NTSB investigations, MI

11 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19732026
NTSB investigations, MI per year, 1973–2026: 11 cases
19731
19751
19911
19951
19981
20011
20101
20141
20181
20201
20211

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\" = 'MI' 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 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.Sep 15, 2021 · N632SD · Substantial damageNTSB 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…May 20, 2020 · N153SA · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jul 23, 2018 · N43865 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN14LA202Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNanchang CJ6 - A · Flushing, MIThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an off-airport forced landing after a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to…Apr 19, 2014 · N594T · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Sebewaing, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and aircraft control following a loss of engine power after takeoff.Oct 18, 2010 · N105AC · Substantial damageNTSB CHI01LA293Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Pontiac, MIthe checklist not compiled with by the operator and not verified by the operator’s pilot and the operator's flight instructor. An additional cause was the improper autorotation by the pilot in command. The out of calibration engine idle speed was a…Aug 26, 2001 · N9390F · Substantial damageNTSB CHI98LA303Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCook Teenie TWO · Stevensville, MIThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.Jul 18, 1998 · N40512 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI95LA104Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-28-181 · Ann Arbor, MIthe failure of the mechanic to close the drain valve after changing oil, resulting in complete loss of engine oil. A factor was the soft terrain, which resulted in the nose wheel digging in and the airplane nosing over.Mar 19, 1995 · N4385M · Substantial damageNTSB CHI91FA159Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportLuscombe 8E · Clinton, MIPhysical impairment of the pilot due to heart attack.May 20, 1991 · N333LR · Substantial damageNTSB DCA76AZ012Accident · Serious injuriesClosedDouglas DC-10 · Carleton, MINov 26, 1975 · N124 · Minor damageNTSB CHI74DEM33Accident · No injuriesClosedBell 47G-2 · Greenville, MIDec 29, 1973 · N6738D · Substantial damage