NTSB investigations

2,192 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases, newest first

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 650)
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB FTW78FA043Accident · 2 fatalClosedAero Comdr 1121A · Flatwoods, LAApr 27, 1978 · N250UA · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA072Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech N35 · Kennesaw, GAApr 26, 1978 · N9495Y · DestroyedNTSB OAK78FA027Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 310R · Lake Tahoe, CAApr 20, 1978 · N3502G · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA033Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech A24R · Mandan, NDApr 17, 1978 · N8051R · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA031Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech A23-24 · Wichita, KSApr 16, 1978 · N7934L · DestroyedNTSB ANC78FA028Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 206B · Lonely, AKApr 16, 1978 · N49757 · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA036Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna TP206C · Angle, UTApr 8, 1978 · N8697Z · DestroyedNTSB OAK78FA023Accident · 2 fatalClosedGrumman AA-5A · Red Bluff, CAMar 21, 1978 · N9740U · DestroyedNTSB IAD78FA052Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172E · Leitchfield, KYMar 17, 1978 · N5615T · DestroyedNTSB CHI78FA029Accident · 1 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA5-B · Sandusky, OHMar 17, 1978 · N1552R · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA054Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Leesburg, FLMar 16, 1978 · N7488L · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA028Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Belfield, NDMar 15, 1978 · N75089 · DestroyedNTSB CHI79FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Rock Falls, ILMar 14, 1978 · N7299C · DestroyedNTSB LAX78FA034Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182P · Benson, AZMar 12, 1978 · N6955M · DestroyedNTSB CHI78FA025Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna T210M · Beecher, ILMar 12, 1978 · N761EJ · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FAO32Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Woodland Park, COMar 10, 1978 · N22443 · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA026Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Memphis, MOMar 9, 1978 · N7592X · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 320 · Gallup, NMMar 4, 1978 · N4108T · DestroyedNTSB OAK78FA020Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 411 · Chilcoot, CAMar 3, 1978 · N3212R · DestroyedNTSB ANC78FA023Accident · 3 fatalClosedEvangel 4500 · Merrill Pass, AKFeb 27, 1978 · N4508L · DestroyedNTSB LAX78FA029Accident · 6 fatalClosedCessna T2101 · Bakersfield, CAFeb 22, 1978 · N59313 · DestroyedNTSB LAX78FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Wasco, CAFeb 20, 1978 · N44138 · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA044Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech A45 · Moultrie, GAFeb 18, 1978 · N7747C · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA043Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech V35B · Myrtle Beach, SCFeb 17, 1978 · N17523 · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA022Accident · 1 fatalClosedTaylorcraft BC12D · Albuquerque, NMFeb 5, 1978 · N43021 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI79FA019Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150M · Big Bay Denoc, MIFeb 4, 1978 · C-GYEF · DestroyedNTSB OAK78FA015Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Turlock, CAJan 29, 1978 · N5472B · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA020Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Tama, IAJan 15, 1978 · N6819B · DestroyedNTSB NYC78FA024Accident · 1 fatalClosedTemco GC1B · Newport, RIJan 14, 1978 · N2406B · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA030Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech B-58P · Tylertown, MSJan 8, 1978 · N7264R · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA042Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech C23 · Eatonton, GAJan 7, 1978 · N9BW · DestroyedNTSB LAX78FA020Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182F · Sells, AZJan 7, 1978 · N3117U · DestroyedNTSB SEA78FA017Accident · 1 fatalClosedAero Comdr 500B · Miles City, MTJan 5, 1978 · N6308U · DestroyedNTSB LAX78FA019Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Devore, CAJan 4, 1978 · N1511P · DestroyedNTSB SEA78FA015Accident · 2 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA-5A · Anaconda, MTDec 28, 1977 · N9968U · DestroyedNTSB ANC78DAG17Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 185D · Mt.Susitna, AKDec 27, 1977 · N1553F · Substantial damageNTSB MIA78DA025Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Mayaguez (Atlantic Ocean)Dec 24, 1977 · N4901J · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA020Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Plantation, FLDec 23, 1977 · N10608 · DestroyedNTSB SEA78FA014Accident · 7 fatalClosedAero Cmdr 520 · Cheshire, ORDec 22, 1977 · C-GHUN · DestroyedNTSB NYC78FA015Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeagle B206 · Greenwich, CTDec 20, 1977 · N1008B · DestroyedNTSB ANC78FA005Accident · 2 fatalClosedHiller Acft FH1100 · Anchor Point, AKDec 19, 1977 · N18845 · DestroyedNTSB MIA78AF019Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Dauphin Island, ALDec 17, 1977 · N6589T · DestroyedNTSB MKC78DCJ07Accident · Minor injuriesClosedMooney M10 · Emerson, NEDec 16, 1977 · N9525V · Substantial damageNTSB MKC78FA012Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Fordland, MODec 8, 1977 · N38775 · DestroyedNTSB IAD78FA018Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172H · Dickson, TNDec 4, 1977 · N75923 · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA011Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech C33 · Canton, SDDec 1, 1977 · N9435S · DestroyedNTSB IAD78FA016Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Reston, VANov 30, 1977 · N6241Y · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA009Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182M · Hill City, SDNov 29, 1977 · N71026 · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA017Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Lakeport, FLNov 29, 1977 · N5374W · DestroyedNTSB NYC78FA009Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · North Wales, PANov 23, 1977 · N1018L · Destroyed