# NTSB investigations: Recent instrument experience 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. ## Latest cases - [NTSB ERA24FA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA294.md): Cessna 182 · Rutherfordton, NC · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 8, 2024 · N2198G · Substantial damage > 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.md): Cessna P210N · San Diego, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 16, 2023 · N1400 · Substantial damage > 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 conditions despite his lack of recent instrument flight. - [NTSB CEN23FA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA095.md): Cessna 172 · Hooker, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jan 29, 2023 · N6482B · Destroyed > 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.md): Cessna 172S · Hermantown, MN · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 2, 2022 · N262TA · Substantial damage > 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. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue due to a long… - [NTSB WPR21FA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA270.md): Cessna 421C · Monterey, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 13, 2021 · N678SW · Destroyed > 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 terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of… - [NTSB CEN21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA075.md): Piper PA32 · Windom, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 6, 2020 · N8178Y · Destroyed > 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.md): Piper PA32 · Raleigh, NC · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 20, 2019 · N534Z · Destroyed > 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 flight experience. - [NTSB CEN19FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA088.md): Piper PA46 · Shreveport, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 28, 2019 · N428CD · Substantial damage > 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 the pilot's poor instrument flying skills and his decision… - [NTSB ERA19LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA012.md): Piper PA34 · Westhampton Beach, NY · Accident · 3 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2018 · N593MS · Destroyed > 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 disorientation, causing a loss of airplane control and subsequent… - [NTSB ERA18FA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA167.md): Raytheon 58 · Springfield Township, NJ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2018 · N218BL · Destroyed > 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 experience. - [NTSB ERA18FA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA114.md): Beech V35 · Hydro, OK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 26, 2018 · N7019N · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to continue the night visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing was the pilot's lack of instrument/night currency, and his failure… - [NTSB WPR18FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA084.md): Cessna 182T · Santee, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 6, 2018 · N3525T · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to take off into instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in spatial disorientation, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. - [NTSB CEN17FA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA354.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Glenwood Springs, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 16, 2017 · N462SR · Destroyed > The non-instrument-rated pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning, his decision to depart into forecast instrument meteorological conditions along the route of flight, and his continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which… - [NTSB ERA17FA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA180.md): Beech A36TC · Hopkinsville, KY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 12, 2017 · N1804E · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's intentional visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's overreliance on his… - [NTSB CEN16FA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA295.md): Mooney M20J · Holmen, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 28, 2016 · N54PM · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of airplane control during an instrument approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of instrument flight proficiency. - [NTSB WPR16FA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA059.md): Piper PA 24-260 · Santa Rosa, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 29, 2016 · N9362P · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an instrument approach in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience in night… - [NTSB WPR16FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA037.md): Bell 407 · McFarland, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 11, 2015 · N408FC · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of control and collision with terrain while attempting a course reversal after inadvertently entering an area of reduced visibility weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience with night time… - [NTSB CEN15FA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA400.md): Cessna 310H · Silverton, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 5, 2015 · N1099Q · Destroyed > The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper judgment and his failure to maintain situational awareness, which resulted in the flight's encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and controlled flight into terrain during cruise flight. - [NTSB WPR15FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA135.md): Piper PA32R - 301 · Townsend, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 26, 2015 · C-GAUS · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to depart on and to continue a visual flight rules flight over mountainous terrain into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent… - [NTSB CEN14FA437](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA437.md): Lancair LC 40 550FG · Ranger, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 17, 2014 · N6500Z · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of airplane control shortly after takeoff as a result of spatial disorientation due to dark night conditions, the pilot's low overall night and instrument flight time, and his lack of recent night flights. - [NTSB WPR14FA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA127.md): Piper PA 46 350P · Truckee, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 3, 2014 · N9281F · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to properly execute the missed approach in instrument conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s lack of instrument proficiency, as demonstrated by his failure to execute the required procedure turn to align with the final… - [NTSB ERA14FA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA068.md): Cessna 310R · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 8, 2013 · N98BT · Destroyed > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a missed approach in night instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation and a lack of instrument proficiency. - [NTSB WPR13FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA234.md): Cessna 421C · Floriston, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 16, 2013 · N421W · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during descent while operating in instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB CEN13LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA088.md): Cessna 172M · Rochester, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 3, 2012 · N9853Q · Substantial damage > The pilot’s spatial disorientation during the instrument approach in night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane descending below decision height and impacting terrain outside the lateral limits of the localizer. Contributing… - [NTSB CEN13FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA002.