# NTSB investigations, 1971: 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 1 of 3 · 136 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB SEA72AS027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72AS027.md): Cessna 150G · Kalama, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 31, 1971 · N2257J · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN085.md): Piper PA-28 · Malvern, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 30, 1971 · N6047W · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK041.md): Piper PA-28R · Davenport, IA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Dec 25, 1971 · N7477J · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN083.md): Cessna 150B · Allentown, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 24, 1971 · N1180Y · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX72FUG42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72FUG42.md): Beech 23 · Big Bear, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Dec 22, 1971 · N2366Q · Substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA72AM056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM056.md): Cessna 150F · Dalton, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Dec 21, 1971 · N8014F · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK72AP020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72AP020.md): Cessna 182G · Fresno, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 20, 1971 · N3180S · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK038.md): Erco 415C · Lake Mills, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 19, 1971 · N93703 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK037.md): Cessna 175 · Clyde, KS · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Dec 19, 1971 · N7436M · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX72FVA37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72FVA37.md): Bell 47G5 · Mcfarland, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Dec 17, 1971 · N8557F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA72FLA22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72FLA22.md): Cessna 150L · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Dec 8, 1971 · N6877G · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC049.md): Cessna 175A · New Lebanon, OH · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Dec 7, 1971 · N6820E · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC72AA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72AA030.md): Cessna 180 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 4, 1971 · N7692A · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX72AL036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL036.md): Piper PA-28 · Lebec, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 30, 1971 · N5929U · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN073.md): Piper PA-32 · Adams, MA · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Nov 28, 1971 · N550XX · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW72AF030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72AF030.md): Piper PA-32 · Wells, TX · Accident · 7 fatal · Closed · Nov 28, 1971 · N8973N · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA72AS022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72AS022.md): Beech C35 · Astoria, OR · Accident · 6 fatal · Closed · Nov 25, 1971 · N1944D · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC72AA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72AA026.md): Cessna 175 · Willits, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Nov 23, 1971 · N7055M · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX72AL037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL037.md): Globe GC-1B · Palos Vrdes, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 20, 1971 · N250B · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK72AP016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72AP016.md): Piper PA-22 · Bodega Bay, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 18, 1971 · N2503P · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX72AL033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL033.md): Piper PA-28 · Solvang, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Nov 13, 1971 · N3626R · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA72AS019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72AS019.md): Cessna 150L · Ulm, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 9, 1971 · N6691G · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK72AP015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72AP015.md): Piper PA-24 · Wildwood, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 9, 1971 · N9352P · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN061.md): Piper PA-28 · Boalsburg, PA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Oct 31, 1971 · N9287J · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK72AP013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72AP013.md): Piper PA-28 · Benicia, CA · Accident · 6 fatal · Closed · Oct 30, 1971 · N9412W · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN72AD024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72AD024.md): Cessna 172 · Opal, WY · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 29, 1971 · N6151E · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN72AD021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72AD021.md): Beech D50C · Brandon, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Oct 29, 1971 · N9968R · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN72AD020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72AD020.md): Erco 415-CD · Kit Carson, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 28, 1971 · N3902H · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI83FA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA225.md): Cessna 185 · Hovland, MN · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 26, 1971 · N9881X · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX72AL030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL030.md): Cessna 172A · Bagdad, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 25, 1971 · N7570T · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA72FTI09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72FTI09.md): Cessna 150 · Chinook, MT · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Oct 24, 1971 · N6180T · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA72FLD18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72FLD18.md): Piper PA-17 · Arcadia, FL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Oct 21, 1971 · N4677H · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK028.md): Cessna 182J · Longton, KS · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 20, 1971 · N2784F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA72AM040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM040.md): Lockheed 1049H · Gt.Inagua, Burkina Faso · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Oct 20, 1971 · N564E · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN055.md): Beech 35-C33 · Black Mountain, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 18, 1971 · N5845K · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN054.md): Mooney M20F · Akron, NY · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 17, 1971 · N3276F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA72AM036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM036.md): Beech A35 · Homerville, GA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 17, 1971 · N8544A · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC72AN051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN051.md): Piper PA-28R · Washingtnville, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 10, 1971 · N2941R · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC035.md): Piper PA-28 · Pemberton, OH · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Oct 10, 1971 · N8833J · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA72AM033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM033.md): Mooney M20C · Cottondale, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 9, 1971 · N2617W · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW72AF018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72AF018.md): Cessna 172 · New Braunfels, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 8, 1971 · N46249 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC032.md): Piper PA-28 · Concord, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 8, 1971 · N4700L · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK025.md): Cessna 150L · Stover, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 7, 1971 · N1600Q · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK024.md): Navion A · Macon, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 2, 1971 · N4249K · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC031.md): Cessna 150F · Tomahawk, WI · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 1, 1971 · N7801F · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC72AK022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK022.md): Piper PA-22 · Kenmare, ND · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Sep 30, 1971 · N8946D · Destroyed
- [NTSB OAK72DVW12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVW12.md): Curtis Sull J T · Pioche, NV · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Sep 25, 1971 · N491C · Substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC72AK020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72AK020.md): Amer Avco AA1 · Potwin, KS · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Sep 25, 1971 · N5770L · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC028.md): Piper PA-28 · Adolphus, KY · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 25, 1971 · N9935W · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN72AD013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72AD013.md): Beech 70 · Fowler, CO · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Sep 17, 1971 · N1384A · Destroyed

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases.md?year=1971&page=2

## 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 year(c."eventDate") = 1971
  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?year=1971

---
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.