# NTSB investigations, 1985: 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 LAX86LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA070.md): Bell 47G2 · Moss, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 19, 1985 · N8404E · Substantial damage
  > After starting a left climbing turn at the end of a spray run the plt said he felt a 'shudder in the airframe' as the engine 'went to full RPM.' The plt stated that he thought 'the clutch had slipped' and added collective to compensate. The helicopter began…
- [NTSB MKC86FCJ01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86FCJ01.md): Carothers Monoplane · Lincoln, NE · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Nov 7, 1985 · N44XP · Destroyed
  > The plt was performing aerobatics while being photographed for a promotional video. On the last pass over the arpt the acft lost airspeed and began a side slip with the left wing down. At a very low alt AGL the acft appeared to stall and assume a higher sink…
- [NTSB FTW86FPA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FPA02.md): Homebuilt Fokker DR-1 Replica · Denton, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Nov 2, 1985 · N152DR · Destroyed
  > The pilot stated he was making his fourth fly-by at 400 feet AGL when the aircraft developed a high sink rate. He then lowered the nose and gained airspeed for recovery. While leveling off he had to turn left to avoid impact with a small tree. At this time…
- [NTSB DEN86FTE02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FTE02.md): Beech 58 · Elbert, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Nov 2, 1985 · N26BW · Destroyed
  > The acft crashed in a open field & was not found for 4 days. The home built acft, maintained largely by the plt, had the engine destroyed so completely that no determination could be made as to power being developed at impact. The plt reportedly had been…
- [NTSB NYC86DNC01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86DNC01.md): Burkhart Grob 103 · Franconia, NH · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Oct 12, 1985 · N4944G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot flying a grob 103 was engaged in ridge soaring when the aircraft encountered down or sinking air. The aircraft was unable to recover prior to striking trees. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot received serious injuries while the…
- [NTSB SEA85LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA231.md): Mitchell U2 · Prineville, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 1985 · N58209 · Destroyed
  > Plt was on second flt in newly completed, registered ultralight. Craft had not been issued a certificate of airworthiness. After takeoff, acft was observed to circle airport, then descend out of sight behind trees. Investigation showed steeep, nosedown…
- [NTSB CHI85FA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA301.md): Bell 47G2A1 · Brook, IN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 20, 1985 · N1345A · Destroyed
  > The helicopter contacted the terrain in a flat attitude and rolled over during an autorotative landing. A witness stated an autorotation was entered at 800 ft AGL during which the plt made a 360 deg descending turn. An application of pwr was heard at an alt…
- [NTSB LAX85FA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA280.md): Robinson R22 · Manhattan Beach, CA · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 16, 1985 · N8360J · Substantial damage
  > The helicopter was to fly in formation with a banner towed by an acft 'to attract attention.' Numerous witnesses along a 20-mile stretch of Beach saw the helicopter 'flying erratically' & 'buzzing the Beach' just prior to the accident. Witnesses saw the…
- [NTSB DEN85FA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA125.md): Cessna 421C · Las Vegas, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · May 5, 1985 · N8343G · Substantial damage
  > The acft was landed in a pasture about 2 miles from the arpt after the acft began to descen 'behind the power curve' after takeoff. The plt said he used full power for takeoff but the takeoff was longer than normal. The da was computed to be 9286 ft. after…
- [NTSB FTW85LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA210.md): Piper J-3C · Fredericksburg, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 4, 1985 · N925TX · Substantial damage
  > The acft contacted trees after encountering a downdraft during final apch. The plt stated the apch into the 10-12 kt gusty wind resulted in a low, flat apch. A downdraft was encountered, the acft contacted trees and descended uncontrolled into the terrain.
- [NTSB FTW85LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA198.md): Partenavia P68C · Tilden, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 25, 1985 · N76L · Destroyed
  > After aprx 1.5 hrs of pipeline patrol flight at a planned altitude of 500 AGL the acft flew into the flat terrain in a landing attitude. The acft went through a wire fence, heavy brush and small trees before coming to rest 437 ft from initial ground contact…
- [NTSB MIA85LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA151.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Miami, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 19, 1985 · N6984Y · Substantial damage
  > The plt stated that he permitted a non-plt pax to close the cabin door & he, the plt did not check it. Shortly after liftoff the landing gear was retracted & the door popped open. The pax turned in his seat to close the door & bumped the yoke forcing the acft…
- [NTSB FTW85FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA130.md): Hughes 269C · San Antonio, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 3, 1985 · N9664F · Substantial damage
  > The accident occurred during a zero ground speed practice autorotation. A high sink developed after an attempt to correct for decreasing rotor RPM, the helicopter contacted the ground tail first and rolled over after the main rotor severed the tail boom. An…
- [NTSB DEN85FTI01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FTI01.md): Polliwagen 2 Place · Manhattan, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Jan 3, 1985 · N13954 · Destroyed
  > The acft crashed in an open flt shortly after takeoff and was destroyed by fire. There were no witnesses to the accident. The plt reportedly stated he needed to depart Manhattan by 0500 MST to arrive in helena before 0600 MST when the ATC twr opened as his…

## 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") = 1985
  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=1985

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