# NTSB investigations: Uncontrolled descent

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 8 of 44 · 2,192 cases

## Cases, newest first

- [NTSB SEA80FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA009.md): Mooney M20C · Grass Valley, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 28, 1979 · N7090V · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW80FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA019.md): Mitsubishi MU-2B · Post Oak, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 26, 1979 · N234MA · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC80FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80FA010.md): Piper PA-23 · Columbus, NE · Accident · 6 fatal · Closed · Nov 25, 1979 · N6496Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD80FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA013.md): Piper PA-23 · Locust Grove, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 25, 1979 · N7650D · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC80FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80FA015.md): Bell 47G3B1 · Farewell, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 24, 1979 · N73249 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI80FEV07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FEV07.md): American AA-1B · Charleston, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 22, 1979 · N6245L · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC80FA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80FA007.md): Cessna 210 · Mountain View, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 21, 1979 · N732EH · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW80FPM03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FPM03.md): Benson B8M · Sand Springs, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 19, 1979 · N6933 · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC80FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80FA012.md): Piper PA-20 · Palmer, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 15, 1979 · N9710D · Substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK80X0102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK80X0102.md): Piper PA-28 · Melvin, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 11, 1979 · N2181D · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX80FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA010.md): Mooney M20E · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 3, 1979 · N1942Y · Substantial damage
- [NTSB IAD80AA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80AA008.md): Cessna P337H · Benson, NC · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Nov 2, 1979 · N5KN · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW80FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA008.md): Beech C55 · Fordyce, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 25, 1979 · N9466S · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI80FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA006.md): Cessna 172 · Fall Creek, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 20, 1979 · N5072R · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA80FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA003.md): Cessna 182L · Macks Inn, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 15, 1979 · N42641 · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN80FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA003.md): Cessna T210N · Gunnison, CO · Accident · 8 fatal · Closed · Oct 14, 1979 · N7618N · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI80FAMS1](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FAMS1.md): Piper PA-24 · Ganges, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 10, 1979 · N8437P · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD80FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA002.md): Mooney M20J · Pikeville, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 4, 1979 · N201YY · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC80FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80FA001.md): Cessna 207 · Juneau, AK · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 3, 1979 · N1726U · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA131.md): Piper PA-28 · Orlando, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 30, 1979 · N6116H · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA081.md): Cessna 150 · Porcupine, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Sep 23, 1979 · N7853E · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX79FA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA087.md): Cessna 175 · Hollister, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 21, 1979 · N9466B · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW79FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA108.md): Piper PA-31 · Luling, LA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Sep 20, 1979 · N27614 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA125.md): Hughes 369HS · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 19, 1979 · N8623F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA122.md): Piper PA-28 · Alma, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Sep 16, 1979 · N15029 · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC79FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FA090.md): Piper PA-28 · No.Whitehall, PA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Sep 5, 1979 · N6275W · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA079-196164.md): Cessna 310 · Blue Ridge, IN · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 29, 1979 · N69618 · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX79FUG52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUG52.md): Rand KR-2 · Thermal, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 22, 1979 · N8029Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW79DRA36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DRA36.md): Grum-Amer AA-5A · Brenham, TX · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Aug 11, 1979 · N26302 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW79DA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DA100.md): Bell 206B · Morgan City, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 11, 1979 · N5018F · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD79FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA065.md): Cessna 172 · Jenkins, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jul 26, 1979 · N9138B · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA061.md): Mooney M20C · Brocton, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jul 26, 1979 · N6217U · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA107.md): Piper PA-32 · Huntsville, AL · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Jul 21, 1979 · N9181K · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD79FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA061.md): Cessna 172 · Kitty Hawk, NC · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Jul 4, 1979 · N20739 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA057.md): Piper PA-22 · St Charles, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jul 4, 1979 · N3027Z · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA052-134173.md): Cessna 172M · Chenoa, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 3, 1979 · N64168 · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC79FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FA049.md): Piper PA-28 · Flushing, NY · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jun 18, 1979 · N9283C · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD79FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA053.md): Cessna 172N · Mackville, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jun 1, 1979 · N1667E · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD79FKW14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FKW14.md): Schleicher KA8B · Benton, TN · Accident · No injuries · Closed · May 26, 1979 · N170DR · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA088.md): Beech G35 · Mobile, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · May 23, 1979 · N46460 · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX79FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA088.md): Piper PA-28 · Yreka, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · May 22, 1979 · C-GXJZ · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD79DLQ13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DLQ13.md): Cessna 210 · Pirates Cove, KY · Accident · No injuries · Closed · May 18, 1979 · N1189Q · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA082.md): Cessna 172M · San Juan, PR · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · May 13, 1979 · N707AC · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD79FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA049.md): Piper PA-24 · Welch, WV · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · May 13, 1979 · N8179P · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK79FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA029.md): Cessna 172N · Livermore, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · May 6, 1979 · N733HG · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA79FYM28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FYM28.md): Cessna 206G · The Dalles, OR · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Apr 22, 1979 · N756SR · Substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK79FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA025.md): Cessna T210M · Tahoe City, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Apr 22, 1979 · N6721B · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW79FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA076.md): Cessna 320E · Covington, LA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Apr 22, 1979 · N3482Q · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK79FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA024.md): Cessna T210L · Dunsmuir, CA · Accident · 6 fatal · Closed · Apr 16, 1979 · N2253S · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX79FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA042.md): Cessna 182K · Shoshone, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Apr 15, 1979 · N3078Q · Destroyed

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases.md?page=9

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 650)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases?page=8

---
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.