# Total instrument experience

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02) › [Experience/knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0203) › [Experience/qualifications](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/020310) › Total instrument experience
- NTSB code: 02031030
- Cases: 66
- In the probable cause: 51
- Fatal cases: 61
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031030

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 1 / 1
- 2009: 2 / 3
- 2010: 3 / 4
- 2011: 3 / 4
- 2012: 6 / 7
- 2013: 4 / 7
- 2014: 2 / 2
- 2015: 4 / 5
- 2016: 4 / 5
- 2017: 5 / 5
- 2018: 2 / 2
- 2019: 6 / 7
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2022: 4 / 4
- 2023: 3 / 5
- 2024: 0 / 3

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 29 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 20 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 7 cases
- [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 4 cases
- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 3 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases
- [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 1 cases
- [Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180): 3 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 3 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 2 cases
- [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h): 2 cases
- [Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2](https://openairdocs.org/model/helicopteres-guimbal-cabri-g2): 1 cases
- [Socata TB21](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb21): 1 cases
- [Raytheon B36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-b36tc): 1 cases
- [Raytheon A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-a36): 1 cases
- [Piper PA46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46-500tp): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 45 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 33 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 32 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 23 cases
- [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 22 cases
- [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 16 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 15 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 11 cases
- [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 10 cases
- [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 9 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 WPR24FA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA270), Aug 8, 2024: Cessna 182K (N2764Q), Augusta, MT, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into a rugged mountain area in deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in impact with terrain.
- [NTSB WPR24FA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA105), Mar 10, 2024: Piper PA-32-260 (N3264W), Madras, OR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an encounter with turbulence and structural icing conditions, loss of control, and…
- [NTSB WPR24FA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA040), Nov 26, 2023: Piper PA-28-180 (N7763W), Mertzon, TX, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB ERA23LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA328), Aug 4, 2023: Cessna 172 (N13384), Charlotte Amalie, CB, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots’ loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was both pilots’ lack of experience in operating in actual instrument meteorological conditions.
- [NTSB CEN23FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA125), Mar 7, 2023: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N494SH), Port O'Connor, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s initiation of the visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB CEN23FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA095), Jan 29, 2023: Cessna 172 (N6482B), Hooker, OK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart and continue the visual flight rules flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB ERA23FA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA109), Jan 13, 2023: Piper PA-28-180 (N4254T), Dawsonville, GA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate a visual flight rules flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in a loss of control in-flight due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to…
- [NTSB CEN23FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA031), Nov 9, 2022: Piper PA46-500TP (N234PM), Bignell, NE, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s flight into low instrument flight rules conditions and turbulence, which resulted in spatial disorientation, loss of control, and an impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was…
- [NTSB WPR22FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA266), Jul 25, 2022: Holland Mike RV9A (N192MH), Tryon, NE, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, exceedance of the…

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.

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