# NTSB investigations: Descent rate

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 5 · 242 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA297.md): Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS · Searcy, AR · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 17, 2026 · N22FC · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
- [NTSB DCA26LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA285.md): Leigh Aerosystems E100 · Douglas, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 26, 2026 · N1224E · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Aviat A-1C-200 · Hawthorne, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 20, 2025 · N656B · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Cameron Balloons US A-225 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 24, 2025 · N980VA · No damage
  > 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.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Cookeville, TN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2025 · N668TM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate decent rate during approach, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN26LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA047.md): Engineering & Research 415 · Sheboygan Falls, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 13, 2025 · N94342 · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 6, 2025 · N5315M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a descent for landing.
- [NTSB ERA25LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA379.md): Mccaa Robert T Avid/Kitfox Flyer · Oakland, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 28, 2025 · N533SE · Substantial damage
  > 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 engine power management and landing flare, which resulted in a…
- [NTSB ERA25LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA341.md): Grumman G-44A · Beaver Cove, ME · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 6, 2025 · N402E · Substantial damage
  > 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.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Petersville, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 29, 2025 · N74435 · Substantial damage
  > 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 CEN25LA381](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA381.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 505 · Fort Worth, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 27, 2025 · N505GR · Substantial damage
  > The manufacturer flight instructor’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and a proper descent rate during a demonstrated hover out of ground effect (HOGE) autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer flight…
- [NTSB WPR25LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA189.md): American Eurocopter AS350B3 · San Luis, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 25, 2025 · N3951A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to properly recover the helicopter during an autorotative landing and the instructor pilot’s failure to intervene, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ANC25LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA058.md): Stinson 108-8 · Alexander Creek, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 25, 2025 · N97438 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s encounter with a downdraft that led to a rapid loss of altitude.
- [NTSB ANC25LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA057.md): Cessna A185F · Trapper Creek, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 21, 2025 · N3308S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper flare while landing on glassy water, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN25LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA088.md): Cessna 172S · Air Force Academy, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 27, 2025 · N51387 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach after encountering an unexpected windshear.
- [NTSB WPR25LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA066.md): Piper PA-28RT-201T · Placerville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 20, 2024 · N29247 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in an impact with terrain short of the runway threshold.
- [NTSB CEN24LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA369.md): Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A · Custer, SD · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 27, 2024 · N605KD · No damage
  > The balloon landing in increased wind, which resulted in a hard landing and the serious injury of a passenger.
- [NTSB ERA24LA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA387.md): Agustawestland Philadelphia AW119MKII · Canandaigua, NY · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 20, 2024 · N281MC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s excessive descent rate during the final approach for landing and his delayed recovery attempt, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN24LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA302.md): Arbc Inc DBA Lindstrand 260A · Colorado Springs, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2024 · N26464 · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR24LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA245.md): Kubicek Factory S R O BB26Z · Casper, WY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2024 · N307CK · No damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain control of the balloon after encountering high wind conditions and windshear during the landing, which resulted in the pilot’s ejection from the basket and serious injury.
- [NTSB CEN24LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA198.md): Brant T Phillips Super Cub EXP · Franktown, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 26, 2024 · N983SB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during final approach and attempted go-around after encountering a sudden windshear.
- [NTSB ERA24LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA180.md): Cessna 140 · Holt, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 13, 2024 · N4064N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over of the airplane.
- [NTSB ERA24LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA132.md): Piper PA-28RT-201 · Allentown, PA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 8, 2024 · N3023K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the final approach, resulting in a hard landing and collision with a runway edge light.
- [NTSB CEN24LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA093.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Albany, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 13, 2024 · N2582U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach in a high wind condition.
- [NTSB CEN24FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA064.md): Pilatus PC-12/45 · Christoval, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 14, 2023 · N188PC · Substantial damage
  > The instrument-rated pilot and a passenger departed on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. After about 4.5 hours, while approaching the first planned fuel stop, the airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). According to air traffic…
- [NTSB WPR24LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA029.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Page, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 4, 2023 · N50466 · No damage
  > A hard landing after both burner pilot lights extinguished during the landing approach for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to relight the burner pilot lights.
