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 FTW76AF051Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Abernathy, TXDec 23, 1975 · N16479 · DestroyedNTSB OAK76AP034Accident · 1 fatalClosedNavion A · Maxwell, CADec 21, 1975 · N91441 · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM053Accident · 5 fatalClosedNavion B · Cross City, FLDec 20, 1975 · N5275K · DestroyedNTSB CHI76AC040Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Monrovia, INDec 20, 1975 · N7785Y · DestroyedNTSB ANC76AA054Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 7GCBC · Bettles, AKDec 18, 1975 · N5137T · DestroyedNTSB ANC76AA053Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 8GCBC · Fairbanks, AKDec 17, 1975 · N88328 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA76FYE22Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 172 · Lummi Island, WADec 14, 1975 · N9613Q · Substantial damageNTSB FTW76AF050Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna T310Q · Lewisville, TXDec 12, 1975 · N888DB · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM049Accident · 3 fatalClosedMooney M20C · Cross City, FLDec 1, 1975 · N78974 · DestroyedNTSB LAX76AL038Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172E · Corona, CANov 27, 1975 · N5342T · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF046Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech V35A · Davenport, OKNov 21, 1975 · N7798R · DestroyedNTSB ANC76AA047Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 185 · Anchorage, AKNov 9, 1975 · N9874X · DestroyedNTSB LAX76DUM11Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBensen B8M · San Diego, CANov 8, 1975 · N4245 · DestroyedNTSB MKC76AK029Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182A · Rush Center, KSNov 5, 1975 · N4710D · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM040Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Lake Hamilton, FLNov 2, 1975 · N1191X · DestroyedNTSB NYC76AN047Accident · 1 fatalClosedStinson 108-2 · Bellows Falls, VTOct 29, 1975 · N9464K · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM038Accident · 1 fatalClosedTaylorcraft BC12-D · Rockledge, FLOct 28, 1975 · N96067 · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM036Accident · 2 fatalClosedTed Smith 600 · Bunnell, FLOct 28, 1975 · N90390 · DestroyedNTSB LAX76AL030Accident · 2 fatalClosedAlon A-2 · Grapevine, CAOct 27, 1975 · N5682F · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF039Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Edna, TXOct 27, 1975 · N3543P · DestroyedNTSB OAK76AP022Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Santa Rita, CAOct 26, 1975 · N8162P · DestroyedNTSB OAK76AP021Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Vacaville, CAOct 25, 1975 · N182EZ · DestroyedNTSB NYC76AN045Accident · 6 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Whitehouse Sta, NJOct 25, 1975 · N54005 · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF037Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-17 · Fabens, TXOct 25, 1975 · N4861H · DestroyedNTSB LAX76AL027Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Rialto, CAOct 21, 1975 · N5963A · DestroyedNTSB FTW76FQG32Accident · 2 fatalClosedN.American P-51D · Carlsbad, TXOct 15, 1975 · N651D · DestroyedNTSB FTW76FQG31Accident · 1 fatalClosedN.American P-51D · Carlsbad, TXOct 15, 1975 · CF-USA · DestroyedNTSB SEA76AS020Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Woodland, WAOct 14, 1975 · N6680P · DestroyedNTSB SEA76AS018Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182N · Baker, MTOct 11, 1975 · N9165G · DestroyedNTSB IAD76AI023Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Harrisburg, NCOct 10, 1975 · N8893W · DestroyedNTSB OAK76FP016Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Livermore, CAOct 6, 1975 · N4612R · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM030Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Angelus, SCSep 29, 1975 · N7484R · DestroyedNTSB LAX76AL022Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Julian, CASep 25, 1975 · XBHUY · DestroyedNTSB ANC76AA035Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-20 · Talkeetna, AKSep 14, 1975 · N6965K · DestroyedNTSB DEN7LAD018Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Trinidad, COSep 11, 1975 · N4617Q · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF018Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 17-31 · Larto, LASep 7, 1975 · N14713 · DestroyedNTSB MKC7LAK016Accident · 3 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Fairmont, MNAug 31, 1975 · N7187V · DestroyedNTSB MIA76AM018Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Decatur, MSAug 24, 1975 · N2019P · DestroyedNTSB CHI76AC013Accident · 6 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Chandlerville, ILAug 14, 1975 · N3287W · DestroyedNTSB ANC76AA021Accident · 2 fatalClosedHiller Acft UH-12E · Painter Creek, AKAug 11, 1975 · N5379V · DestroyedNTSB IAD76AI007Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech A35 · Mumford, ALAug 10, 1975 · N559B · DestroyedNTSB SEA76DYE07Accident · No injuriesClosedHiller Acft FH1100 · Shelton, WAAug 8, 1975 · N5060F · Substantial damageNTSB FTW76FPG14Accident · 1 fatalClosedTaylorcraft BC12-D · Little Rock, ARAug 7, 1975 · N95883 · DestroyedNTSB OAK76FJA01Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBlanik L-13 · Mokuleia Oahu, HIAug 3, 1975 · N90847 · DestroyedNTSB SEA7KAS006Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 195A · Lincoln City, ORJul 28, 1975 · N1529D · DestroyedNTSB MKC76FTK02Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBell 47-G2A · Keystone, SDJul 25, 1975 · N7578 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA76AM010Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 320B · Darien, GAJul 25, 1975 · N9854L · DestroyedNTSB CHI76FEM05Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-36 · Munger, MIJul 23, 1975 · N9919P · DestroyedNTSB CHI76FEE08Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 182J · Kankakee, ILJul 23, 1975 · N139BC · Substantial damageNTSB FTW76AF031Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Bernice, LAJul 21, 1975 · N3704W · Destroyed