NTSB investigations, 2015

16 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19622026
NTSB investigations, 2015 per year, 1962–2026: 507 cases
19632
19645
19654
196610
19673
19686
19693
19706
19713
19722
19737
19744
19756
19763
19774
197810
19795
19804
19813
19821
19832
19848
198510
198611
19879
19884
19893
19904
19918
19924
19935
19945
19953
19963
19973
19988
19996
20005
20015
200211
20036
20045
200510
20067
20072
200814
200931
201016
201118
201218
201316
201417
201516
201615
201714
201811
20195
202010
202112
20229
202314
202415
202513
20265

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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2015
    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 ERA16LA059Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPacific Aerospace 750XL · Raeford, NCThe pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point and speed during a precautionary landing with the engine shut down. Contributing to the accident was an erroneous engine torque indication, which led the pilot to shut the engine down, for reasons that…Dec 3, 2015 · N216PK · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16LA055Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRobinson R22 · Venice, FLThe flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.Dec 1, 2015 · N8560M · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA055Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 47G · Searchlight, NVThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree during hover flight.Oct 18, 2015 · N73224 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15WA447Accident · No injuriesForeign investigationBell 407 · San Agustine Guatemala, GuatemalaThe Direccion General de Aeronutica Civil (DGAC) of Guatemala has notified the NTSB of a non-fatal accident involving a Bell 407GX Helicopter, registration TG-PDF, that occurred on September 24, 2015. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to…Sep 24, 2015 · TG-PDF · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15LA245Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer 269C · Las Vegas, NVA total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation for reasons that could not be determined.Aug 18, 2015 · N17YS · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15LA322Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47G 4A · Gilbert, IAThe total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the available fuel shifted within the tanks due to an abrupt nose-low maneuver to avoid an obstacle, which resulted in a hard forced landing.Jul 24, 2015 · N1396X · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA181Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Caldwell, IDAbnormal ground contact during a 180 degree autorotation, resulting in a severed tail rotor driveshaft by a main rotor blade. A factor contributing to the accident was the rotor blowback condition due to the aft tilting of the main rotor disk.Jul 13, 2015 · N184SH · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA097Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 47G 3B 1 · Fort Pierre, SDThe pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the subsequent autorotation landing.May 28, 2015 · N112SH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC15LA076Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAirbus AS-350 · Hamilton, MTThe pilot's excessive collective application during an autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the training flight.May 4, 2015 · N504WD · Substantial damageNTSB ERA15WA211Accident · Minor injuriesForeign investigationBell 430 · Aydin, TürkiyeOn April 26, 2015, at 1322 coordinated universal time, a Bell 430, Turkish-registered TC-HSZ, was substantially damaged following a hard landing near Aydin, Turkey. The pilot and co-pilot were not injured. Two passengers sustained minor injuries, and three…Apr 26, 2015 · TC-HSZ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15LA215Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 172 - H · Circleville, TXThe failure of the engine to regain normal power after a simulated engine failure due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing on muddy terrain and a subsequent nose-over.Mar 24, 2015 · N8282L · Substantial damageNTSB GAA15CA002Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBell 407 · Justin, TXAbnormal ground contact during an autorotation demonstration, resulting in a severed tailrotor driveshaft.Mar 5, 2015 · N41BH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15LA106Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164A · Alfalfa, ORA total loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined, because examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.Feb 18, 2015 · N4863 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN15WA142Incident · No injuriesForeign investigationRobinson R66 · Bern, SwitzerlandThis is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. On February 7, 2015, between 1300-1400 UTC, a Robinson R66 helicopter, HB-ZOK, (s/n 0553) experienced a loss of engine power during recovery from an autorotation on a training flight.…Feb 7, 2015 · HB-ZOK · No damageNTSB CEN15LA131Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell-Watson 47 G · North Little Rock, ARThe flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during the practice touchdown autorotation, which resulted in a subsequent loss of helicopter control and impact with terrain.Jan 29, 2015 · N43762 · 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 · Destroyed