# NTSB investigations, 1981: 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 2 · 97 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB NYC82FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA014.md): Piper PA-23 · Owego, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 31, 1981 · N22P · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX82FA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA032.md): Beech 58 · Elko, NV · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Dec 29, 1981 · N1537W · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA82DKA04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82DKA04.md): Bensen B-8M · Sandin, PR · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 25, 1981 · N4627 · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW82FRG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FRG19.md): Cessna 152 · Christine, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 22, 1981 · N4856B · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC82FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82FA012.md): Cessna 172N · Hillsboro, KS · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Dec 13, 1981 · N734EF · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA82FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82FA012.md): Piper PA-32 · Brogan, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Dec 12, 1981 · N4041R · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA82FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82FA019.md): Piper PA-60 · Sebastian (Atlantic Ocean) · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Dec 8, 1981 · N6897X · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA82FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82FA010.md): Piper PA-28 · Mill City, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Dec 6, 1981 · N8415W · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA82FA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82FA007.md): Piper PA-28 · Longview, WA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Nov 29, 1981 · N54440 · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW82FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FA025.md): Piper PA-28 · Ruidoso, NM · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 27, 1981 · N43981 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC82FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82FA009.md): Cessna 177A · Ellinwood, KS · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Nov 25, 1981 · N30288 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC82FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82FA006.md): Cessna 172N · Prairie City, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 24, 1981 · N737RM · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN82FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FA010.md): Mooney M-21 · La Veta, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 24, 1981 · N9777M · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX82FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA019.md): Cessna 210 · Susanville, CA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Nov 22, 1981 · N5181V · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA82FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82FA112.md): Mitsubishi MU-2B · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 19, 1981 · N750MA · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL82AA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82AA019.md): Piper Advcd PAT-1 · Mathews, VA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Nov 19, 1981 · N15PT · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI82FA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA013.md): Cessna 170B · Onamia, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 15, 1981 · N3502C · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC82FGT04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FGT04.md): Carver HP-14B · Altoona, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 7, 1981 · N3320X · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC82FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82FA003.md): Cessna 182P · Essex, IA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 30, 1981 · N9906E · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW82FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FA017.md): Bell 206L-1 · Ingleside, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Oct 30, 1981 · N5751N · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI82FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA009.md): Piper PA-24 · Kerrick, MN · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 30, 1981 · N8898P · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL82FKQ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FKQ06.md): Beech 77 · Brandon, MS · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 23, 1981 · N6754D · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI82FA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA007.md): Cessna 172 · Kokomo, IN · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Oct 22, 1981 · N21766 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI82FA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA005.md): BLN Works FF-7 · Delaware, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 17, 1981 · N1247F · Substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW82FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FA009.md): Piper PA-28R · Hale Center, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 12, 1981 · N82195 · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW82FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FA001.md): Cessna 210L · Clyde, TX · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 6, 1981 · N5431V · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL82FA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FA004.md): Piper PA-32 · Winchester, VA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Oct 6, 1981 · N8398N · Destroyed
- [NTSB DCA82AA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA82AA001.md): Learjet 24 · Felt, OK · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Oct 1, 1981 · N44CJ · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN81FA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA068.md): Cessna T210L · Big Timber, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 25, 1981 · N94136 · Destroyed
- [NTSB SEA81FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FA057.md): Cessna 210A · Woodland, WA · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Sep 20, 1981 · N6653X · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL81FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA117.md): Cessna 150 · Homestead, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 19, 1981 · N1502Q · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX81FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA125.md): Cessna T310P · San Bernardino, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Sep 11, 1981 · N5705M · Destroyed
- [NTSB DEN81AA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81AA064.md): Mitsubishi MU-2B · Riverton, WY · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Sep 6, 1981 · N3ED · Destroyed
- [NTSB FTW81FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA132.md): Piper PA-32R · Mount Hermon, LA · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 16, 1981 · N304FW · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL81FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA108.md): Aero Comdr 685 · Wrens, GA · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Aug 14, 1981 · N8007H · Destroyed
- [NTSB LAX81FA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA116.md): Grum Amer AA-5B · Vancouver, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 13, 1981 · N1565R · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL81FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA106.md): Piper PA-28 · Camilla, GA · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Aug 9, 1981 · N8470F · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC81FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA093.md): Dehavilland DHC-2 · Ketchikan, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Aug 7, 1981 · N31618 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI81FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA083.md): Mooney M20C · Plymouth, OH · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 3, 1981 · N6698U · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI81FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA085.md): Piper PA-28R · Chicago, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 2, 1981 · N7631J · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI81FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA082.md): Bellanca 7ECA · Delevan, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 2, 1981 · N86580 · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC81FAA22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FAA22.md): Piper PA-22 · Hess Creek, AK · Accident · Minor injuries · Closed · Aug 2, 1981 · N8728D · Substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW81FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA128.md): Piper PA-28 · Mcalester, OK · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jul 30, 1981 · N2209Z · Destroyed
- [NTSB ANC81FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA085.md): Mooney M20K · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 28, 1981 · N231PY · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC81FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA044.md): Piper PA-28R · Colo, IA · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Jul 25, 1981 · N16328 · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC81FA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA043.md): Beech 58TC · Kansas City, KS · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Jul 23, 1981 · N17705 · Destroyed
- [NTSB ATL81FA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA100.md): Piper PA-24 · Center Grove, TN · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Jul 23, 1981 · N5472P · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI81FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA079.md): Aero Comdr 100 · Columbia Stat, OH · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jul 21, 1981 · N3732X · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA81FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FA096.md): Beech B95 · Titusville, FL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jul 19, 1981 · N27GD · Destroyed
- [NTSB MIA81FLD53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FLD53.md): Cessna 172 · Tampa, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Jul 12, 1981 · N5319H · Destroyed

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases.md?year=1981&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") = 1981
  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=1981

---
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.