# NTSB investigations, 2008: 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 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 ERA09CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA052.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Tuscaloosa, AL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 13, 2008 · N8797N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was improper preflight planning.
- [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 NYC08CA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA325.md): Aeronca 7AC · Mt. Pleasant, SC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 28, 2008 · N2504E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an emergency maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the left magneto.
- [NTSB LAX08CA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA298.md): Robinson R22B · Prescott, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 11, 2008 · N227GH · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action.
- [NTSB DFW08LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA187.md): AMS Flight Carat A · Edgewood, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 16, 2008 · N234CT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
- [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 ERA09CA543](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA543.md): Piper J3C-65 · Rosedale, MS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 28, 2008 · N42156 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilots to maintain airspeed following a reported partial loss of engine power.
- [NTSB LAX08CA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA159.md): Robinson R22 · Salt Lake City, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 31, 2008 · N268SH · Substantial damage
  > The student's improper use of the anti torque pedals during a practice hover autorotation, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over. Additional causes of the accident were the certificated flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the maneuver and…
- [NTSB MIA08LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA097.md): Cessna 182L · Louisville, KY · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 7, 2008 · N42116 · Substantial damage
  > A total fatigue failure of the No. 5 piston during climb.
- [NTSB DFW08CA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA114.md): Hughes 269A · Killeen, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 23, 2008 · N9064N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM and a safe rate of descent during the autorotation. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
- [NTSB DFW08CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA082.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Horseshoe Bay, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 15, 2008 · N489TJ · Substantial damage
  > The certified flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action which resulted in an unsuccessful autorotation.
- [NTSB SEA08LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA073.md): Piper PA-44-180 · Piru, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 9, 2008 · N2922X · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and dark night conditions.
- [NTSB MIA08LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA035.md): Cessna R172K · Spotsylvania, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 5, 2008 · N758FQ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to follow the checklist and failure to achieve the proper touchdown point during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power due to a cracked No. 4 top sparkplug insulator, resulting in pre-ignition/detonation…

## 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2008
  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?year=2008

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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.
