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 MIA71AM089Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Yabucoa, PRApr 18, 1971 · N4853L · DestroyedNTSB CHI71AC078Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20C · Muncie, INApr 18, 1971 · N3427X · DestroyedNTSB CHI71AC079Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182L · Ionia, MIApr 13, 1971 · N42241 · DestroyedNTSB MIA71AM090Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech P35 · Marathon, FLApr 8, 1971 · N1562S · DestroyedNTSB CHI71AC074Accident · 4 fatalClosedMooney M20E · Willoughby, OHApr 8, 1971 · N5544Q · DestroyedNTSB NYC71AN097Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35-B33 · Forestville, NYApr 3, 1971 · N1548Z · DestroyedNTSB CHI71AC071Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35-B33 · Bellaire, MIApr 3, 1971 · CF-RGX · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF067Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 310L · Crowley, LAApr 1, 1971 · N13PS · DestroyedNTSB MIA71AM087Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech N35 · Newport, FLMar 28, 1971 · N2223Z · DestroyedNTSB MIA71FLD54Accident · No injuriesClosedEnstrom F28A · Daytona Beach, FLMar 27, 1971 · N9553 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA71FVQ20Accident · 1 fatalClosedLuscombe 8E · Lakeview, ORMar 26, 1971 · N1867K · DestroyedNTSB MKC71FDM50Accident · Minor injuriesClosedAero Comdr 100 · Vineland, MNMar 26, 1971 · N5503M · DestroyedNTSB LAX71AL059Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Jerome, AZMar 24, 1971 · N3797U · DestroyedNTSB LAX71FUQ69Accident · No injuriesClosedBensen B-8 · Tehachapi, CAMar 18, 1971 · N9754 · Substantial damageNTSB OAK71AP034Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Salinas, CAMar 16, 1971 · N9298J · DestroyedNTSB CHI71AC064Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Geneva, ILMar 13, 1971 · N3955W · DestroyedNTSB OAK71FXQ28Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-28 · Al Tahoe, CAFeb 25, 1971 · N6765J · DestroyedNTSB MIA71AM079Accident · 1 fatalClosedStinson 108-3 · W.Palm Beach, FLFeb 25, 1971 · N6387M · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF053Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Andrews, TXFeb 24, 1971 · N3999T · DestroyedNTSB DEN71AD035Accident · 2 fatalClosedNavion A · Orogrande, NMFeb 21, 1971 · N8726H · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF050Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Athens, TXFeb 19, 1971 · N4971C · DestroyedNTSB MKC71AK046Accident · 1 fatalClosedChampion 8KCAB · Clinton, IAFeb 18, 1971 · N9020L · DestroyedNTSB UNK71X0106Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech M35 · Oshawa, CanadaFeb 17, 1971 · N9812R · DestroyedNTSB NYC71AN087Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Hallstead, PAFeb 17, 1971 · N9711J · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF047Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Junction, TXFeb 14, 1971 · N6492A · DestroyedNTSB CHI71AC056Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172G · Chevrolet, KYJan 30, 1971 · N4356L · DestroyedNTSB CHI71FBJ56Accident · Minor injuriesClosedCessna 150H · Gladstone, MIJan 25, 1971 · N22587 · Substantial damageNTSB SEA71AS035Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Oakridge, ORJan 22, 1971 · N8373R · DestroyedNTSB MIA71FLD47Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · St Petersburg, FLJan 22, 1971 · N6600J · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF040Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Franklin, LAJan 17, 1971 · N8101C · DestroyedNTSB NYC71AN080Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Shrewsbury, VTJan 15, 1971 · N4850S · DestroyedNTSB SEA71AS033Accident · 1 fatalClosedAero Comdr 500 · Carson, WAJan 9, 1971 · N8473C · DestroyedNTSB MIA71AM058Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172K · Lake City, FLJan 6, 1971 · N84438 · DestroyedNTSB MIA71AM055Accident · 2 fatalClosedAero Comdr 100 · Boca Raton, FLJan 3, 1971 · N5534M · DestroyedNTSB MKC71AK036Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Mexico, MODec 22, 1970 · N3924D · DestroyedNTSB SEA71AS030Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20E · Amity, ORDec 20, 1970 · N1983Y · DestroyedNTSB DEN71AD028Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna T310P · Cheyenne, WYDec 18, 1970 · N5810M · DestroyedNTSB IAD71DIJ13Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA-28 · Morgantown, WVDec 17, 1970 · N8986J · Substantial damageNTSB CHI71AC042Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Effingham, ILDec 17, 1970 · N4253J · DestroyedNTSB LAX71DUQ48Accident · Serious injuriesClosedForney F-1A · Rosamond, CADec 16, 1970 · N3542H · DestroyedNTSB MKC71AK033Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Garden City, KSDec 15, 1970 · N6064A · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF032Accident · 1 fatalClosedStinson 108-1 · Beaumont, TXDec 15, 1970 · N9094K · DestroyedNTSB FTW71DRD29Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBell 206A · Leeville, LADec 14, 1970 · N7850S · Substantial damageNTSB MIA71AM050Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 35 · Crystal River, FLDec 12, 1970 · N3077V · DestroyedNTSB MKC71AK032Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Rapid City, SDDec 9, 1970 · N6920B · DestroyedNTSB ANC71AA031Accident · 2 fatalClosedMaule M4-210 · Anchorage, AKDec 6, 1970 · N9829M · DestroyedNTSB MKC71AK028Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182M · Kingsville, MONov 26, 1970 · N71319 · DestroyedNTSB LAX72AL021Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Mcnary, AZNov 26, 1970 · N7509W · DestroyedNTSB SEA71AS027Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · St.Charles, IDNov 25, 1970 · N8724P · DestroyedNTSB NYC71AN063Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 310P · Grove City, PANov 20, 1970 · N5789M · Destroyed