OpenAirDocs.org

NTSB investigations, 2021

12 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19622026

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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 2021
    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 GAA22WA050Accident · 9 fatalClass 5 · ForeignGulfstream GIV · Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicDec 15, 2021 · HI-1050 · DestroyedNTSB 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.Dec 14, 2021 · N862YB · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Dec 11, 2021 · N9YY · Substantial damageNTSB 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…Oct 14, 2021 · N9259M · Substantial damageNTSB GAA21WA245Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignHélicoptères Guimbal Cabri G2 · Ägerten, SwitzerlandSep 30, 2021 · HB-ZVK · Substantial damageNTSB GAA21WA246Accident · Serious injuriesClass 5 · ForeignPartenavia P68 · Bush Bay Beach, Co. Wexford, IrelandSep 23, 2021 · F-HIRD · DestroyedNTSB 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 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.Aug 11, 2021 · N783MB · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jul 30, 2021 · N3629F · Substantial damageNTSB 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.Jun 29, 2021 · N134VG · Substantial damageNTSB GAA21WA059Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · ForeignBeech 200 · Nairobi, KenyaMar 26, 2021 · 5Y-NJS · DestroyedNTSB 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.Feb 8, 2021 · N7032V · Substantial damage