# NTSB investigations, AK: Emergency descent

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 ANC24LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA045.md): Cessna 206 · King Salmon, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 7, 2024 · N756CL · Substantial damage
  > A partial loss of engine power due to detonation/preignition of the No. 1 cylinder for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB ANC20LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA043.md): Cessna A185E · Eagle River, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 12, 2020 · N185RN · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate fuel onboard prior to the planned flight, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and an aerodynamic stall during the subsequent emergency landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…
- [NTSB ANC12CA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA111.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta II · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 26, 2012 · N4171J · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during a hovering autorotation, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB ANC09FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09FA001.md): Cessna U206C · Anchorage, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 1, 2008 · N29109 · Destroyed
  > A loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's decision to make an abrupt and steep low altitude turn toward an intersecting runway, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control.
- [NTSB ANC08LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA083.md): Bell UH-1B · Iliamna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 2008 · N64RA · Substantial damage
  > The failure of company maintenance personnel to ensure the helicopter was properly maintained, resulting in a severe in-flight vibration due to collective bounce. Contributing to the accident was loose and worn bearings on the helicopter's stabilizer bar,…
- [NTSB ANC94FA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94FA109.md): Cessna 172 · Big Lake, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 1994 · N5198A · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Factors in the accident were the fog, and the pilot becoming lost/disoriented.
- [NTSB ANC93LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA181.md): Piper PA-12 · Iliamna, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 1993 · N3680M · Substantial damage
  > Total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations. Factor was the unsuitable terrain.
- [NTSB ANC92LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA160.md): Dale Conover Tundra PUP · Beluga, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 1992 · N2072Y · Substantial damage
  > The inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. A factor was the pilot misjudged his clearance from the trees.
- [NTSB ANC92LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA094.md): Piper PA-22 · Oshetna River, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 15, 1992 · N3516P · Destroyed
  > The tailwind and the pilot not understanding the effects. Factors relating to the accident were the attempted precautionary landing and the high vegetation in the forced landing area.
- [NTSB ANC91LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA092.md): Cessna 152 · Woodchopper Crk, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 6, 1991 · N6276P · Substantial damage
  > Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion, the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and the unsuitable terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of total experience.
- [NTSB ANC89LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA029.md): Cessna 207 · Kivalina, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 28, 1988 · N9651M · Substantial damage
  > The air taxi pilot was on a scheduled cargo flight to a remote village in western Alaska when he reportedly had a partial loss of engine power. He said that he was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing on a frozen lake. He is uncertain why the…
- [NTSB ANC86FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86FA085.md): Piper L-4H · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 21, 1986 · N58988 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot/mechanic stated the engine oil pressure gauge began flickering, so he elected to land and during the descent the engine failed. He landed downwind in 20 knot winds and during the landing roll, across tundra/mud the airplane's wheels struck a large…
- [NTSB ANC85LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA060.md): Piper PA-22 · Kanektok River, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 25, 1985 · N4810A · Substantial damage
  > The plt reported after a short fld takeoff, the eng dropped to about 1000 RPM; the plt then attempted an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the acft settled into the snow and nosed over. The plt stated the eng failure was due to carb ice.
- [NTSB ANC85FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA026.md): Piper PA-12 · Sterling, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 1, 1984 · N3908M · Destroyed
  > A witness observed the acft after a touch and go landing enter a steep climb to aprx 150 ft above the 30 ft trees. The left wing and the nose dropped and the acft rotated about the longitudinal axis until ground impact. No mechanical malfunctions were…
- [NTSB ANC77DAD07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAD07.md): Hughes 369C · Hawk Inlet, AK · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Jul 11, 1977 · N377ST · Substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC73AA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC73AA037.md): Dehavilland DHC-2 · Sagwon, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Dec 11, 1972 · N53011 · Substantial damage

