# Uncontrolled descent - Type: NTSB phase of flight (CICTT main phase) - CICTT code: 650 - Cases: 2194 - Fatal cases: 1832 - In the older codes (1982 to 2007): 122 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases.md - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650 ## Cases per year (current codes / all) - 1964: 101 / 101 - 1965: 119 / 119 - 1966: 119 / 119 - 1967: 125 / 125 - 1968: 142 / 142 - 1969: 127 / 127 - 1970: 125 / 125 - 1971: 136 / 136 - 1972: 135 / 135 - 1973: 117 / 117 - 1974: 103 / 103 - 1975: 99 / 99 - 1976: 92 / 92 - 1977: 118 / 118 - 1978: 102 / 102 - 1979: 93 / 93 - 1980: 85 / 85 - 1981: 97 / 97 - 1982: 0 / 3 - 1983: 0 / 5 - 1984: 0 / 6 - 1985: 0 / 14 - 1986: 0 / 5 - 1987: 0 / 9 - 1989: 0 / 3 - 1990: 0 / 6 - 1991: 0 / 7 - 1992: 0 / 9 - 1993: 0 / 6 - 1994: 0 / 2 - 1995: 0 / 5 - 1997: 0 / 2 - 1998: 0 / 5 - 1999: 0 / 4 - 2000: 0 / 7 - 2001: 0 / 5 - 2002: 0 / 4 - 2003: 0 / 3 - 2004: 0 / 4 - 2005: 0 / 3 - 2006: 0 / 4 - 2007: 0 / 1 - 2008: 5 / 5 - 2009: 1 / 1 - 2010: 5 / 5 - 2011: 4 / 4 - 2012: 2 / 2 - 2013: 2 / 2 - 2015: 5 / 5 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2018: 1 / 1 - 2019: 2 / 2 - 2021: 1 / 1 - 2022: 1 / 1 - 2024: 4 / 4 - 2025: 2 / 2 - 2026: 1 / 1 ## CICTT sub-phases (1962 to 1981, 2008 on) - Uncontrolled descent (650): 2,072 cases ## Older codes counted here (1982 to 2007) - Descent - uncontrolled (553): 122 cases ## Defining events in this phase (2008 on) - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 11 cases - [Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000): 7 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 4 cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 4 cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 3 cases - [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 2 cases - [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 1 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 1 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 1 cases ## In the probable cause (2008 on) - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): 10 cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): 9 cases - [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): 7 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): 4 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): 3 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): 2 cases - [Equipment design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011010): 1 cases - [Low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): 1 cases - [Thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): 1 cases - [Clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry, all years) - [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140): 74 cases - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 60 cases - [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 41 cases - [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172): 31 cases - [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c): 30 cases - [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150): 29 cases - [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200): 24 cases - [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260): 23 cases - [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m): 22 cases - [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30): 18 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB WPR26FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA108), Feb 28, 2026: Vans RV-8 (N80AR), Hurricane, UT, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing - [NTSB WPR25FA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA147), May 3, 2025: Paul Berkovitz Vans RV-10 (N626PB), Simi Valley, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal, investigation ongoing - [NTSB ERA25FA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA179), Apr 19, 2025: Cessna 180 (N4679U), Trilla, IL, destroyed, 4 fatal, investigation ongoing - [NTSB GAA25WA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA25WA176), Oct 27, 2024: Socata TB 20 (D-EMRT), Vaduleni, Moldova, destroyed, 1 fatal - [NTSB GAA24WA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA24WA250), Aug 3, 2024: Beech 95A55 (PS-RCM), Birigui, Brazil, destroyed, 3 fatal - [NTSB CEN24LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA197), May 25, 2024: Cessna U206 (N29173), Butler, MO, destroyed. Probable cause: The jumper’s unintentional deployment of his emergency parachute and subsequent impact with the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer. - [NTSB DCA24LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA24LA200), May 24, 2024: Aergility Atlis 1 (N237KG), Dunnellon, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An intermittent electrical failure that switched two motor controllers off, resulting in a loss of hover capability and impact with the ground. - [NTSB ERA22FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA262), Jun 7, 2022: Enstrom F28 (N600TA), Greenville, OH, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: An impact with terrain for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB ERA21LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA322), Aug 9, 2021: Diamond DA42 (N906ER), Hiddenite, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inability to stop the descent following a practice emergency descent for reasons that could not be determined. - [NTSB DCA19LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19LA154), Jun 4, 2019: Aurora PAV (N83AU), Manassas, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of hover lift thrust provided by the eight lift motors due to a false on-ground rotor speed reduction command, resulting from excessive vibration. From 1962 to 1981 and from 2008 on, NTSB codes phases with the CICTT phases; from 1982 to 2007 with its older phase codes, counted under the CICTT main phase each maps to. Each case counts once, on its first aircraft: by its defining event's phase from 2008, its first event's before 1982, and its first occurrence's from 1982 to 2007. Compare years within an era: a first occurrence (1982 to 2007) is often in flight, before the landing, so landings count lower then. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.