# NTSB investigations, FL: 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 ERA26LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA170.md): Bell 407 · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 11, 2026 · N314JP · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction.
- [NTSB ERA25LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA261.md): Cessna 172H · Century, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Jul 9, 2025 · N3254C · Substantial damage
  > On July 9, 2025, about 1820 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N3254C, was involved in an accident near Century, Florida. The pilot and the passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The…
- [NTSB ERA24LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA215.md): Hughes 369 · Crestview, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 10, 2024 · N969VS · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the main rotor blades contacting the tail boom.
- [NTSB ERA23LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA269.md): Bell 206B · Orlando, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 5, 2023 · N27UK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [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 ERA20CA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA106.md): Aerospatiale AS350 · Tampa, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 18, 2020 · N188FS · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inadvertent throttle reduction below idle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain following a power-off autorotation.
- [NTSB WPR18LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA183.md): Cessna 182 · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2018 · N5682B · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to insufficient evidence.
- [NTSB GAA18CA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA159.md): Hughes 269 · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 10, 2018 · N9020M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which resulted in ground contact and a dynamic rollover.
- [NTSB ERA16FA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA150.md): Mooney M20K · Ocala, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 2016 · N96398 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed following a loss of engine power, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadvertent placement of the…
- [NTSB ERA16LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA055.md): Robinson R22 · Venice, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 1, 2015 · N8560M · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA14TA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14TA113.md): Hughes 369 · Naples, FL · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Feb 3, 2014 · N8618F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate flare during the termination of a practice 180-degree autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in the tail rotor contacting the ground.
- [NTSB ERA13LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA254.md): Fleming Eldridge E Sonex · Naples, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 26, 2013 · N634SX · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of the noncertificated engine’s power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the…
- [NTSB ERA13LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA104.md): Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Tampa, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2013 · N345VH · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s delayed throttle application during the practice autorotation and the flight instructor’s lack of immediate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA12CA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA375.md): Schweizer 269C-1 · Titusville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 31, 2012 · N1803R · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a simulated engine-out procedure, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA11FA414](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA414.md): Cirrus Design SR22 · Palm Bay, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 23, 2011 · N122HB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s failure to secure the oil gauge rod and cap assembly before flight and his…
- [NTSB ERA11LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA200.md): Piper PA-18A 150 · Hollywood, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 19, 2011 · N9692D · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA11CA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA166.md): Enstrom F-28C · Fort Pierce, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 26, 2011 · N5689B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB ERA10CA432](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA432.md): Schweizer 269C-1 · Titusville, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 18, 2010 · N1542D · Substantial damage
  > The instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA10CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA264.md): Schweizer 269C · Ormond Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 13, 2010 · N113TA · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot’s improper use of collective and throttle during the landing flare.
- [NTSB ERA10CA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA262.md): Hiller UH12 · Sarasota, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 9, 2010 · N116S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's delayed remedial action to maintain main rotor rpm, which resulted in a loss of lift and hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA10CA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA255.md): Hughes 500 · West Palm Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 6, 2010 · N5189K · Substantial damage
  > The commercial pilot's improper flare during a simulated autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ERA10LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA086.md): Cox Busby Mustang · Plant City, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 29, 2009 · N72PC · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed following a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ERA09LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA131.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Pensacola, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 6, 2009 · N7160Z · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed following a total loss of engine power during a low-level approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.
- [NTSB ERA09CA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA089.md): Mooney M20G · Sebastian, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 13, 2008 · N6871N · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB MIA05LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA080.md): Robinson R44 · Homestead, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 19, 2005 · N1ZP · Substantial damage
  > The CFI's inadequate supervision of the student during the instructional flight for his failure to stop an excessive rate of descent which resulted in a hard landing following a reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ATL02LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA136.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Clearwater, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 28, 2002 · N2935Q · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB MIA99FA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99FA230.md): Cessna 210L · Tampa, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 19, 1999 · N640AJ · Destroyed
  > The failure of the pilot to follow procedures and directives established by the operator for his failure to fuel the airplane after landing following the first leg. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.…
- [NTSB MIA97LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA046.md): Let Blanik L-13 · Mulberry, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 22, 1996 · N48052 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to check that the spoiler handle was locked in the retracted position prior to takeoff.
- [NTSB MIA93LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA077.md): Beech N35 · Fort Meade, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 28, 1993 · N1354Z · Substantial damage
  > The collision with a road sign during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the crankshaft.
- [NTSB MIA91LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA006.md): Cessna 150M · Tampa, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 1990 · N704BB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to fly an airplane with known deficiencies. This resulted in a partial loss of engine power, and a ground collision with a fixed object.
- [NTSB MIA88LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA036.md): Raven S-66A · Naples, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 5, 1987 · N4094G · Substantial damage
  > After liftoff with the deflation panel partially open, the flt continued towards the landing location. With a high rate of descent established, the plt realized that the balloon would not clear the powerlines that were ahead of the landing location. He then…
- [NTSB MIA85LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA129.md): Grumman AA-5 · Okeechobee, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 22, 1985 · N5867L · Substantial damage
  > While in cruise flt the plt placed the acft in a dive to avoid what appeared to be the landing light of another acft. The light was actually a space vehicle which had just been launched from cape canaveral air force station 60 miles from the acft's position.…
- [NTSB MIA78FA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FA110.md): Hughes 269C · Opa Locka, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 5, 1978 · N7455F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA76FKT32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76FKT32.md): Bell 206B · Delray Beach, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Nov 26, 1975 · N750LT · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA66A0022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66A0022.md): Hughes 269A · Miami, FL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Aug 19, 1965 · N8735F · 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" = 'FL' 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=FL

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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.