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
WITH phase_names(main, name) AS (VALUES (100, 'Prior to flight'), (150, 'Standing'), (200, 'Pushback/towing'), (250, 'Taxi'), (300, 'Takeoff'), (350, 'Initial climb'), (400, 'Enroute'), (450, 'Maneuvering'), (500, 'Approach'), (550, 'Landing'), (600, 'Emergency descent'), (650, 'Uncontrolled descent'), (700, 'Post-impact'), (750, 'After landing'), (800, 'Other'), (990, 'Unknown')),
  crosswalk(code, main, name) AS (VALUES (500, 150, 'Standing'), (501, 150, 'Standing - pre-flight'), (502, 150, 'Standing - starting engine(s)'), (503, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) operating'), (504, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) not operating'), (505, 150, 'Standing - idling rotors'), (510, 250, 'Taxi'), (511, 200, 'Taxi - pushback/tow'), (512, 250, 'Taxi - to takeoff'), (513, 250, 'Taxi - from landing'), (514, 250, 'Taxi - aerial'), (520, 300, 'Takeoff'), (521, 300, 'Takeoff - roll/run'), (522, 350, 'Takeoff - initial climb'), (523, 300, 'Takeoff - aborted'), (530, 400, 'Climb'), (531, 400, 'Climb - to cruise'), (540, 400, 'Cruise'), (541, 400, 'Cruise - normal'), (542, 400, 'Maneuvering - holding (IFR)'), (550, 400, 'Descent'), (551, 400, 'Descent - normal'), (552, 600, 'Descent - emergency'), (553, 650, 'Descent - uncontrolled'), (560, 500, 'Approach'), (561, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - downwind'), (562, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base turn'), (563, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base leg/base to final'), (564, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - final approach'), (565, 500, 'Go-around (VFR)'), (566, 500, 'Approach - IAF to FAF/outer marker (IFR)'), (567, 500, 'Approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)'), (568, 500, 'Circling (IFR)'), (569, 500, 'Missed approach (IFR)'), (570, 550, 'Landing'), (571, 550, 'Landing - flare/touchdown'), (572, 550, 'Landing - roll'), (573, 550, 'Landing - aborted'), (574, 550, 'Emergency landing'), (575, 550, 'Emergency landing after takeoff'), (576, 600, 'Emergency descent/landing'), (580, 450, 'Maneuvering'), (581, 450, 'Maneuvering - aerial application'), (582, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction'), (583, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)'), (590, 450, 'Hover'), (591, 450, 'Hover - in ground effect'), (592, 450, 'Hover - out of ground effect'), (600, 800, 'Other'), (610, 990, 'Unknown')),
  current_codes AS (
    SELECT e.case_mkey, TRY_CAST(e."tier1Number" AS INTEGER) AS code,
      row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY e.case_mkey ORDER BY coalesce(e."isDefiningEvent", false) DESC, e.position) AS n
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e
    WHERE e.aircrafts_position = 1 AND e."tier1Number" GLOB '[1-9][0-9]*'
      AND (e."isDefiningEvent" OR e.case_mkey IN (SELECT "mKey" FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' WHERE "isPre1982"))
  ),
  phases AS (
    SELECT case_mkey, 'current' AS scheme, code, CASE WHEN code >= 990 THEN 990 ELSE code // 50 * 50 END AS main
    FROM current_codes WHERE n = 1
    UNION ALL
    SELECT o.case_mkey, 'older', o."phaseOfFlightCode", w.main
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o JOIN crosswalk w ON w.code = o."phaseOfFlightCode"
    WHERE o.aircrafts_position = 1 AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o.case_mkey NOT IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM current_codes)
  ),
  case_phases AS (
    SELECT p.*, c."eventDate", c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AS fatal, a.aircraft_model_code
    FROM phases p JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c."mKey" = p.case_mkey
    LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = p.case_mkey AND a.position = 1
    WHERE c."eventDate" >= DATE '1962-01-01' AND p.main IN (SELECT main FROM phase_names)
  )
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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AK' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 600)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600/cases?state=AK

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