172.md): Cessna 172S · Los Angeles, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 30, 2023 · N575ND · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB WPR23LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA145.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Elko, NV · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 1, 2023 · N462BA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude and airspeed in gusting tailwind conditions that resulted in an unrecoverable descent and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR23LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA103.md): Piper PA-12 · Porterville, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 4, 2023 · N3969B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR23LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA053.md): Aviat A-1C-180 · Morgan, UT · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 3, 2022 · N60WY · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from snow covered terrain while maneuvering at low attitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s loss of visual reference due to snow and flat light conditions.
- [NTSB CEN23FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA046.md): Extra EA300 · Wonder Lake, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 25, 2022 · N361LX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent path to the runway after he became disorientated by sun glare while on final approach, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA209.md): Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+ · Oakland, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 26, 2022 · N281SP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to continue the low-altitude aerial application flight over water conditions that degraded his depth perception, which resulted in an inadvertent collision with the water.
- [NTSB ERA22LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA206.md): Bell 206 · Lake Apopka, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 26, 2022 · N206BX · Substantial damage
  > A collision with water following a loss of visual reference to the water surface due to sun glare.
- [NTSB ANC22LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA023.md): Eurocopter AS 350 BA · Valdez, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 15, 2022 · N99676 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in flat light conditions, which resulted in landing short of the intended landing spot and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ANC22LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA019.md): Dehavilland DHC-3 · Deadhorse, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 21, 2022 · N413JP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path in flat light conditions, which resulted in landing short of the runway and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR22FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA101.md): Mcdonnell Douglas 500N · Newport Beach, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 20, 2022 · N521HB · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB ERA21LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA264.md): Bell 407 · Tampa, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 22, 2021 · N512TP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare while making a power off practice autorotative landing. Contributing was the decreased visual cues provided by the recently paved runway during the night landing conducted with the aid of night vision goggles.
- [NTSB CEN21LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA123.md): Piper J3F-50 · Weidman, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 3, 2021 · N26811 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low approach over a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the loss of depth perception due to the bright sunlight and snow.
- [NTSB WPR20LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA246.md): Air Tractor AT802 · Elgin, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2020 · N8510M · 2 aircraft · Destroyed
  > The trailing pilot’s failure to maintain separation from the lead airplane during a fire retardant deployment flight, which resulted in the trailing airplane flying through a plume of retardant and the trailing pilot’s subsequent loss of visibility that led…
- [NTSB WPR20LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA177.md): Zenair CH601 · Maricopa, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 10, 2020 · N6402X · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of situational awareness and descent below pattern altitude during the landing approach, which resulted in collision with terrain at night.
- [NTSB ERA20LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA150.md): Arion Lightning LS-1 · Mount Pleasant, SC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 10, 2020 · N81DJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees at the end of the runway due to spatial disorientation during initial climb in dark night conditions. Also causal was the flight instructor’s inadequate monitoring, which did not identify and prevent the…
- [NTSB ANC20CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA018.md): Cessna 172 · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 6, 2020 · N817PS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from snow-covered terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB WPR19FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA026.md): Zenith CH601 · Overgaard, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Nov 16, 2018 · N322JL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to monitor the airport’s visual approach path indicator during the final approach to the upsloping runway, which resulted in a low approach path and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR18FA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA245.md): Cessna P210 · Prescott, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Aug 30, 2018 · N6500W · Destroyed
  > The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude from the runway and his subsequent failure to maintain an approach path that provided clearance from the terrain due to a visual illusion in dark night conditions.
- [NTSB ERA17LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA201.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Gordonville, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 11, 2017 · N592BC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly configure the mixture control for landing due to disorientation because he had the airport diagram upside down, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ANC16LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA022.md): Airbus AS350 · Juneau, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2016 · N194EH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while on approach to land in flat light conditions. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was the inadequately restrained internal cargo, which shifted forward during the impact and struck the…
- [NTSB GAA16CA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA212.md): Cessna 140 · Poplar Grove, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 30, 2016 · N4242H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's visual disorientation and failure to monitor the altimeter during a night approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB ERA15FA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA299.md): Piper PA-28R · Marathon, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2015 · N54380 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff due to spatial disorientation while turning after takeoff in dark night conditions in a sparsely populated area, which resulted in the airplane’s descent into water. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB GAA15CA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA216.md): Cessna 150M · Ellijay, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 5, 2015 · N3568V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to attain and maintain sufficient airspeed during takeoff which resulted in a descent, loss of directional control, and a runway excursion.
