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 DEN75AD033Accident · 3 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Watrous, NMDec 19, 1974 · N3890N · DestroyedNTSB MKC75AK031Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Perryville, MODec 18, 1974 · N2223R · DestroyedNTSB MIA75AM033Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Titusville, FLDec 16, 1974 · N7671W · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF041Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Freestone, TXDec 14, 1974 · N13344 · DestroyedNTSB MKC74AK030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Beacon, IADec 12, 1974 · N5323B · DestroyedNTSB MIA75AM031Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 210L · Brandon, MSDec 11, 1974 · N93242 · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF037Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Graford, TXDec 5, 1974 · N123RC · DestroyedNTSB IAD75AI036Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Frederica, DEDec 1, 1974 · N9184J · DestroyedNTSB MIA75AM029Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Ochopee, FLNov 30, 1974 · N42294 · DestroyedNTSB IAD75AI034Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Toone, TNNov 30, 1974 · N5092S · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN069Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Erie, PANov 28, 1974 · N2433X · DestroyedNTSB LAX75AL029Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech B19 · Tehachapi, CANov 21, 1974 · N9743Q · DestroyedNTSB LAX75AL027Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Van Nuys, CANov 15, 1974 · N6311Y · DestroyedNTSB SEA75AS022Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 47G-2 · Kingston, WANov 4, 1974 · N5160B · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD024Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182A · Springfield, CONov 2, 1974 · N3737D · DestroyedNTSB SEA75AS020Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-C · Rogerson, IDOct 31, 1974 · N3591H · DestroyedNTSB OAK75AP017Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Vallejo, CAOct 27, 1974 · N1487Q · DestroyedNTSB LAX75A6022Accident · 1 fatalClosedGlobe GC-1B · Claremont, CAOct 27, 1974 · N4962C · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN053Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · East Hampton, CTOct 25, 1974 · N1698T · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN051Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Westville, NYOct 19, 1974 · N8831D · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN046Accident · 1 fatalClosedN.American F-51D · Chatham, PAOct 13, 1974 · N5412V · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF028Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182A · Henderson, TXOct 7, 1974 · N1999W · DestroyedNTSB MIA75AM009Accident · 4 fatalClosedRiley T300 · Clermont, FLOct 6, 1974 · N9100G · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD018Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 14-19 · Vail, COOct 4, 1974 · N8538R · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD017Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 182J · Springfield, COOct 4, 1974 · N2869F · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN042Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna P206A · Fonda, NYOct 3, 1974 · N4647F · DestroyedNTSB LAX75AL016Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Encino, CASep 26, 1974 · N4448Q · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF024Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech M35 · Merkel, TXSep 24, 1974 · N364Z · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN039Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172H · Bluebell, PASep 20, 1974 · N3258L · DestroyedNTSB IAD75AI013Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Raleigh, NCSep 17, 1974 · N9441J · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF021Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Sierra Blanca, TXSep 17, 1974 · N8062P · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD014Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Corona, NMSep 16, 1974 · N1585P · DestroyedNTSB IAD75AI012Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna A188B · Smyrna, TNSep 13, 1974 · N53235 · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AK018Accident · 3 fatalClosedAero Comdr 100 · Inola, OKSep 10, 1974 · N2970T · DestroyedNTSB LAX75AL013Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Santa Ana, CASep 9, 1974 · N4320T · DestroyedNTSB CHI75AC025Accident · 3 fatalClosedBellanca 14-19 · Blue Ash, OHSep 3, 1974 · N8862R · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD007Accident · 4 fatalClosedGates Lear 25B · Briggsdale, COAug 31, 1974 · N366AA · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD005Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 170A · Bernardo, NMAug 25, 1974 · N5423C · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN022Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Catasauqua, PAAug 23, 1974 · N8191L · DestroyedNTSB NYC75AN021Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 47J-2A · Point Judith, RIAug 22, 1974 · N37739 · DestroyedNTSB CHI75AC020Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Manistique, MIAug 22, 1974 · N6438Q · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF008Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182L · San Antonio, TXAug 17, 1974 · N42791 · DestroyedNTSB CHI75AC015Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172F · Mayview, ILAug 11, 1974 · N5533R · DestroyedNTSB LAX75AL006Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150H · Malibu Bch, CAAug 8, 1974 · N23215 · DestroyedNTSB MIA75AM014Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-CD · Walterboro, SCAug 6, 1974 · N3836H · DestroyedNTSB SEA75DYI05Accident · No injuriesClosedLuscombe 8A · Medford, ORAug 2, 1974 · N1151B · Substantial damageNTSB MIA75AM012Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeech M35 · Newton, ALAug 2, 1974 · N9760R · DestroyedNTSB CHI75FEE08Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-30 · Chicago, ILAug 1, 1974 · N1188Y · Substantial damageNTSB MKC75AK004Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Dubuque, IAJul 22, 1974 · N8020N · DestroyedNTSB LAX75FUG01Accident · Minor injuriesClosedNaval Fcty N3N-3 · Lucerne, CAJul 21, 1974 · N44760 · Substantial damage