# NTSB investigations, 2015, VA

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 GAA16CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA066.md): Grumman American Avn. AA 5 · West Point, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 2, 2015 · N28295 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly a traffic pattern following an aborted instrument landing in night instrument metrological conditions, which resulted in a loss of visual reference to the runway, an inadvertent aerodynamic stall, and a collision with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA16LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA046.md): U-Fly-It Aerolite 103 · Midland, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 8, 2015 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to attain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack during takeoff with the airplane’s center of gravity aft of its limit, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA16CA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA024.md): Maule M5 · Warrentown, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 24, 2015 · N406X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance of a cattle-guard fence on landing. Contributing to the accident was his lack of recent flying experience.
- [NTSB ERA16LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA022.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Bluemont, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 23, 2015 · N43249 · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power as a result of the separation of the No. 5 connecting rod for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB ERA16LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA016.md): Titan Tornado · Mitchells, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 15, 2015 · N4070F · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fatigue cracking and separation of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve stem.
- [NTSB ERA15LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA375.md): Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CT · Blacksburg, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 2015 · N710JC · Substantial damage
  > A loss of thermal lift during a motor glider flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines during the off-airport landing attempt.
- [NTSB ERA15LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA354.md): Cessna 177 · Moneta, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 13, 2015 · N2835X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's premature retraction of the wing flaps and his subsequent failure to maintain pitch control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident…
- [NTSB ERA15LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA315.md): Piper PA 28-161 · Bristow, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 2015 · N82587 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the student’s distraction due to other traffic in the airport traffic pattern.
- [NTSB ERA15LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA300.md): Cessna 182 · Hot Springs, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2015 · N7506S · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to the failure of a magneto. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane without a current annual inspection.
- [NTSB ERA15LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA282.md): North American Navion · Waynesboro, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 23, 2015 · N91418 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's early rotation of the airplane and his failure to attain a positive climb rate during takeoff with the airplane near its aft center of gravity limit from a runway with little margin for error.
- [NTSB ERA15LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA257.md): Piper PA28 · Galax Hillsville, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 1, 2015 · N43503 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB GAA15CA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA241.md): Cessna 172 · Upperville, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 22, 2015 · N5210A · Substantial damage
  > An inflight bird strike, which resulted in wing spar damage.
- [NTSB ERA15FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA215.md): Beech 95 B55 (T42A) · Saltville, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 18, 2015 · N5816S · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s flight into developing rain showers and updrafts, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s continued flight into forecast adverse weather conditions, and his reliance on…
- [NTSB GAA15CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA078.md): Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA4-200 · Mineral, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 16, 2015 · N1105L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a high-speed water taxi in rough water conditions, resulting in a collision with a dock.
- [NTSB ERA15LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA212.md): Gates Lear Jet 35 · Newport News, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 2 · Limited · Final report · May 12, 2015 · N80PG · Substantial damage
  > The flight crew’s inadequate preflight inspection of the nose landing gear strut, which resulted in the nosewheel not being aligned during retraction and the subsequent loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the nose…
- [NTSB ERA15FA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA170.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Orange, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 29, 2015 · N32396 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB ERA15CA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA150.md): Cessna 172S · Richmond, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 7, 2015 · N144ME · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's inadequate landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the airplane.
- [NTSB ERA15FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA144.md): Mooney M20F · Norfolk, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 4, 2015 · N66BB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to properly execute the instrument approach procedure. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper preflight planning and his decision to conduct the flight in instrument meteorological conditions at night into forecast moderate…
- [NTSB ERA15CA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA121.md): Autogyro Calidus · Crozet, VA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 4, 2015 · N595X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper control inputs which resulted in a loss of control and rollover during the takeoff roll.
- [NTSB ERA15CA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA120.md): Piper PA 18-150 · Brookneal, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 4, 2015 · N619GB · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor and pilot-rated student's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA15LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA094.md): Cessna 172 · Norfolk, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 6, 2015 · N2102P · Substantial damage
  > The engine’s failure to regain full power after a simulated engine failure for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations and testing.

## 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2015
  AND c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'VA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?state=VA&year=2015

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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.