# Recent 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) › Recent instrument experience - NTSB code: 02031050 - Cases: 40 - In the probable cause: 28 - Fatal cases: 39 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031050/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031050/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031050 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 5 / 6 - 2009: 3 / 4 - 2010: 3 / 4 - 2012: 2 / 3 - 2013: 1 / 2 - 2014: 2 / 2 - 2015: 3 / 3 - 2016: 2 / 2 - 2017: 1 / 2 - 2018: 3 / 4 - 2019: 2 / 2 - 2020: 0 / 1 - 2021: 0 / 1 - 2022: 0 / 1 - 2023: 1 / 2 - 2024: 0 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 24 cases - [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 7 cases - [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 5 cases - [Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192): 2 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases - [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 2 cases - [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 2 cases - [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c): 2 cases - [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36): 2 cases - [Eurocopter France AS350B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-france-as350b2): 1 cases - [Aerospatiale SA365N-1 DAUPHIN](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa365n-1-dauphin): 1 cases - [Raytheon 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-58): 1 cases - [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180): 1 cases - [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t): 1 cases - [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 21 cases - [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 21 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 16 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 14 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 9 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010) (Environmental issues): 9 cases - [Below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075) (Environmental issues): 8 cases - [Low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015) (Environmental issues): 6 cases - [Ceiling/visibility/precip, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035000) (Environmental issues): 6 cases - [Situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035) (Personnel issues): 4 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA24FA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA294), Jul 8, 2024: Cessna 182 (N2198G), Rutherfordton, NC, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from clouds, resulting in controlled flight into terrain due to mountain obscuration. - [NTSB WPR24FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA037), Nov 16, 2023: Cessna P210N (N1400), San Diego, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate flight and fuel planning and his decision to fly in night instrument meteorological… - [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 ERA23FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA001), Oct 2, 2022: Cessna 172S (N262TA), Hermantown, MN, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during initial climb in dark night and low instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a descent into terrain.… - [NTSB WPR21FA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA270), Jul 13, 2021: Cessna 421C (N678SW), Monterey, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control due to spatial disorientation during an instrument departure procedure in instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in a collision with… - [NTSB CEN21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA075), Dec 6, 2020: Piper PA32 (N8178Y), Windom, MN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in loss of airplane control and subsequent impact with terrain. - [NTSB ERA20FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20FA014), Oct 20, 2019: Piper PA32 (N534Z), Raleigh, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a safe glidepath during final approach to the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of recent instrument… - [NTSB CEN19FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA088), Feb 28, 2019: Piper PA46 (N428CD), Shreveport, LA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's conduct of a departure into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB ERA19LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA012), Oct 13, 2018: Piper PA34 (N593MS), Westhampton Beach, NY, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The instructor's decision to conduct and continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions with a known flight instrument anomaly, which resulted in spatial… - [NTSB ERA18FA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA167), Jun 13, 2018: Raytheon 58 (N218BL), Springfield Township, NJ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of control due to spatial disorientation while climbing after departure in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent instrument… 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. --- 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.