# NTSB investigations: High elevation 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 ANC25LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA064.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Palmer, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2025 · N531AT · Substantial damage > The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff in flat light conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference with terrain. - [NTSB WPR25LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA006.md): Agustawestland AW109SP · Kamas, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 8, 2024 · N631HC · Substantial damage > The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a confined area, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a hard landing. - [NTSB WPR24LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA207.md): Piper J3C-65 · Scheelite, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 19, 2024 · N3627N · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadvertent entry to a box canyon where the airplane could not outclimb the rising terrain. - [NTSB CEN20LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA273.md): Aerospatiale AS355 · Rifle, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 11, 2020 · N708AC · Destroyed > A loss of tail rotor effectiveness, the pilot’s subsequent loss of helicopter control, and collision with terrain. - [NTSB WPR20FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA008.md): Piper PA 24 · Angel Fire, NM · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 20, 2019 · N7742P · Substantial damage > The airplane’s degraded performance due to high-density altitude and gusting wind conditions, which resulted in its inability to maintain altitude during the initial takeoff climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience with high… - [NTSB CEN18LA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA329.md): Cessna 150 · Madison, SD · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2018 · N6341K · Substantial damage > A stuck No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve, which resulted in failure of the associated rocker arm, a partial loss of engine power, and the subsequent forced landing into tall vegetation. - [NTSB GAA17CA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA202.md): Cessna 182 · Mackay, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 25, 2017 · N52743 · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to maneuver the airplane over mountainous terrain in high-density altitude conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain altitude or establish a climb. - [NTSB CEN15LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA295.md): Waco UPF 7 · Montrose, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 3, 2015 · N29943 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to attain suitable altitude while flying over high mountainous terrain in downdraft conditions. - [NTSB WPR14GA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14GA281.md): American Eurocopter AS350B3 · Fallon, NV · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Jul 4, 2014 · N832PA · Substantial damage > A loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in an uncontrolled rotation and descent into terrain. Contributing to the accident was a sudden shift in wind conditions and the helicopter's high power demand condition due to its load weight and operating… - [NTSB WPR12LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA365.md): Cessna 182Q · McCall, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2012 · N735KV · Substantial damage > The flight instructor’s selection of the wrong route while flying in mountainous terrain at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane impacting terrain when the increase in elevation exceeded the airplane’s climb performance. - [NTSB WPR11CA413](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA413.md): Cessna 172F · Atlanta, ID · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 29, 2011 · N8698U · Substantial damage > The pilot’s misjudgment of his final approach path. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. - [NTSB CEN10CA545](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA545.md): Aerospatiale AS 355F1 · Pikes Peak, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 17, 2010 · N5802W · Substantial damage > The helicopter's encounter with an unexpected downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB WPR10LA417](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA417.md): Cessna 172E · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 22, 2010 · N7807U · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and airplane control during takeoff in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. - [NTSB CEN10LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA227.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Glenwood, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 7, 2010 · N4372J · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude. - [NTSB SEA08CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA208.md): Robinson R22 Beta II · Flagstaff, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 24, 2008 · N926EL · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff in a high density altitude high gross weight condition that exceeded the takeoff performance capability of the helicopter. The pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm was also causal. Contributing factors were… - [NTSB LAX08FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA115.md): Cessna 150J · Sonora, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 18, 2008 · N60760 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were rising mountainous terrain and a high density altitude. ## 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", '03021025')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/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.