# NTSB investigations, IL: Light condition

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 CEN25LA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA397.md): De Havilland DH82 · Harvard, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2025 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with cornstalks. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s partially obscured vision due to sun glare.
- [NTSB CEN24LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA276.md): Bell 206 · Cornland, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 21, 2024 · N26UK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot was unable to see a wire due to the setting sun and the helicopter subsequently struck the wire.
- [NTSB CEN23LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA350.md): Bell 206 · Carthage, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 6, 2023 · N288AE · Substantial damage
  > A collision with a fence during landing due to the crew’s reduced distance estimation and depth perception while using night vision goggles. Contributing to the accident was the low moon angle, which made viewing the fence more challenging.
- [NTSB CEN23FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA046.md): Extra EA300 · Wonder Lake, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Nov 25, 2022 · N361LX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent path to the runway after he became disorientated by sun glare while on final approach, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
- [NTSB CEN22LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA120.md): Cessna 172N · Murphysboro, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 12, 2022 · N737SY · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during approach for landing.
- [NTSB CEN20CA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA405.md): Piper PA28 · Huntley, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Sep 19, 2020 · N43020 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to land at night without runway lighting, which resulted in a collision with an object.
- [NTSB CEN20LA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA367.md): Cirrus SR22 · Lawrenceville, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 29, 2020 · N607SR · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain as a result of his failure to properly execute an instrument approach and maintain clearance from trees in night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unfamiliarity with a…
- [NTSB CEN18FA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA259.md): Eurocopter Deutschland EC135 P1 · Chicago, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2018 · N312SA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent disabling of the No. 1 and No. 2 engines' electronic engine control systems, which resulted in engine and rotor overspeed conditions, a subsequent autorotation, and a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's…
- [NTSB GAA18CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA069.md): Weaver David A Pulsar 912XP · Plato Center, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 2, 2017 · N912GR · Substantial damage
  > The 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 GAA17CA452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA452.md): Piper PA28 · St. Joseph, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 30, 2017 · N2204B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing and subsequent loss of directional control.
- [NTSB CEN17FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA064.md): Piper PA 28R-200 · Vienna, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 31, 2016 · N2806R · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to descend through an overcast layer of weather during dark night conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting trees.
- [NTSB GAA16CA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA212.md): Cessna 140 · Poplar Grove, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 30, 2016 · N4242H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's visual disorientation and failure to monitor the altimeter during a night approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN16LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA052.md): Cessna 208B · Chicago, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 3, 2015 · N732MD · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the driver of the service vehicle to yield to the taxiing airplane, which resulted in a near-collision and tail strike.
- [NTSB CEN15FA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA347.md): Grumman American Avn. AA 5A · Harrisburg, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2015 · N9684U · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in dark, night conditions and his subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN15LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA341.md): Hughes 269B · Atkinson, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2015 · N9427F · Destroyed
  > The pilot's improper decision to intentionally fly the helicopter at a low altitude and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from a power line.
- [NTSB CEN15FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA190.md): Cessna 414A · Bloomington, IL · Accident · 7 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 7, 2015 · N789UP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the instrument approach in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB CEN14FA522](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA522.md): Cessna T337G · Plano, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 29, 2014 · N37E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to recognize the airplane’s low altitude and arrest the airplane’s descent on approach to the airport in dark night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s degraded night…
- [NTSB CEN14LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA309.md): Schumacher Challenger II · St. Joesph, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 21, 2014 · N441MS · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to a lack of lubrication following the in-flight failure of the mechanical oil injection pump. Contributing to the accident was the temporary obscuration of the pilot's forward visibility due to sun glare during the forced…
- [NTSB CEN10CA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA092.md): Cessna 150L · Brownstown, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 5, 2010 · N10401 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the student pilot becoming lost/disoriented in flight.
- [NTSB CEN10FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA057.md): Cessna 182P · Kewanee, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 23, 2009 · N1986M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to initiate a visual night flight without recent night flight experience and his failure to maintain altitude during departure.
- [NTSB CEN09FA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA111.md): Lantzair Flyers Lancair 360 · Joliet, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2009 · N3603R · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate flying speed during the night takeoff for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control
- [NTSB CEN09LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA061.md): Cessna 182 · Downers Grove, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 2008 · N759HF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on final approach in night conditions, due to his impairment from recent use of alcohol, cocaine, and over-the-counter and prescription medications.
- [NTSB CHI08CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA078.md): Piper PA-44-180 · Cahokia, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 8, 2008 · N554PC · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to correct for proper runway alignment during final approach and his failure to maintain aircraft control during his subsequent go-around. Contributing to the accident was the dual-student's failure to properly align with the…

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'IL' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '030360'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030360/cases?state=IL

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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.