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Descent rate

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NTSB finding · Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters

All 242 cases223 in the probable cause
Cases
242
In the probable cause
223 (92%)
Fatal cases
21
NTSB code
01062037

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where NTSB made it part of the probable cause; in gray, a factor or other finding. Findings are coded with the final report, often a year or more after the event, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008In the probable causeFactor only2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE f.\"inProbableCause\") AS in_probable_cause
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = f.case_mkey
  WHERE starts_with(f.\"findingCode\", '01062037') AND c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '2000-01-01'
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In the same cases

Defining events
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Other findings
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH matched AS (SELECT DISTINCT case_mkey, aircrafts_position FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' WHERE starts_with(\"findingCode\", '01062037'))
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Defining event' AS kind, e.\"tier2Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier2Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e ON e.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = f.aircrafts_position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\"
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" <> ''
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM matched f JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = f.case_mkey AND a.position = f.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Other finding', left(g.\"findingCode\", 8), max(g.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT g.case_mkey)
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' g
  WHERE g.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM matched) AND NOT starts_with(g.\"findingCode\", '01062037') AND g.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 242

NTSB CEN26LA297Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS · Searcy, ARThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.Aug 17, 2026 · N22FC · Substantial damageNTSB DCA26LA285Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLeigh Aerosystems E100 · Douglas, AZDegraded engine and propeller performance during hot and high-density altitude operations, which resulted in a high descent rate and subsequent hard landing.Jun 26, 2026 · N1224E · Substantial damageNTSB ERA26LA075Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAviat A-1C-200 · Hawthorne, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.Dec 20, 2025 · N656B · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA052Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCameron Balloons US A-225 · Albuquerque, NMThe balloon landing in increased wind, and the pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 24, 2025 · N980VA · No damageNTSB ERA26LA048Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Cookeville, TNThe pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate decent rate during approach, resulting in a hard landing.Nov 14, 2025 · N668TM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA047Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEngineering & Research 415 · Sheboygan Falls, WIThe flight instructor’s failure to arrest the airplane’s descent rate during a takeoff simulated engine failure which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 13, 2025 · N94342 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA021Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAerostar International RX 8 · Albuquerque, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a descent for landing.Oct 6, 2025 · N5315M · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA379Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMccaa Robert T Avid/Kitfox Flyer · Oakland, PAThe pilot/owner’s failure to accurately determine the airplane’s weight and performance limitations before initiating the takeoff. Contributing to the outcome was the flight instructor’s improper engine power management and landing flare, which resulted in a…Sep 28, 2025 · N533SE · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA341Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGrumman G-44A · Beaver Cove, METhe pilot’s distraction and failure to monitor the airplane’s flight path, which resulted in controlled flight into a lake.Sep 6, 2025 · N402E · Substantial damageNTSB ANC25LA099Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Petersville, AKThe pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.Aug 29, 2025 · N74435 · Substantial damage
See all 242 cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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\", '01062037'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.