- [NTSB CEN23LA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA293.md): Aerostar International RX 8 · Canandaigua, NY · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 8, 2023 · N9184D · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing, the passenger’s leg hitting the gas tank, and serious injury.
- [NTSB ERA23LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA291.md): Volato 400 · Dublin, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 17, 2023 · PR-ZVL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a runway undershoot and a hard landing, which substantially damaged the airplane’s firewall.
- [NTSB WPR23LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA209.md): Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW · Santa Fe, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 30, 2023 · N69PV · Substantial damage
  > An encounter with a downdraft during landing that resulted in a hard landing and the pilot’s loss of control.
- [NTSB ERA23LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA195.md): Richard Spatz RV-14A · Fallston, MD · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 13, 2023 · N412RS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to discontinue an unstabilized approach, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA23LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA157.md): Bell 47G-2A-1 · Livonia, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 21, 2023 · N73905 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s delayed action to arrest the high descent rate during a practice autorotation in tailwind conditions which ultimately resulted in loss of control.
- [NTSB ERA23LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA146.md): Hughes 269A · Titusville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 9, 2023 · N8911F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom.
- [NTSB ERA23LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA140.md): Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG · Lake Katrine, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 6, 2023 · N871LA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate pitch attitude and descent rate during landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
- [NTSB WPR22LA359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA359.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Mesa, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 26, 2022 · N252SC · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter’s rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA22LA423](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA423.md): Kumhyr David B Vans RV-8A · Elberta, AL · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 14, 2022 · N955DK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over during landing.
- [NTSB WPR22FA345](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA345.md): Piper PA46 · Seligman, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Sep 13, 2022 · N43605 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, exceedance of the airplane’s design limitations, and in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ERA22LA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA402.md): Cessna U206G · Millinocket, ME · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 7, 2022 · N756SG · Minor damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR22LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA368.md): Firefly Balloons Firefly 8B-15 · Las Cruces, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 4, 2022 · N7067F · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury.
- [NTSB CEN22LA404](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA404.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Beardsley, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 30, 2022 · N7048C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach to land that resulted in an excessive descent rate and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN22LA443](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA443.md): Piper PA28 · Owasso, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 17, 2022 · N3572Z · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the short field landing.
- [NTSB WPR22LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA300.md): Hoffman David J Murphy Elite · Manley Hot Springs, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 10, 2022 · N8486D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s unstable approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA22LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA357.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 · Leghighton, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 3, 2022 · N45CA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing on a slope, which resulted in dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB WPR22LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA267.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Cedar City, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2022 · N497SU · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm and airspeed and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action to regain helicopter control during the straight-in autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR22FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA266.md): Holland Mike RV9A · Tryon, NE · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 25, 2022 · N192MH · Destroyed
  > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, exceedance of the airplane’s design limitations, and in-flight breakup of the airplane…
- [NTSB WPR22LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA261.md): Aerospatiale SA342J · Escalante, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 18, 2022 · N342WF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to control the helicopter’s descent rate during landing, which resulted in collision with terrain.
- [NTSB ERA22LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA342.md): Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO_105S · Daytona Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2022 · N160TH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s rapid reduction of collective following an in-flight loss of control while lifting from a dolly resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the loss of control was the pilot’s likely inadequate left anti-torque control pedal input during initial…
- [NTSB CEN22LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA294.md): Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 206L-4 · Idabel, OK · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 30, 2022 · N378JC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to apply full power during the practice autorotation recovery, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA304.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Yoakum, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 17, 2022 · N743DP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of helicopter control on approach to land due to a settling with power condition, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN22LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA210.md): Ercoupe 415-C · Angola, IN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 16, 2022 · N3530H · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and the nose landing gear collapse.
- [NTSB WPR22LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA141.md): Fernandes Dale R Glasair II S-FT · Saline Valley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 2, 2022 · N727DF · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to establish a controlled descent rate during landing which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?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."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
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases

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