- [NTSB WPR14CA366](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA366.md): Bellanca 8KCAB · Black Rock City, NV · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 6, 2014 · N31273 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's disorientation as a result of dust which reduced visibility.
- [NTSB ERA14FA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA288.md): Piper PA-46-500TP · White Plains, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2014 · N5335R · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff due to spatial disorientation (somatogravic illusion). Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to depart and his decision to depart in low-ceiling and…
- [NTSB CEN13FA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA217.md): Mooney M20E · Guymon, OK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2013 · N9330M · Destroyed
  > The noninstrument-rated pilot's encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and his subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off in deteriorating…
- [NTSB ANC13FA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13FA027.md): Cessna 182B · Nikolai, AK · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 4, 2013 · N2343G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering inside a box canyon and the airplane’s subsequent aerodynamic stall, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s visual…
- [NTSB CEN13CA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA206.md): Cessna T206H · Sabinal, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 13, 2013 · N7824G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to properly identify the airstrip, which resulted in him landing the airplane off of the airstrip in soft soil causing the nose over.
- [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 WPR13FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA010.md): Piper PA-28-151 · Marana, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 15, 2012 · N151SV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s flight in dark night conditions with no visual reference and his subsequent spatial disorientation.
- [NTSB WPR12CA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA284.md): Cessna 210-5 · West Glacier, MT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 2, 2012 · N8450Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot elected to abort the takeoff without sufficient runway available to land and stop the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the illusion created by the rising terrain, which influenced the pilot's decision to abort the takeoff.
- [NTSB DCA12CA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12CA021.md): Boeing 757-351 · Atlanta, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 9, 2011 · N583NW · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > the failure of the captain of N303DQ to maintain a safe clearance from N583NW that was stopped on the taxiway.
- [NTSB DCA11CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11CA084.md): Bombardier CL600 2D24 · Boston, MA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 14, 2011 · N132EV · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > the B767 Captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance between his wing and the tail of the CRJ900 that was stopped on a taxiway.
- [NTSB WPR11LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA233.md): Palmer RV6A · Cody, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 2011 · N52VC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s visual illusion and disorientation due to the flat light conditions.
- [NTSB ERA11GA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11GA207.md): Cessna A185F · Ashland, ME · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Mar 24, 2011 · N724MT · Substantial damage
  > An inadvertent encounter with localized instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
- [NTSB WPR11LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA076.md): Taylorcraft BC12-65 · College Place, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 2010 · N36041 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to abort the landing when he lost sight of the runway due to sun glare, and his inadequate compensation for the crosswind.
- [NTSB ERA11FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA085.md): Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · Pearlington, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 2010 · N361DS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain likely due to spatial disorientation, while flying over sparsely lighted terrain at night.
- [NTSB CEN10LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA041.md): Wicks Air Center Hornet · Bonham, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2009 · N651WA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's loss of control shortly after takeoff due to spatial disorientation in fog and/or low-level clouds.
- [NTSB ERA09LA527](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA527.md): Cessna 172 · Lowndesville, SC · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 2009 · N5845A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and improper decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation after entering instrument flight conditions.
- [NTSB ANC09CA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA020.md): Beech 65-A90-1 · Soldotna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 16, 2009 · N418SP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's misidentification of the runway surface during landing. Contributing to the accident were the snow-covered terrain, and low-light conditions.
- [NTSB CEN09MA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09MA117.md): Sikorsky S-76C · Morgan City, LA · Accident · 8 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Jan 4, 2009 · N748P · Destroyed
  > (1) the sudden loss of power to both engines that resulted from impact with a bird (red-tailed hawk), which fractured the windshield and interfered with engine fuel controls, and (2) the subsequent disorientation of the flight crewmembers, which left them…
- [NTSB DCA09FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA09FA009.md): General Atomics MQ-9 · Sierra Vista, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 7, 2008 · CBP113 · Substantial damage
  > the failure of the pilot to timely flare the aircraft to the appropriate attitude, likely associated with the different sight picture after switching cameras, resulting in a bounced landing; and the evaluator pilot’s lack of timely recognition and…

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '02022015'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases

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