# NTSB investigations: In flight collision with terrain/water

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 8 of 70 · 3,485 cases

## Cases, newest first

- [NTSB CHI03LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA160.md): Piper PA-24 · Harvey, ND · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2003 · N21533 · Substantial damage
  > The aborted takeoff not performed by the pilot. The inadequate short field takeoff procedure by the pilot and the short grass runway were contributing factors.
- [NTSB LAX03LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA188.md): Ayres S2R-G10 · Maricopa, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 9, 2003 · N6117X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance/altitude from terrain during an aerial application, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's diverted attention while resetting a circuit breaker.
- [NTSB SEA03FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03FA096.md): Aviat A-1A · Sandpoint, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 2003 · N141F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a low pass maneuver which resulted in a stall. A related factor was the trees.
- [NTSB LAX03LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA173.md): Aero Vodochody L-39 · Tracy, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 31, 2003 · N139RH · Destroyed
  > the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance while performing low level aerobatics.
- [NTSB FTW03LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA163.md): Robinson R44 · Brazos Blk 532 · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 29, 2003 · N7188K · Destroyed
  > undetermined, aircraft not recovered.
- [NTSB ATL03LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA098.md): Cessna 172N · Hampton, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 29, 2003 · N140PF · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the runway during a low pass. A factor was gusty wind conditions.
- [NTSB MIA03LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA114.md): Cessna 172E · Hastings, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 26, 2003 · N817T · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane resulting in in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB LAX03FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA166.md): Rockwell 114 · Bishop, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 26, 2003 · N4730W · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering close to the ground over mountainous terrain in a high density altitude environment near the upper performance capability of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush into…
- [NTSB LAX03FA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA161.md): Cessna 177RG · Ely, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 22, 2003 · N8034G · Substantial damage
  > the airplane collided with terrain for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB CHI03LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA133.md): Air & Space 18A · South Shore, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 19, 2003 · N6155S · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. The pilot's lack of experience, the rain, the dark night, the low ceiling, and the rising terrain were contributing factors to the accident.
- [NTSB FTW03LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA152.md): Cessna A188B · Fabens, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 16, 2003 · N478RD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. The pilot's attempt to avoid an obstacle was a contributing factor.
- [NTSB ANC03LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA049.md): Piper PA-18-160 · Aniak, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 16, 2003 · N9877D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering, which resulted in the airplane colliding with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
- [NTSB CHI03LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA124.md): Air Tractor AT-602 · Benkelman, NE · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 14, 2003 · N5192T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude clearance while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the wheat crop and the ground.
- [NTSB FTW03CA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03CA146.md): Bell 47G-4 · Robinson, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 12, 2003 · N4205D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the ground while performing a quick stop maneuver which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB DEN03LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA078.md): Bell 206-L4 · Aurora, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 8, 2003 · N70TV · Substantial damage
  > inadequate infligt planning/decision by the flight crew and the check pilot's failure to initiate remedial action in a timely manner. Contributing factors were the pilot-in-command's inadequate supervision of the check pilot, the check pilot's lack of recency…
- [NTSB CHI03LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA121.md): Piper PA-18-150 · Gordon, NE · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 4, 2003 · N9682P · Substantial damage
  > The pilots failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. Contributing factors to this accident were the rain, hail, and wind gusts.
- [NTSB NYC03LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA093.md): Cessna R182 · Monticello, NY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 28, 2003 · N1695R · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's premature raising of the flaps during the aborted landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.
- [NTSB MIA03LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA099.md): Cessna 172D · South Ponotoc, MS · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 27, 2003 · N2371U · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to maintain altitude and aircraft control during a low pass over a grass runway, which resulted in the airplane impacting the ground.
- [NTSB CHI03LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA116.md): Walker Lancair IV · Wamego, KS · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 26, 2003 · N7441W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the runway while maneuvering on final approach. A factor to the accident was the pilot's misjudgment of his altitude while on final approach.
- [NTSB ANC03LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA044.md): Piper PA-32-300 · Kotzebue, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 16, 2003 · N2863T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during cruise flight. Factors associated with the accident were flat light conditions, and snow-covered terrain.
- [NTSB LAX03FA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA134.md): Hughes 269B · Auburn, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2003 · N16133 · Destroyed
  > the misjudged flare maneuver by an unknown crewmember during a likely practice autorotation that resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.
- [NTSB IAD03FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03FA045.md): Beech A36 · Pomona, NJ · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2003 · N256PR · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to follow instrument approach procedures. Factors in the accident included the pilot's lack of recent instrument experience and the instrument weather conditions.
- [NTSB ATL03FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA077.md): Cessna 414 · Waleska, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 10, 2003 · N822DB · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain.
- [NTSB LAX03FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA131.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Big Bear Lake, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 6, 2003 · N8719N · Destroyed
  > the pilot's inadequate decision regarding a departure route and his failure to maintain clearance with rapidly rising mountainous terrain. A factor in the accident was the pilot's impairment by the effects of exposure to marijuana within the 10-hour period…
- [NTSB DEN03LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA062.md): Hughes 369D · Estes Park, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 2003 · N56SM · Substantial damage
  > the failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain clearance from terrain. Factors include the high density altitude and the pilot-in-command's improper in-flight planning.
