NTSB investigations, 2024

15 cases where the phase of flight was Emergency descent.

Cases per year

19622026
NTSB investigations, 2024 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\") = 2024
    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 CEN25LA084Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBell Helicopter Textron Canada 505 · Lago Vista, TXThe flight instructor’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.Nov 11, 2024 · N1243Y · Substantial damageNTSB CEN25LA003Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer 269C · Montrose, COA loss of engine power during a demonstrated autorotation due to an improperly adjusted air-fuel mixture or idle setting. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to perform the required idle check during previous flights in higher elevation areas.Oct 3, 2024 · N656RB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA377Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Manvel, TXThe pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.Sep 30, 2024 · N8372F · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24FA365Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportGrumman American Avn. AA-5 · Rockmart, GAA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing attempt, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic…Sep 4, 2024 · N9659L · Substantial damageNTSB GAA24WA241AccidentClass 5 · ForeignRobinson 44 · Torun Wloscianski, PolandAug 1, 2024 · SP-NHM · DestroyedNTSB GAA24WA236Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignCessna T182 · Little Stretton, United KingdomJul 30, 2024 · G-CIMM · Substantial damageNTSB ENG24LA028Incident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 407 · Oktaha, OKThe loss of engine power due to high cycle fatigue failure of a power turbine stage 3 turbine wheel blade. The resulting engine imbalance caused a decoupling of the gas producer stage 1 and stage 2 turbine wheels leading to a stage 1 turbine overspeed and…Jul 26, 2024 · N793SF · Minor damageNTSB WPR24LA241Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Herriman, UTA hard landing following a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the improper idle setting of the helicopter’s engine. Contributing to the loss of engine power was the instructor’s reduction of engine power past that recommended by…Jul 13, 2024 · N6960 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA24WA237Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignCessna 150 · Vern-sur-Seiche, FranceJul 3, 2024 · F-HTFS · Substantial damageNTSB ANC24LA045Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 206 · King Salmon, AKA partial loss of engine power due to detonation/preignition of the No. 1 cylinder for reasons that could not be determined.Jun 7, 2024 · N756CL · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24LA183Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R22 Beta · Maricopa, AZThe flight instructor’s unstabilized approach during an autorotation that resulted in hard landing.Jun 6, 2024 · N7514V · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA215Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHughes 369 · Crestview, FLThe pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the main rotor blades contacting the tail boom.May 10, 2024 · N969VS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA201Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportStinson 108 · Beach City, OHA total loss of engine power due to the due to the pilot’s delayed application of carburetor heat.Apr 25, 2024 · N97517 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA24WA145Accident · 3 fatalClass 5 · ForeignBell 206 · Meico City, MexicoApr 14, 2024 · XP-PIP · DestroyedNTSB ERA24FA102Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-24 · Eufaula, ALA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning/management.Jan 31, 2024 · N5520P · Substantial damage