Fatal NTSB investigations, Outside the U.S.

11 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

20092026
Fatal NTSB investigations, Outside the U.S. per year, 2009–2026: 11 cases
20092
20111
20182
20192
20211
20231
20241
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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.\"eventCountry\" <> 'USA'
    AND c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 600)
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB GAA26WA016Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignRobinson R44 · Bentley, United KingdomOct 30, 2025 · G-CFNF · DestroyedNTSB GAA24WA145Accident · 3 fatalClass 5 · ForeignBell 206 · Meico City, MexicoApr 14, 2024 · XP-PIP · DestroyedNTSB GAA23WA140Accident · 7 fatalClass 3 · ForeignCessna 206 · Chiribiquete National Park, ColombiaMay 1, 2023 · HK2803 · DestroyedNTSB GAA22WA050Accident · 9 fatalClass 5 · ForeignGulfstream GIV · Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicDec 15, 2021 · HI-1050 · DestroyedNTSB CEN19WA285Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationRotorway Exec 162F · Herisau, SwitzerlandOn August 24, 2019, about 1400 universal coordinated time, a Rotorway Exec 162F helicopter, Swiss registration HB-YKJ, was destroyed when it crashed in a meadow during an autorotation and caught fire, about 3 miles south of Herisau, Switzerland. The pilot was…Aug 24, 2019 · HB-YKJ · Substantial damageNTSB ERA19WA293Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · ForeignBell 505 · Kazbegi, GeorgiaJun 6, 2019 · 4L-ADJ · DestroyedNTSB DCA18WA106Accident · 11 fatalForeign investigationCanadair CL600 2B16 · Shahr-e Kurd, IranThe Transportation Safety Board of Canada has informed the NTSB of an accident involving a Challenger 604, which occurred on March 11, 2018, in the Islamic Republic of Iran. All investigative information will be released by the government of Iran.Mar 11, 2018 · TC-TRB · DestroyedNTSB ERA18WA090Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationNeiva EMB-720D · Manaus City, BrazilThe government of Brazil has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a NEIVA EMB-720D airplane that occurred on February 22, 2018. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Brazil's investigation under the…Feb 22, 2018 · PT-VKR · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11WA472Accident · 4 fatalForeign investigationAgusta AW139 · BrazilOn August 19, 2011, at 1948 coordinated universal time (16:48 local time), an Agusta, AW139, helicopter, Brazilian registration PT-SEK, impacted into the Atlantic Ocean, near an oil rig, identifier P-65, the helicopter sank in waters with a recorded floor…Aug 19, 2011 · PR-SEK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN09WA524Accident · 2 fatalForeign investigationBeech 99 · Évora, PortugalUnder the jurisdiction and control of the Portuguese government.Aug 14, 2009 · F-BTME · DestroyedNTSB ERA09WA211Accident · 3 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA-28R · Santo Antonio do Leverger, BrazilNone.Feb 1, 2009 · PT-DJA · Destroyed