NTSB investigations
27 cases where NTSB found Geographic disorient (lost).
Cases per year
| 2008 | 3 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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 c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '02022030')) 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."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '02022030')) 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 ERA25LA199Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 182A · Ocala, FLThe pilot’s decision to depart on the flight with known electrical issues and his subsequent loss of situational awareness (geographic position), which resulted in his eventual decision to perform an off-airport landing.NTSB ERA22LA326Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Waynesville, OHThe pilot’s loss of situational awareness (geographic position), which resulted in his inability to locate the intended landing runway and his decision to perform an off-airport landing.NTSB CEN21LA156Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 170 · Poplar Bluff, MOThe pilot’s decision to make a precautionary landing in a field that contained soft terrain, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly without a printed VFR sectional chart to identify the…NTSB ERA20CA300Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 182 · Millington, MDThe pilot’s misidentification of a corn field for the destination airport’s runway, and a subsequent aerodynamic stall at low altitude while attempting to land.NTSB ANC19FA029Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportMaule M6 · Moose Pass, AKThe pilot's geographic disorientation and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering to avoid mountainous terrain, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.NTSB GAA18CA095Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 150 · Nampa, IDThe pilot’s geographic disoriention during a night flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.NTSB GAA18CA073Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBrock Steiner Sport Copter Vortex · Spanish Fork, UTThe pilot’s failure to maintain situational and geographic awareness during the flight, which resulted in him becoming lost and exhausting the gyroplane’s fuel.NTSB GAA18CA069Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportWeaver David A Pulsar 912XP · Plato Center, ILThe pilot’s decision to continue to land without visual reference to the airport in low light conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to activate the private airport’s pilot-controlled lighting system due to its configuration.NTSB CEN18LA014Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · Gustavus, OHThe pilot’s geographic disorientation while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern in dark night conditions, which resulted in the airplane descending below a normal approach path and a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's…NTSB WPR17FA101Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportIcon A5 · Lake Berryessa, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's mistaken entry into a canyon surrounded by steep rising terrain while at a low altitude for reasons that could not be…NTSB WPR17FA021Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369 · Pukoo, HIThe pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions at night in rain, which resulted in his geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain.NTSB GAA16CA330Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 152 · Clearlake Oaks, CAThe pilot's deviation from his original flight plan, which resulted in becoming lost in mountainous terrain at night, fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a collision with power lines during a forced landing.NTSB WPR15FA247Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 172P · Townsend, MTThe non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct a cross-country flight over a mountain range in dark night conditions with limited night flight experience, which resulted in a collision with mountainous terrain.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.NTSB ANC15MA041Accident · 9 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportDehavilland DHC-3 · Ketchikan, AK(1) the pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his geographic disorientation and controlled flight into terrain; and (2) Promech's company culture, which tacitly endorsed flying in…NTSB ERA15CA152Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 182L · Waycross, GAThe pilot's failure to use any airport guidance while taxiing, which resulted in geographic disorientation and a takeoff attempt from an inadequate length and unsuitable surface.NTSB WPR13FA073Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeech B100 · Libby, MTThe 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 ERA12CA082Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCirrus Design SR20 · Brooksville, FLThe pilot's incorrect identification of the runway, which resulted in an off-airport landing and subsequent collision with objects.NTSB CEN12LA060Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Eau Claire, WIThe pilot’s disorientation during a night flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing, and his inadequate directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the loss of the airplane’s electrical system power.NTSB WPR11LA318Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-22-108 · Frazier Park, CAThe pilot’s geographic disorientation, which resulted in an off-airport precautionary landing in soft terrain and a subsequent nose over.NTSB CEN10CA092Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 150L · Brownstown, ILA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the student pilot becoming lost/disoriented in flight.NTSB ERA09CA328Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportTrick Trikes Storm Thunder · Raleigh, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on approach for landing.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.NTSB CEN09LA128Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportProbst Baby Ace D · Kilgore, TXA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel planning. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain situational awareness, resulting in him being lost.NTSB NYC08CA275Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportI.C.A.-Brasov IS-26B2 · Fincastle, VAThe pilot's geographic disorientation, which resulted in an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's selection of an inadequate landing site.NTSB ANC08LA095Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna T210 · Ketchikan, AKThe pilot's failure to ensure that there was sufficient fuel on board the airplane for the planned flight, and his inadequate flight planning and navigation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and ditching short of the planned destination. Contributing to the…NTSB CHI08CA131Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportKuntz Kuntz 2000 GTS EFI · Dickinson, NDThe pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the precautionary landing at night. Contributing to the accident was the pilot becoming lost after inadvertently encountering fog while en route, the night…