NTSB investigations, 2023

14 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19622026
NTSB investigations, 2023 per year, 1962–2026: 505 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
202512
20264

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\") = 2023
    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 GAA24WA060Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignRobinson R44 · Arthur's Pass, New ZealandDec 19, 2023 · ZK-HGX · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA045Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Chesterfield, VAA hard landing, which resulted in a main rotor strike of the left vertical stablizer.Nov 16, 2023 · N26VA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA004Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Hochatown, OKA total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation due to the improper engine idle setting and rigging of the carburetor heat control which resulted in a hard landing.Oct 1, 2023 · N379SH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA404Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Arcola, TXThe instructor’s failure to re-apply engine power during a power recovery after a practice autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.Sep 7, 2023 · N8372F · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA389Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Heli 530FF · Liberty Hill, TXThe pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.Aug 31, 2023 · N530JR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA295Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportFish Larry W Lancair 360 · Renton, WAA loss of electrical power due to low battery voltage, which resulted in an inflight shut down of the capacitor discharge ignition system and a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to switch batteries after the electrical…Jul 31, 2023 · N68XA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA269Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206B · Orlando, FLThe pilot’s improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.Jun 5, 2023 · N27UK · Substantial damageNTSB CEN23LA199Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 407 · Abbeville, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain proper helicopter control during autorotation that resulted in an abnormal ground contact which caused the subsequent main rotor strike on the tail boom that severed the tail rotor driveshaft. Contributing to the accident was…May 23, 2023 · N451PH · Substantial damageNTSB ANC23LA038Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAerospatiale AS350B2 · Honolulu, HIThe instructor pilot’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction, which resulted in a hard landing, and substantial damage to the tail boom.May 22, 2023 · N745RH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR23LA191Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 · Spanish Fork, UTThe instructor pilot’s improper landing flare during a straight-in autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.May 15, 2023 · N227WM · Substantial damageNTSB GAA23WA140Accident · 7 fatalClass 3 · ForeignCessna 206 · Chiribiquete National Park, ColombiaMay 1, 2023 · HK2803 · DestroyedNTSB CEN23FA164Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMaule MXT-7-180 · La Porte, TXThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for an emergency landing following a partial loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the…Apr 24, 2023 · N4008J · Substantial damageNTSB ERA23LA146Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 269A · Titusville, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom.Mar 9, 2023 · N8911F · Substantial damageNTSB GAA23WA077AccidentClass 5 · ForeignHughes 269A · Budaors, HungaryFeb 23, 2023 · HA-HBQ · Substantial damage