NTSB investigations, PA

13 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19642026
NTSB investigations, PA per year, 1964–2026: 13 cases
19641
19671
19681
19761
19841
19871
20001
20011
20062
20091
20161
20191

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\" = 'PA' 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 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…Aug 25, 2019 · N653CH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16LA167Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47D1 · Myerstown, PAA total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.Apr 20, 2016 · N202CH · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09FA414Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 369 · Franklin, PAA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement.Jul 22, 2009 · N61735 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC06CA198Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportSchempp-Hirth Discus-2CT · Julian, PAThe pilot's delayed decision to restart the glider's engine. A factor in the accident was a loss of thermal lift.Aug 8, 2006 · N93FR · Substantial damageNTSB NYC06CA150Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportEiriavion PIK 20B · Mt. Holly Sprin, PAThe pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from trees along his final approach path.Jun 17, 2006 · N29JH · Substantial damageNTSB IAD01LA033Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMooney M20C · Peckville, PAloss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Feb 6, 2001 · N1914Y · Substantial damageNTSB IAD01LA002Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAmerican AA-1A · Philadelphia, PAA hole in the #4 piston for undetermined reasons which resulted in engine oil starvation and engine stoppage.Oct 11, 2000 · N9394L · Substantial damageNTSB NYC87LA136Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBeech BE-18 · York, PAWhile the aircraft was being ferried from massy, Maryland to ankeny, Iowa, a loss of oil pressure on the left engine was experienced. A precautionary landing was made in a cornfield with the landing gear in the up position when the gear failed to extend. Fire…Apr 30, 1987 · N66PA · Substantial damageNTSB NYC84LA211Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33 · Perkasie, PAThe sailplane lost lift and during a forced landing wires were spotted on the approach. In attempting to fly under the wires the acft was flown into an embankment.Jun 16, 1984 · N7556 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC76FHA55Accident · No injuriesClosedBrantly 305 · Telford, PASep 15, 1976 · N2201U · Substantial damageNTSB NYC69F0076Accident · No injuriesClosedBrantly B-2B · Monroeville, PAJul 6, 1968 · N5948X · Substantial damageNTSB NYC67A0135Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBensen B-8-7 · Forty Fort, PAApr 2, 1967 · N2191 · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3349Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBrantly B2 · Beaver Falls, PAAug 12, 1964 · N5997X · Substantial damage