OpenAirDocs.org

NTSB investigations, CO

19 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19692026

Where

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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.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'CO' 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"

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 CEN26LA181Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369HS · Durango, COThe flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving the instruction and the pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.May 7, 2026 · N926ES · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA003Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer 269C · Montrose, COA loss of engine power during a demonstrated autorotation due to an improperly adjusted air-fuel mixture or idle setting. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to perform the required idle check during previous flights in higher elevation areas.Oct 3, 2024 · N656RB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA048Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369HS · Oxford, COThe designated pilot examiner’s failure to maintain a proper descent during a practice 180° autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 23, 2022 · N668M · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15FA126Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportEnstrom 280FX · Erie, COAn in-flight failure of the helicopter's #2 main rotor spindle due to undetected fatigue cracking, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to failure were the nonconforming thread root radius of the spindle and the manufacturer's failure to…Jan 26, 2015 · N86235 · DestroyedNTSB CEN14FA173Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWorthington Donald Wayne Sonerai II LT · Highlands Ranch, COThe pilot’s loss of control during a forced landing following a loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to postimpact fire damage.Mar 29, 2014 · N63917 · DestroyedNTSB CEN11CA068Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSchweizer 300C · Broomfield, COThe pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper execution of an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 14, 2010 · N299RJ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10LA056Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNavion Navion G · Montrose, COA loss of engine power due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.Nov 18, 2009 · N2493T · Substantial damageNTSB DEN04LA082Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLockheed TV-2 · Calhan, COthe failure of the fuel tank float which resulted in the draining of fuel out the vents, and a low fuel supply. Contributing factors include the insufficient runway length, the ditch, and the rough, uneven terrain.May 29, 2004 · N6617 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN00FA028Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportHughes 369D · Peyton, COan uncontrolled touchdown following entry into a "out-of-ground effect" hover. Factors were loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in kind of aircraft and total experience in type of aircraft.Dec 15, 1999 · N5190C · Substantial damageNTSB DEN99LA146Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Aspen, COThe pilot's inadequate in flight planning. Factors were the high density altitude, the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the sign post that the right wing impacted.Aug 16, 1999 · N991RC · DestroyedNTSB DEN99LA058Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 Beta · Englewood, COThe flight instructor allowed the rotor rpm to decay during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.Mar 25, 1999 · N8354Z · Substantial damageNTSB DEN93FA054Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportWitts & Church Worloch · Lucerne, COLoss of control in flight. A factor was: the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane.May 6, 1993 · N3201K · DestroyedNTSB DEN86LA037Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman AA-5A · Fort Collins, COThe plt stated that during takeoff roll the acft used over twice the normal distance to rwy to become airborne. After becoming airborne, the stall warning sounded, and continued to sound until the forced landing when the plt said he couldnot maintain alt. The…Dec 1, 1985 · N991OU · Substantial damageNTSB DEN85LA078Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRaven S55A · Littleton, COThe balloon envelope collided with power lines after dragging the basket & occupants aprx 200 yards along an open fld and through a fence which damaged the basket containing the occupants. The balloon plt said that the wind was only 5 KTS at takeoff but after…Jan 13, 1985 · N81DS · Substantial damageNTSB DEN76FTE70Accident · No injuriesClosedHughes 269B · Broomfield, COMay 18, 1976 · N9440F · Substantial damageNTSB DEN76FTE18Accident · No injuriesClosedBell 47G3B1 · Denver, COAug 24, 1975 · N90769 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN71FTE66Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-24 · Sugar City, COApr 4, 1971 · N5418P · Substantial damageNTSB DEN70AD044Accident · No injuriesClosedHiller Acft FH1100 · Blanca, COJan 8, 1970 · N390P · Substantial damageNTSB DEN69A0048Accident · 7 fatalClosedBeech 35-33 · Del Norte, COMay 6, 1969 · N2737T · Destroyed