# Fatal NTSB investigations: In flight encounter with weather 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. Page 1 of 36 · 1,781 cases ## Latest cases - [NTSB LAX08FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA043.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Paso Robles, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 30, 2007 · N254SR · Substantial damage > The pilot's encounter with isolated moderate (or greater) turbulence, updrafts, and downdrafts associated with localized mountain wave conditions at low altitude, and, his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the encounter that resulted in an… - [NTSB SEA08FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA045.md): Beech A36TC · Minersville, UT · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 11, 2007 · N364KW · Destroyed > The flying pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance during cruise. Contributing to the accident were low clouds, reduced visibility and mountainous terrain. - [NTSB ANC08FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08FA025.md): Eurocopter Deutschland BK117C1 · Whittier, AK · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 3, 2007 · N141LG · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the operator's failure to adhere to an FAA-approved and mandated safety risk management program, the FAA's failure to provide… - [NTSB SEA08LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA021.md): Cessna 340 · Garberville, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 6, 2007 · N5049Q · Destroyed > The pilot's intentional visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain clearance from the trees and terrain during climb. Contributing to the accident were the weather conditions of fog and a low… - [NTSB LAX08FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA026.md): Beech A100 · Chino, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 6, 2007 · N30GC · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate during an instrument takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the low visibility. - [NTSB LAX08MA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08MA007.md): Cessna 208B · Naches, WA · Accident · 10 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Oct 8, 2007 · N430A · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's impaired physiological state due to hypoxia, the pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation, and his… - [NTSB DEN08LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA004.md): Aerostar S-66A · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 8, 2007 · N7179Z · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout and clearance resulting in an in-flight collision with power lines, and the ground crew's improper assistance. Contributing to this accident were the high wind, the pilot's diverted attention, low… - [NTSB SEA08FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08FA006.md): Cessna 310N · Ekalaka, MT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 7, 2007 · N85WT · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, his continued flight into adverse weather (icing conditions), and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the emergency descent for landing. Contributing to the accident were the forecast icing… - [NTSB NYC08LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA008.md): Beech D55 · St.Croix · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 7, 2007 · N100UC · Destroyed > The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into IMC conditions subsequently leading to a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of instrument experience, the weather conditions, and the night lighting… - [NTSB LAX08FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA002.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Oak Hills, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2007 · N6549W · Substantial damage > The pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain terrain clearance during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident were mountainous terrain, dark night, and fog. - [NTSB MIA08FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08FA001.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Walthourville, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 2007 · N96HA · Destroyed > The non-instrument rated pilot's loss of control at night in marginal night VFR operations due to spatial disorientation. A factor in the accident was the pilot's improper decision to continue the flight. - [NTSB CHI07FA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA305.md): Piper PA-32R-301T · Defiance, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 26, 2007 · N8341G · Destroyed > The pilot's spatial disorientation when he encountered convective turbulence which resulted in a loss of control. This encounter resulted in an in-flight break up. Contributing to the accident was the convective turbulence in the clouds. - [NTSB MIA07FA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07FA154.md): North American Navion · Clayton, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 21, 2007 · N8844H · Destroyed > The pilot's intentional abrupt maneuver during low altitude cruise flight to avoid obstructions ahead, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain and a building. Contributing to the accident were the failure of the pilot to obtain a preflight weather… - [NTSB NYC07FA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07FA226.md): Piper PA-32R-301 · Whitfield, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 13, 2007 · N109PA · Destroyed > The pilot’s intentional flight into known thunderstorms. - [NTSB SEA07FA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA277.md): Bellanca 8KCAB-180 · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 3, 2007 · N240R · Destroyed > The pilot’s inadvertent encounter with downdrafts that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the downdrafts, high density altitude, and mountainous terrain. - [NTSB DEN07FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA140.md): Cessna 182R · Dayton, WY · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2007 · N6109N · Destroyed > the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in mountainous terrain due to gusty wind conditions, and lee side turbulence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, and his failure to… - [NTSB CHI07LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA260.md): Piper PA-28-140 · West Bend, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2007 · N1696H · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to depart in adverse weather conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Contributing to the accident included the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, his lack of recent night experience, the night conditions and… - [NTSB ANC07FA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07FA068.md): de Havilland DHC-2 · Ketchikan, AK · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2007 · N995WA · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to continue under visual flight rules into an area of instrument metrological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and the FAA's inadequate surveillance of the commercial air tour… - [NTSB SEA07FA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA199.md): Cessna 182S · New River, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 15, 2007 · N2454M · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into IMC and his ensuing failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight. Contributing factors were the cloudy weather and the dark night conditions. - [NTSB ATL07FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07FA102.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Tyringham, MA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 9, 2007 · N5595J · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadvertent encounter with thunderstorms during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the failure of air traffic control to appropriately issue weather information and initiate an in-flight deviation around known and clearly observed… - [NTSB LAX07FA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA200.md): Beech E90 · Carlsbad, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2007 · N47LC · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an instrument takeoff attempt. Contributing to the accident were fog, reduced visibility, and the low ceiling. - [NTSB CHI07FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA183.md): Piper PA-46-500TP · Wellsville, MO · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2007 · N477MD · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to activate the pitot heat as per the checklist, resulting in erroneous airspeed information due to pitot tube icing, and his subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's continued flight in… - [NTSB CHI07FA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA182.md): North American Navion · Colona, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 25, 2007 · N8804H · Destroyed > The non-instrument rated pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB CHI07FA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA176.md): Beech A36TC · Cannon Falls, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 22, 2007 · N3671S · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientaton and loss of control. - [NTSB SEA07FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA148.md): Cessna 210-5 (205) · Quilcene, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2007 · N8308Z · Substantial damage > The pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain. Factors contributing to the accident included the low clouds which obscured the rising, mountainous terrain. - [NTSB DFW07LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA102.md): Walker Zenith Zodiac 601 XL · Canadian, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 2, 2007 · N10028 · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper pre-flight planning and decision to depart into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent in-flight break up. - [NTSB DEN07FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA089.md): Schleicher Alexander ASH 26E · Castle Rock, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 29, 2007 · N123KS · Substantial damage > the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. - [NTSB ATL07FA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07FA081.md): Piper PA-38-112 · Dawsonville, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 26, 2007 · N9247T · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, with a low cloud ceiling, over mountainous terrain. - [NTSB MIA07LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA084.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) · Accident · 5 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 21, 2007 · N4TR · Destroyed > The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into known adverse weather conditions, resulting in an in-flight loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were thunderstorms. - [NTSB SEA07FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA106.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 18, 2007 · N8168N · Substantial damage > The pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his ensuing failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the cloudy weather conditions and the mountainous terrain. - [NTSB MIA07LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA073.md): Piper PA-46-310P · Bird Cay, Bahamas · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 10, 2007 · N444JH · Destroyed > The pilot's poor in-flight weather evaluation, which resulted in flight into a level 6 thunderstorm. - [NTSB NYC07FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07FA091.md): Piper PA-30 · Trappe, MD · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 4, 2007 · N555EM · Destroyed > The pilot's improper decision to fly into an area of thunderstorms, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the thunderstorm. - [NTSB ATL07LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA067.md): Piper PA28-181 · New Tazewell, TN · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2007 · N30465 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the non-instrument rated pilot's continued flight from visual meteorological conditions into instrument meteorological conditions, and a low cloud ceiling. - [NTSB LAX07FA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA103.md): Piper PA-28-235 · Tooele, UT · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 8, 2007 · N9381W · Destroyed > The pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the airplane, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the wings and horizontal stabilizers. Contributing to the accident were the night lighting conditions, clouds, turbulence and icing conditions. - [NTSB CHI07FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA073.md): Cessna 340A · Council Bluffs, IA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 17, 2007 · N111SC · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather, and his failure to maintain altitude during the instrument approach. Contributing factors were the presence of severe icing, moderate turbulence, and low-level wind shear. - [NTSB DFW07FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07FA067.md): Cessna 414 · Rocksprings, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 9, 2007 · N69845 · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Contributing factors were the below approach/landing minimums weather and the drizzle/mist weather conditions. - [NTSB ATL07FA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07FA040.md): Beech A36 · Hinesville, GA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 9, 2007 · N506BC · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in the in-flight breakup of the airplane due to aerodynamic overload. Contributing to the accident were airframe icing and the pilot's impairment by illegal drugs. - [NTSB ATL07FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07FA038.md): Cessna 172K · Bessemer, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 2, 2007 · N7109G · Substantial damage > The non-instrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB DEN07FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA054.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Centennial, WY · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2007 · N43630 · Substantial damage > the pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions resulting in a loss of aircraft control. Contributing factors include the pilot's improper preflight planning and decision making, the pilot's spatial disorientation, the pilot's lack of night… - [NTSB DEN07FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA053.md): Cessna 182R · Waltman, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2007 · N9937H · Destroyed > the pilot's continued visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and failure to maintain terrain clearance resulting in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper preflight and… - [NTSB DEN07FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA045.md): Piper PA-34-200T · Manzanola, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 5, 2007 · N8231D · Destroyed > the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions resulting in the subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning, self-induced… - [NTSB DFW07FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07FA049.md): Cessna 172H · Armstrong, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 3, 2007 · N3940R · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions resulting in a loss of control. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions, the clouds. low ceilings, and the pilot's limited night and instrument experience. - [NTSB CHI07FA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA046.md): Rockwell International 114 · Jasper, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 26, 2006 · N55MB · Substantial damage > The pilot's inability to maintain altitude due to excessive airframe ice accretion, resulting in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Additional causes were the pilot's continued flight in icing conditions once they had been encountered, and his… - [NTSB MIA07FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07FA029.md): Cessna 421B · Greenhead, FL · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 2006 · N70BC · Destroyed > The pilot-in-command's improper planning/decision and continued flight into known adverse weather which resulted in an encounter with a level 5 thunderstorm. - [NTSB LAX07FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA061.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Bridgeport, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 2006 · N8001H · Destroyed > The pilot's attempted VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was mountain obscuration. - [NTSB LAX07FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA056.md): Bell 412SP · Hesperia, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 11, 2006 · N410MA · Destroyed > The pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident were the dark night conditions, fog, and mountainous terrain. - [NTSB CHI07FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07FA032.md): Cessna 172 · Crookston, MN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 2, 2006 · N9850G · Destroyed > The pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions which led to his spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control. Factors were the snow, the low ceiling, and the pilot's lack of instrument flight experience. - [NTSB SEA07FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA012.md): Cessna 172M · Escalante, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 25, 2006 · N9179D · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of experience of flying on instruments on a dark night and in rainy weather. - [NTSB LAX07FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA021.md): Cirrus SR22 · Meadview, AZ · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 25, 2006 · N121LD · Destroyed > The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and continued flight into forecasted icing conditions. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the pilot's failure to follow proper operating procedures and deploy the CAPS when the airplane entered a spin.… - [NTSB ATL07FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07FA005.md): Beech BE-19A · Gunthertown, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 9, 2006 · N6974Q · Destroyed > The pilot's continued flight from VMC into IMC conditions which resulted in an in-flight collision with rising terrain. Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md?fatal=1&occurrence=240&page=2 ## 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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 240) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&occurrence=240 --- 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.