# Descent rate

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft oper/perf/capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0106) › [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010620) › Descent rate
- NTSB code: 01062037
- Cases: 242
- In the probable cause: 223
- Fatal cases: 21
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 9 / 9
- 2009: 9 / 9
- 2010: 7 / 8
- 2011: 7 / 9
- 2012: 8 / 8
- 2013: 11 / 12
- 2014: 8 / 10
- 2015: 20 / 22
- 2016: 19 / 21
- 2017: 15 / 15
- 2018: 11 / 11
- 2019: 20 / 21
- 2020: 20 / 21
- 2021: 13 / 14
- 2022: 17 / 19
- 2023: 7 / 9
- 2024: 8 / 9
- 2025: 13 / 13
- 2026: 1 / 2

## Defining events in these cases

- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 108 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 31 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 17 cases
- [Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244): 13 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 10 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 5 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 5 cases
- [Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270): 4 cases
- [Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500): 3 cases
- [Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370): 3 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 9 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 7 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R22](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22): 5 cases
- [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d): 5 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 4 cases
- [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1): 3 cases
- [Aerostar International RX 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-international-rx-8): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 3 cases
- [Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB100Z](https://openairdocs.org/model/balony-kubicek-spol-sro-bb100z): 3 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 175 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 21 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 21 cases
- [Delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025) (Personnel issues): 20 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 17 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 16 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 14 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 14 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 13 cases
- [High wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055) (Environmental issues): 11 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA297), Aug 17, 2026: Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS (N22FC), Searcy, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB DCA26LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA285), Jun 26, 2026: Leigh Aerosystems E100 (N1224E), Douglas, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Degraded engine and propeller performance during hot and high-density altitude operations, which resulted in a high descent rate and subsequent hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA26LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA075), Dec 20, 2025: Aviat A-1C-200 (N656B), Hawthorne, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR26LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA052), Nov 24, 2025: Cameron Balloons US A-225 (N980VA), Albuquerque, NM, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon landing in increased wind, and the pilot’s inability to maintain the proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA26LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA048), Nov 14, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 (N668TM), Cookeville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate decent rate during approach, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN26LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA047), Nov 13, 2025: Engineering & Research 415 (N94342), Sheboygan Falls, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to arrest the airplane’s descent rate during a takeoff simulated engine failure which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR26LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA021), Oct 6, 2025: Aerostar International RX 8 (N5315M), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a descent for landing.
- [NTSB ERA25LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA379), Sep 28, 2025: Mccaa Robert T Avid/Kitfox Flyer (N533SE), Oakland, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB ERA25LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA341), Sep 6, 2025: Grumman G-44A (N402E), Beaver Cove, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s distraction and failure to monitor the airplane’s flight path, which resulted in controlled flight into a lake.
- [NTSB ANC25LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA099), Aug 29, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N74435), Petersville, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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