NTSB investigations
507 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.
Cases, newest first
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.\"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.
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."mKey" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 600)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB WPR22LA359Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Mesa, AZThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter’s rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing.NTSB CEN22LA402Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMD Helicopters 369E · Pearland, TXThe pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain aircraft control, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB CEN22LA400Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · San Isidro, TXThe pilot’s improper decision to conduct an autorotation with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage.NTSB WPR22LA267Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Cedar City, UTThe 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 ERA22FA279Accident · 6 fatalClass 1 · FieldFinal reportBell UH-1B · Amherstdale, WVthe operator’s failure to adequately inspect the former military turbine powered helicopter, which allowed an engine issue to progress and result in a loss of engine power and a subsequent loss of control after the helicopter struck powerlines during a forced…NTSB GAA22WA114Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignRobinson R22 · Canals, ArgentinaNTSB GAA22WA050Accident · 9 fatalClass 5 · ForeignGulfstream GIV · Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicNTSB CEN22LA078Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Bridgeport, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper placement of the throttle during the initial practice power-on recovery autorotation.NTSB WPR22LA061Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportMoul Willis RV-3 · Bermuda Dunes, CAThe pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel shutoff valve, which resulted in a loss of engine power, and the pilot’s subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.NTSB ERA22LA016Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportKitfox IV · North Canaan, CTThe pilot's mismanagement of the airplane's altitude, airspeed, and course during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s inadvertent omission of stowing the…NTSB GAA21WA245Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignHélicoptères Guimbal Cabri G2 · Ägerten, SwitzerlandNTSB GAA21WA246Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignPartenavia P68 · Bush Bay Beach, Co. Wexford, IrelandNTSB CEN21LA431Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEurocopter AS350 · Romeo, MIThe flight instructor’s failure to reposition the fuel control to the flight detent during a practice autorotation, which resulted in insufficient engine power to arrest the helicopter’s decent and a hard landing.NTSB WPR21LA313Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 425 · Helena, MTA flameout of both engines due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined due to the airplane’s damage.NTSB WPR21LA299Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer G-164B · Tracy, CAA loss of thrust during a low-level agricultural application flight, which resulted in a descent and impact with terrain. The reason for the loss of thrust could not be determined based on available information.NTSB ERA21LA275Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206 · Rome, NYThe pilot's improper termination of a practice autorotation with power recovery, which resulted in low rotor rpm, an unstable landing, and a rollover. Contributing to the accident was the evaluator's inadequate oversight.NTSB GAA21WA059Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · ForeignBeech 200 · Nairobi, KenyaNTSB WPR21LA109Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMD Helicopter 369 · Mesa, AZThe pilot’s improper pitch attitude for landing and the inadequate supervision of the flight instructor, resulted in the main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.NTSB CEN21WA059Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · ForeignPiper PA46 · Villingen-Schwenningen, GermanyNTSB ERA20LA309Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28 · McMinnville, TNA total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure in a cylinder, and the pilot’s subsequent failure to maintain airspeed and her exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack while maneuvering at low altitude.NTSB WPR20CA299Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 182 · Coeur d'Alene, IDThe pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a collision with trees and terrain.NTSB CEN20LA187Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell OH-58A · West Branch, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during a precautionary autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the airframe vibration for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the helicopter revealed no…NTSB ERA20CA176Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 402 · Hampton, GAA dual total loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion.NTSB WPR20LA131Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeech 35 · Currie, NVThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a forced landing which resulted in a hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.NTSB WPR20CA140Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson R22 · Caldwell, IDThe flight instructor's failure to set the proper rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which led to his failure to maintain a proper descent rate and resulted in a hard, bounced landing.NTSB ANC20LA043Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna A185E · Eagle River, AKThe 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 WPR20LA096Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLightning Avion Eab Arion Lightning · Jerome, IDThe pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and the pilot’s loss of airplane control during an emergency descent, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with terrain.NTSB ERA20CA106Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAerospatiale AS350 · Tampa, FLThe 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 GAA19CA514Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes 269A · Shamokin, PAThe pilot's improper landing flare during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no evidence of any…NTSB 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…NTSB WPR19FA178Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportMaule M7-235B · Sunriver, ORA partial loss of engine power due to the separation of baffling in both mufflers. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to retract the landing gear on the float-equipped airplane before performing a forced landing to the river.NTSB ERA19WA293Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · ForeignBell 505 · Kazbegi, GeorgiaNTSB WPR19LA168Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSikorsky UH19 · Brewster, WAA reported mechanical malfunction and a hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.NTSB WPR19LA019Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 47G · Wichita Falls, TXA total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.NTSB ERA19WA288Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationEmbraer EMB-202 · Miranda, BrazilThe government of Brazil has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Embraer EMB-202 airplane that occurred on October 30, 2018. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Brazil's investigation under the…NTSB WPR18LA252Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGuimbal Cabri · Santa Ana, CAThe flight instructor's delayed application of power during a power recovery following an autorotation, which resulted in an unrecoverable low rotor rpm during the landing flare and subsequent loss of control.NTSB WPR18LA226Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369 · Riverside, CAThe instructor’s delayed remedial action to an excessive descent rate during a simulated autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB ANC18LA057Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAeros Venture 2000 · Bad Axe, MIThe pilot's loss of aircraft control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.NTSB WPR18LA183Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 182 · Jacksonville, FLA total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to insufficient evidence.NTSB WPR18LA127Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportYakovlev YAK 52 · Hillsboro, ORA partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was…NTSB 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.NTSB GAA18CA159Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHughes 269 · Jacksonville, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which resulted in ground contact and a dynamic rollover.NTSB 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…NTSB ERA18LA075Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell OH 58C · Zebulon, GAThe pilot's failure to fully open the throttle before initiating the power recovery in response to a simulated engine failure.NTSB WPR18LA041Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Truckee, CAThe flight instructor’s failure to execute a power recovery from a non-stabilized autorotative descent, which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB WPR18LA030Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportVanderark RV-10 · Sun Lakes, AZThe fatigue fractures of the upper and lower alternator attachment bolts, which decreased the common drive belt tension and resulted in the subsequent in-flight separation of an alternator drive belt, the overheating of the engine, and the subsequent total…NTSB GAA18CA030Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Las Vegas, NVThe student pilot’s tension on the flight control at a low level during an autorotation, which did not allow sufficient time for the flight instructor to correct and recover control before the hard landing.NTSB CEN18LA010Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 17-30A · Sweetwater, TXThe loss of engine power during a precautionary approach for landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.NTSB WPR17LA211Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Long Beach, CAThe student pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the crosswind landing approach and his subsequent improper decision to initiate an autorotation instead of applying corrective control inputs after the helicopter experienced normal airframe vibration.…NTSB ERA17FA317Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSchweizer 269C · Medford, NJThe pilot's early entry into and failure to maintain rotor rpm during a forced landing autorotation after performing an engine shutdown in flight, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent. Contributing to the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel…