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 MKC72AK041Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Davenport, IADec 25, 1971 · N7477J · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN083Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150B · Allentown, PADec 24, 1971 · N1180Y · DestroyedNTSB LAX72FUG42Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBeech 23 · Big Bear, CADec 22, 1971 · N2366Q · Substantial damageNTSB MIA72AM056Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150F · Dalton, GADec 21, 1971 · N8014F · DestroyedNTSB OAK72AP020Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182G · Fresno, CADec 20, 1971 · N3180S · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK038Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415C · Lake Mills, IADec 19, 1971 · N93703 · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK037Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Clyde, KSDec 19, 1971 · N7436M · DestroyedNTSB LAX72FVA37Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBell 47G5 · Mcfarland, CADec 17, 1971 · N8557F · DestroyedNTSB MIA72FLA22Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 150L · Jacksonville, FLDec 8, 1971 · N6877G · DestroyedNTSB CHI72AC049Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 175A · New Lebanon, OHDec 7, 1971 · N6820E · DestroyedNTSB ANC72AA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 180 · Anchorage, AKDec 4, 1971 · N7692A · DestroyedNTSB LAX72AL036Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Lebec, CANov 30, 1971 · N5929U · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN073Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Adams, MANov 28, 1971 · N550XX · DestroyedNTSB FTW72AF030Accident · 7 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Wells, TXNov 28, 1971 · N8973N · DestroyedNTSB SEA72AS022Accident · 6 fatalClosedBeech C35 · Astoria, ORNov 25, 1971 · N1944D · DestroyedNTSB ANC72AA026Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Willits, CANov 23, 1971 · N7055M · DestroyedNTSB LAX72AL037Accident · 1 fatalClosedGlobe GC-1B · Palos Vrdes, CANov 20, 1971 · N250B · DestroyedNTSB OAK72AP016Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Bodega Bay, CANov 18, 1971 · N2503P · DestroyedNTSB LAX72AL033Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Solvang, CANov 13, 1971 · N3626R · DestroyedNTSB SEA72AS019Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Ulm, MTNov 9, 1971 · N6691G · DestroyedNTSB OAK72AP015Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Wildwood, CANov 9, 1971 · N9352P · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN061Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Boalsburg, PAOct 31, 1971 · N9287J · DestroyedNTSB OAK72AP013Accident · 6 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Benicia, CAOct 30, 1971 · N9412W · DestroyedNTSB DEN72AD024Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Opal, WYOct 29, 1971 · N6151E · DestroyedNTSB DEN72AD021Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech D50C · Brandon, COOct 29, 1971 · N9968R · DestroyedNTSB DEN72AD020Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-CD · Kit Carson, COOct 28, 1971 · N3902H · DestroyedNTSB CHI83FA225Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 185 · Hovland, MNOct 26, 1971 · N9881X · DestroyedNTSB LAX72AL030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172A · Bagdad, AZOct 25, 1971 · N7570T · DestroyedNTSB SEA72FTI09Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 150 · Chinook, MTOct 24, 1971 · N6180T · DestroyedNTSB MIA72FLD18Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-17 · Arcadia, FLOct 21, 1971 · N4677H · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK028Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182J · Longton, KSOct 20, 1971 · N2784F · DestroyedNTSB MIA72AM040Accident · 4 fatalClosedLockheed 1049H · Gt.Inagua, Burkina FasoOct 20, 1971 · N564E · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN055Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35-C33 · Black Mountain, NCOct 18, 1971 · N5845K · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN054Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Akron, NYOct 17, 1971 · N3276F · DestroyedNTSB MIA72AM036Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech A35 · Homerville, GAOct 17, 1971 · N8544A · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN051Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Washingtnville, PAOct 10, 1971 · N2941R · DestroyedNTSB CHI72AC035Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Pemberton, OHOct 10, 1971 · N8833J · DestroyedNTSB MIA72AM033Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20C · Cottondale, FLOct 9, 1971 · N2617W · DestroyedNTSB FTW72AF018Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · New Braunfels, TXOct 8, 1971 · N46249 · DestroyedNTSB CHI72AC032Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Concord, MIOct 8, 1971 · N4700L · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK025Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Stover, MOOct 7, 1971 · N1600Q · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK024Accident · 2 fatalClosedNavion A · Macon, MOOct 2, 1971 · N4249K · DestroyedNTSB CHI72AC031Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150F · Tomahawk, WIOct 1, 1971 · N7801F · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK022Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Kenmare, NDSep 30, 1971 · N8946D · DestroyedNTSB OAK72DVW12Accident · No injuriesClosedCurtis Sull J T · Pioche, NVSep 25, 1971 · N491C · Substantial damageNTSB MKC72AK020Accident · 2 fatalClosedAmer Avco AA1 · Potwin, KSSep 25, 1971 · N5770L · DestroyedNTSB CHI72AC028Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Adolphus, KYSep 25, 1971 · N9935W · DestroyedNTSB DEN72AD013Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeech 70 · Fowler, COSep 17, 1971 · N1384A · DestroyedNTSB OAK72AP008Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172K · Sparks, NVSep 7, 1971 · N7408G · DestroyedNTSB NYC72AN036Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Princeton, NJSep 6, 1971 · N5923U · Destroyed