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Gary, IN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 2012 · N308PJ · Substantial damage > The pilot's loss of control during an instrument approach due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were deficient approach control services and the pilot's loss of positional awareness. - [NTSB DCA12PA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA12PA049.md): Israel Aircraft Industries F21-C2 · Fallon, NV · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Mar 6, 2012 · N404AX · Destroyed > fuel exhaustion following missed approaches due to deficient ATC handling under weather conditions which were significantly lower than forecast. The second missed approach may have been initiated due to limited pilot instrument proficiency. Contributing to… - [NTSB ERA11FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA074.md): Beech A36 · Theodore, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 30, 2010 · N1860P · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering at night in deteriorating weather conditions due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing. - [NTSB CEN10FA557](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA557.md): Piper PA-44-180 · Woodruff, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2010 · N570ER · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to attempt an instrument approach in turbulent night instrument meteorological conditions with a recently-identified deficiency with his instrument flight proficiency, which resulted in a loss of airplane control as a result of spatial… - [NTSB ERA10FA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10FA359.md): Piper PA-28RT-201 · North Myrtle Beach, SC · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 15, 2010 · N2825A · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions around a thunderstorm. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent actual instrument experience. - [NTSB CEN10FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA101.md): Cessna 172 · Holland, MI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 17, 2010 · N8405E · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to take off in known instrument meteorological conditions without instrument currency or recent instrument experience, which led to spatial disorientation resulting in an inadvertent spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack… - [NTSB CEN10FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA044.md): Beech A36 · Spring Branch, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 8, 2009 · N91TD · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during cruise flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to this accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience in flying in instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB WPR09FA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA158.md): Piper PA-32-300 · Corona, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 20, 2009 · N55962 · Substantial damage > The pilot did not maintain airplane control during climb due to spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent instrument flying experience. - [NTSB WPR09FA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA150.md): Piper PA28-236 · Pomona, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 14, 2009 · N129AB · Destroyed > The pilot's spatial disorientation while flying in instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent instrument flying experience. - [NTSB CEN09FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA146.md): Cirrus Design SR20 · Menomonie, WI · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 31, 2009 · N495LV · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while flying at night in instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB CEN09FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA083.md): Cessna 206H · Kalkaska, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 6, 2008 · N6053B · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees and terrain during the instrument-flight-rules flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to comply with instrument flight procedures and his lack of recent instrument flight experience. - [NTSB MIA08MA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08MA203.md): Aerospatiale SA365N-1 D · District Heights, MD · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Sep 28, 2008 · N92MD · Substantial damage > The pilot's attempt to regain visual conditions by performing a rapid descent and his failure to arrest the descent at the minimum descent altitude during a nonprecision approach. Contributing to the accident were (1) the pilot’s limited recent instrument… - [NTSB MIA08FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08FA163.md): Beech G35 · South Easton, MA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 12, 2008 · N4615D · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while attempting to execute an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of instrument currency. - [NTSB DEN08LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA139.md): Dickey RV-6A · Muskogee, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 11, 2008 · N22163 · Destroyed > The pilot's improper decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into an area of reduced visibility weather conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB LAX08FA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA256.md): Cessna 172K · Gearhart, OR · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 4, 2008 · N828CC · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff due to spatial disorientation. - [NTSB DFW08FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08FA062.md): Eurocopter France AS350B2 · S. Padre Island, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 6, 2008 · N911VA · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in the helicopter impacting the water. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, the low ceiling, dark night conditions, and… ## 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", '02031050')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031050/cases --- 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.