- [NTSB DEN03LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA061.md): Piper PA-18A-150 · Newcastle, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2003 · N6883B · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Contributing factors include inadequate in-flight planning and decision making by the pilot, and the ground.
- [NTSB CHI03LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA093.md): Luscombe 8A · Sturtevant, WI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 30, 2003 · N45799 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's abrupt liftoff resulting in his failure to maintain adequate airspeed followed by a stall. Also causal was the instructor's inadequate supervision.
- [NTSB ATL03FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA070.md): Cessna 172R · Cherokee, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 28, 2003 · N35255 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain.
- [NTSB DEN03FA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA059.md): Cessna A185F · Grand Junction, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 27, 2003 · N53008 · Destroyed
  > the pilot's poor judgment and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the high winds and downdrafts, and the pilot's self-induced pressure to go home.
- [NTSB DEN03LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA053.md): Beech E-90 · Kremmling, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 20, 2003 · N711TZ · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's improper in-flight planning and his failure to maintain safe clearance from the high terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the high terrain and the dark night.
- [NTSB ANC03LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA031.md): Cessna 185 · Galena, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 9, 2003 · N1613M · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the airplane to climb after takeoff which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during an aborted landing attempt.
- [NTSB DEN03LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA044.md): Cessna 150M · Gateway, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 3, 2003 · N714NF · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the snow-covered runway.
- [NTSB LAX03FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA100.md): Cessna 172N · Ely, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 23, 2003 · N9885J · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance while flying in a box canyon.
- [NTSB MIA03FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03FA065.md): Aerofab Lake 250 · Weirsdale, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 20, 2003 · N811JG · Destroyed
  > The inadequate flare by the pilot-in-command on the calm water resulting in the in-flight collision with the water and subsequent nose over.
- [NTSB LAX03FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA090.md): Cessna 172P · Santa Susana, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 18, 2003 · N65005 · Destroyed
  > The flight instructor's inadequate in-flight decision to cross mountainous terrain at a inadequate altitude to guarantee terrain clearance.
- [NTSB IAD03FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03FA032.md): Cessna 421 · Ferguson, KY · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 17, 2003 · N421TJ · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to follow the instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into trees and terrain. Factors included the low ceiling and the night lighting conditions.
- [NTSB ANC03LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA026.md): Hughes 369E · Paxson, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 10, 2003 · N500DX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's attention being diverted inside the cockpit to look at the global positioning system.
- [NTSB CHI03LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA064.md): Piper PA-24-180 · Halstead, KS · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 5, 2003 · N5681P · Substantial damage
  > Failure by the flight crew to execute an aborted takeoff when acceleration degraded and the improper soft field takeoff procedure as flown by the private pilot. Contributing factors were inadequate supervision by the flight instructor and the tailwind…
- [NTSB SEA03LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA034.md): Beech E18S · Burlington, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 4, 2003 · N48K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to adequately remove ice/frost from the aircraft and to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff. An inadequate preflight was a factor.
- [NTSB LAX03LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA079.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 1, 2003 · N6087W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance above the surrounding terrain, and his evasive maneuver to avoid a perceived object. A factor in the accident was the dark night.
- [NTSB LAX03FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA076.md): Piper PA-60-601P · Scottsdale, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 27, 2003 · N3636Q · Destroyed
  > the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate altitude clearance from mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were dark night conditions, mountainous terrain, and the pilot's diverted attention.
- [NTSB SEA03FA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03FA028.md): Piper PA-28-181 · Eastsound, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 19, 2003 · N7282C · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water and his failure to reset the altimeter to the local barometric pressure. Contributing factors were fog and night conditions.
- [NTSB CHI03LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA236.md): Polsgrove Bluegrass Express · Grafton, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 9, 2003 · N113YE · Destroyed
  > Undetermined.
- [NTSB LAX03FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA061.md): Mooney M20C · Warner Springs, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 8, 2003 · N5629Q · Destroyed
  > the pilot's loss of control during flight as a result of incapacitation due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
- [NTSB DEN03LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA027.md): Aircraft Mfg & Dev. CH2000 · Milford, UT · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2003 · N8500R · Destroyed
  > the inadequate altitude chosen by the flight instructor, resulting in inadequate clearance and subsequent collision with mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were the instructor's failure to consult pertinent VFR sectional charts for the area, and the…
- [NTSB MIA03FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03FA034.md): Cessna 208B · Manteo, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 25, 2002 · N1122Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued descent below the minimum descent altitude, for undetermined reasons, while performing a NDB approach, resulting in the airplane crashing into water 1.5 miles from the airport. A factor in the accident was a cloud ceiling below the…
- [NTSB ANC03LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA022.md): Cessna 180 · Petersburg, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 2002 · N9701G · Destroyed
  > An in flight collision with ocean water for an undetermined reason.
- [NTSB NYC03LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA029.md): Robinson R-22 · Suffolk, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 12, 2002 · N9444Y · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while landing, which resulted in a collision with an embankment.
- [NTSB CHI03LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA036.md): North American T-28B · Glenwood, MN · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 10, 2002 · N114DH · Destroyed
  > The altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot-in-command. The low altitude maneuvering by the pilot-in-command was a contributing factor.
- [NTSB FTW03FA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA059.md): Beech 1900C · Eagleton, AR · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 9, 2002 · N127YV · Destroyed
  > In-flight collision with terrain due to the pilot's failure to maintain clearance and altitude above rapidly rising terrain while on a VFR approach. Contributing factors were the obscuration of the terrain due to clouds.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md?occurrence=230&page=9

## 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 o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 230)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?occurrence=230&page=8

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