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 FTW77FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedBolkow BO105C · Morgan City, LAJan 6, 1977 · N200BB · Substantial damageNTSB ANC77FA019Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Kaktovik, AKJan 2, 1977 · N7199Z · Substantial damageNTSB LAX77FA018Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 95-B55 · Barstow, CADec 31, 1976 · N4635S · DestroyedNTSB MIA77FA020Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeech B95A · Panacea, FLDec 25, 1976 · N22RL · DestroyedNTSB CHI77FA018Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Columbia City, INDec 25, 1976 · N1510J · DestroyedNTSB OAK77FA009Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Empire, NVDec 22, 1976 · N12364 · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FA015Accident · 3 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA-1 · Alder, CODec 19, 1976 · N5679L · DestroyedNTSB CHI77FA016Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-C · Palo, MIDec 19, 1976 · N99258 · DestroyedNTSB IAD77FID08Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 172 · Richmond, VADec 16, 1976 · N4291L · Substantial damageNTSB DEN77FA019Accident · Serious injuriesClosedSikorsky S-64E · Cowdrey, CODec 13, 1976 · N6965R · Substantial damageNTSB CHI77FA014Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Vandalia, ILDec 11, 1976 · N64024 · DestroyedNTSB CHI77FA011Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 195 · Roanoke, INDec 10, 1976 · N169CB · DestroyedNTSB MIA77FA016Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Clewiston, FLDec 6, 1976 · N4240P · DestroyedNTSB MKC77FA007Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Kimball, NEDec 5, 1976 · N6973P · DestroyedNTSB MIA77DA015Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 337G · Summer Haven, FLDec 1, 1976 · N72459 · DestroyedNTSB IAD77FA015Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 210 · Oxford, NCNov 28, 1976 · N360WL · DestroyedNTSB MIA77FA013Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Tallahassee, FLNov 27, 1976 · N4615J · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FA012Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Farmington, NMNov 26, 1976 · N4208F · DestroyedNTSB FTW77FA017Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-C · Little Rock, ARNov 25, 1976 · N99324 · DestroyedNTSB NYC77FA014Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Conneautville, PANov 20, 1976 · N80778 · DestroyedNTSB MIA76FA008Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Orlando, FLNov 16, 1976 · N7511G · DestroyedNTSB NYC77FA012Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Warren Center, PANov 12, 1976 · N973A · DestroyedNTSB IAD77FA012Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Wise, NCNov 12, 1976 · N2693T · DestroyedNTSB SEA77FA005Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Pendleton, ORNov 9, 1976 · N5789A · DestroyedNTSB LAX77FA005Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna U206 · Joseph City, AZOct 27, 1976 · N3945G · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FA004Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Matheson, COOct 27, 1976 · N9705K · DestroyedNTSB OAK77FA003Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech A36 · Coalinga, CAOct 23, 1976 · N7317R · DestroyedNTSB FTW77FA008Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182L · Shaw, LAOct 23, 1976 · N42213 · DestroyedNTSB MKC77FER03Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-28 · Rochester, MNOct 20, 1976 · N56091 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI76FA003Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150M · Amherst, WIOct 20, 1976 · N704PN · DestroyedNTSB NYC77FA005Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Frenchville, PAOct 17, 1976 · N4189J · DestroyedNTSB FTW77FA004Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · College Sta, TXOct 16, 1976 · N1434P · DestroyedNTSB FTW77FA007Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 17-30 · Seguin, TXOct 15, 1976 · N4819V · DestroyedNTSB CHI77FA002Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 177B · Manteno, ILOct 3, 1976 · N34434 · DestroyedNTSB MKC76AK084Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech P35 · Red Wing, MNSep 26, 1976 · N1584Z · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF126Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Greenfield, OKSep 26, 1976 · N55481 · DestroyedNTSB CHI76AC093Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Peoria, ILSep 26, 1976 · N732AB · DestroyedNTSB FTW76FPM30Accident · Serious injuriesClosedHughes 269C · Vinita, OKSep 25, 1976 · N7453F · DestroyedNTSB SEA76AS078Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Zurich, MTSep 24, 1976 · N8966C · DestroyedNTSB CHI77AC095Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 95 · L'Anse, MISep 20, 1976 · N2080C · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF124Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 17-30 · Eagletown, OKSep 18, 1976 · N4885V · DestroyedNTSB OAK76AP070Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Trinity Center, CASep 15, 1976 · N7614P · DestroyedNTSB DEN76AD071Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Scholle, NMSep 10, 1976 · N8981W · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM107Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna T210G · Brantley, ALSep 4, 1976 · N6826R · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF119Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna P206 · Shamrock, TXAug 30, 1976 · N2580X · DestroyedNTSB OAK76DVD51Accident · 1 fatalClosedFlying Flea HM297 · Tracy, CAAug 26, 1976 · N7196 · DestroyedNTSB LAX76FUG70Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 150K · Wrightwood, CAAug 26, 1976 · N6200G · DestroyedNTSB SEA76AS073Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna TU206E · Salmon, IDAug 25, 1976 · N1383M · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF115Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182L · Mullin, TXAug 19, 1976 · N42216 · DestroyedNTSB CHI76AC086Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 207 · East Troy, WIAug 17, 1976 · N91061 · Destroyed