# NTSB investigations, AL: 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.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA13FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA101.md): Piper PA-30 · Jasper, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 2013 · N7700Y · Destroyed
  > The student pilot’s poor judgment to take a multiengine airplane for which he did not have experience or permission to operate and depart into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and impact with terrain.
- [NTSB MIA00FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00FA043.md): Piper PA-32RT-300T · Pelham, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 8, 1999 · N39696 · Destroyed
  > The student pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating visibility, and his failure to maintain altitude clearance with the terrain.
- [NTSB MIA97LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA212.md): Continental Copters MK5A · Sylacauga, AL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 1997 · N62108 · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilot to maintain main rotor rpm resulting in the helicopter descending and colliding with trees.
- [NTSB ATL81FA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA090.md): Cessna 182M · Haleyville, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 2, 1981 · N71859 · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL81FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA051.md): Piper PA-30 · Autaugaville, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Mar 1, 1981 · N7443Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA107.md): Piper PA-32 · Huntsville, AL · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Jul 21, 1979 · N9181K · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA088.md): Beech G35 · Mobile, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · May 23, 1979 · N46460 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA79FA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA023.md): Sikorsky S55B · Hanceville, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 29, 1978 · N8307 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA78FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FA101.md): Piper PA-28R · Courtland, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 1, 1978 · N47975 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA78AF019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78AF019.md): Cessna 150 · Dauphin Island, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 17, 1977 · N6589T · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA77FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FA072.md): Piper PA-32 · Clanton, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jul 29, 1977 · N8663N · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA76AM107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76AM107.md): Cessna T210G · Brantley, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Sep 4, 1976 · N6826R · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD76AI007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76AI007.md): Beech A35 · Mumford, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 10, 1975 · N559B · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA75AM012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75AM012.md): Beech M35 · Newton, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Aug 2, 1974 · N9760R · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA73AMO49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73AMO49.md): Cessna 310Q · Montgomery, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 10, 1972 · N7798Q · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA73AM007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73AM007.md): Beech B95 · Shelby Sprngs, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 5, 1972 · N902T · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA72AM073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM073.md): Cessna 210B · Semmes, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jan 23, 1972 · N9715X · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA68F0540](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68F0540.md): Schempp SHK · Brownsboro, AL · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · May 30, 1968 · N801M · Substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA68A0068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68A0068-201096.md): Cessna 182 · Calera, AL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Feb 17, 1968 · N2671F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA67A0074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67A0074.md): Cessna 210F · Muscle Shoals, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jan 3, 1967 · N5813F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA67A0072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67A0072.md): Piper PA-22 · Manila, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jan 2, 1967 · N8107C · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA67A0056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67A0056.md): Beech D18S · Heflin, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 2, 1966 · N411Z · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA66A0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66A0066.md): Cessna 172B · Oneonta, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 12, 1965 · N7543X · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA66A0038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66A0038.md): Cessba 140 · Trenton, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 1, 1965 · N77409 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA66A0014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66A0014.md): Piper PA-24 · Parrish, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jul 24, 1965 · N8616P · Destroyed
- [NTSB UNK65X0272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0272.md): Cessna 175 · Cuba, AL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 14, 1964 · N6691E · Destroyed

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'AL' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND 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?state=AL

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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.