# NTSB investigations, VA: 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 DCA19LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19LA154.md): Aurora PAV · Manassas, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 4, 2019 · N83AU · Substantial damage
  > 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.
- [NTSB ERA16FA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA194.md): Jihlavan Airplanes Sro KP 5 ASA · Rhoadesville, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 24, 2016 · N440JM · Destroyed
  > The pilots' loss of control that necessitated the activation of the parachute system and the airplane manufacturer's inadequate design of the front parachute anchor attachment structure, which resulted in a failure of the parachute after it was deployed in…
- [NTSB IAD01FA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01FA097.md): Cessna 150 · Mcgaheysville, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 14, 2001 · N63351 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's failure to recover from a spin for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB ATL82AA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82AA019.md): Piper Advcd PAT-1 · Mathews, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Nov 19, 1981 · N15PT · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL82FA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA004.md): Piper PA-32 · Winchester, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 6, 1981 · N8398N · 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 IAD79FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA010.md): Piper PA-32 · Melfa, VA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Nov 8, 1978 · N1104X · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD78FA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA016.md): Piper PA-23 · Reston, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 30, 1977 · N6241Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD77AA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77AA038.md): Beech HS.125 · Mclean, VA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Apr 28, 1977 · N40PC · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD77FA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FA030.md): Beech 35 · Boones Mill, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Mar 12, 1977 · N4459V · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD77FID08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FID08.md): Cessna 172 · Richmond, VA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Dec 16, 1976 · N4291L · Substantial damage
- [NTSB IAD76FIA08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76FIA08.md): Bellanca 7KCAB · Woodstock, VA · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Dec 24, 1975 · N53743 · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD75AI050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75AI050.md): Bell 206B · Wise, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Mar 8, 1975 · N370AF · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD74AI057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI057.md): Piper PA-32 · Luray, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Apr 24, 1974 · N5507J · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD74AI041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI041.md): Cessna 150L · Samos, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Feb 4, 1974 · N6927G · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC73DIJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73DIJ02.md): Bell 47G-2A · Richlands, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · Aug 19, 1972 · N8486E · Substantial damage
- [NTSB IAD71AI053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71AI053.md): Cessna 177 · New Castle, VA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · May 27, 1971 · N2271Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD71AI021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71AI021.md): Cessna 172G · Providence Frg, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Nov 1, 1970 · N3750L · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD70AI060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD70AI060.md): Globe GC-1B · Blue Ridge, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · May 16, 1970 · N80792 · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD70A0028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD70A0028.md): Aero Comdr 1121 · Rural Retreat, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 31, 1969 · N236JP · Destroyed
- [NTSB IAD69A0053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD69A0053.md): Cessna 172 · Emporia, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Apr 4, 1969 · N2072Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB DIA69A0027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69A0027.md): Piper PA-30 · Damascus, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 19, 1968 · N7141Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB DIA69F0076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69F0076.md): Hughes 269B · Alexandria, VA · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Oct 1, 1968 · N9428F · Destroyed
- [NTSB DIA67A0023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA67A0023.md): Cessna 185 · Etlan, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jun 22, 1967 · N4002Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB DIA67A0001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA67A0001.md): Brantly 305 · Manassas, VA · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · Nov 23, 1966 · N2204U · Substantial damage

## 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" = 'VA' 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=VA

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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.