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 SEA65A0056Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeechcraft S35 · Mill City, ORApr 23, 1965 · N6825Q · DestroyedNTSB NYC65A0126Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeechcraft D50 · Hollidaysburg, PAApr 18, 1965 · N4341D · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0104Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 120 · Plaquemine, LAApr 18, 1965 · N77380 · DestroyedNTSB SEA65A0051Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Anaconda, MTApr 16, 1965 · N1714P · DestroyedNTSB ANC65A0046Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Kotzebue, AKApr 14, 1965 · N9069D · DestroyedNTSB CHI65A0090Accident · 2 fatalClosedAeronca 7AC · East Troy, WIApr 10, 1965 · N84981 · DestroyedNTSB NYC65A0124Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Philipsburg, PAApr 7, 1965 · N7335Z · DestroyedNTSB LAX65A0079Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeechcraft 95-55 · Murrieta, CAApr 1, 1965 · N8522M · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0094Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeechcraft B-55 · Austin, TXMar 29, 1965 · N441J · DestroyedNTSB MIA65A0096Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Caguas, PRMar 27, 1965 · N9518D · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0097Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Laredo, TXMar 27, 1965 · N7583W · DestroyedNTSB MKC65A0055Accident · 4 fatalClosedMooney M-20E · Colby, KSMar 22, 1965 · N6936U · DestroyedNTSB MIA65A0093Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeechcraft 35-B33 · 8ne Tampa, FLMar 20, 1965 · N8564M · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1474Accident · 2 fatalClosedDouglas DC-3 · Waterville, CanadaMar 18, 1965 · N4997E · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0088Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182E · Needville, TXMar 11, 1965 · N9314X · DestroyedNTSB OAK65F0054Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Lanai City, HIMar 9, 1965 · N6382W · DestroyedNTSB CHI65A0080Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Madison, INMar 8, 1965 · N3317Z · DestroyedNTSB MKC65A0052Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeechcraft C-45H · Kansas City, KSMar 5, 1965 · N9980Z · DestroyedNTSB MIA65A0090Accident · 2 fatalClosedLoockheed L-18 · Miami, FLMar 5, 1965 · N300N · DestroyedNTSB NYC65F0073Accident · 6 fatalClosedBeechcraft C-18S · Sonora, TXFeb 28, 1965 · N5974V · DestroyedNTSB LAX65A0073Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150B · Santa Maria, CAFeb 27, 1965 · N1154Y · DestroyedNTSB OAK65A0055Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA28 · Hayward, CAFeb 13, 1965 · N7513W · DestroyedNTSB CHI65A0073Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Pontiac, MIFeb 12, 1965 · N3509Z · DestroyedNTSB DEN65A0055Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeechcraft 35 · Carefree, AZFeb 9, 1965 · N2794V · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1383Accident · Serious injuriesClosedLuscombe 8A · Ketchikan, AKFeb 1, 1965 · N45862 · Substantial damageNTSB CHI65A0071Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA28 · El Paso, ILJan 31, 1965 · N8709W · DestroyedNTSB OAK65A0053Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-11 · Inverness, CAJan 28, 1965 · N5526H · DestroyedNTSB SEA65A0041Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Unity, ORJan 27, 1965 · N5104D · DestroyedNTSB MIA65A0077Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Americus, GAJan 26, 1965 · N7901Z · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0077Accident · Serious injuriesClosedHughes 269A · Oklahoma Cty, OKJan 25, 1965 · N8883F · DestroyedNTSB DEN65A0052Accident · 1 fatalClosedMooney M-20 · Estcliffe, COJan 24, 1965 · N1365W · DestroyedNTSB DEN65A0051Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA22 · Bernardo, NMJan 24, 1965 · N4436A · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0075Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Pampa, TXJan 21, 1965 · N2271G · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1297Accident · 7 fatalClosedBoeing KC-135 · Ichita, KSJan 16, 1965 · USAF501 · DestroyedNTSB MKC65A0047Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310G · Nebraska Cty, NEJan 12, 1965 · N8981Z · DestroyedNTSB OAK65A0050Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Caruthers, CAJan 10, 1965 · N5851E · DestroyedNTSB LAX65F0004Accident · Serious injuriesClosedTaylorcraft DC-65 · Goldhill, NVJan 9, 1965 · N67704 · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0067Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182B · Kla City, OKJan 5, 1965 · N2401G · DestroyedNTSB MIA65A0071Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA24 · Aripeka, FLJan 3, 1965 · N7418P · DestroyedNTSB MKC65A0045Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172F · Wellington, KSJan 1, 1965 · N8444U · DestroyedNTSB MIA65A0070Accident · 1 fatalClosedStinson 108-3 · Bunnell, FLJan 1, 1965 · N525C · DestroyedNTSB LAX65A0058Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeechcraft T34A · Wrightwood, CADec 31, 1964 · N5506V · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1193Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Pelham, TNDec 30, 1964 · N8655D · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1189Accident · 4 fatalClosedCurtis-Writ C-46A · Detroit, MIDec 30, 1964 · N608Z · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1164Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 182G · Boulder Creek, CADec 27, 1964 · N3187S · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1163Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150C · Tallahassee, FLDec 27, 1964 · N991KW · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1122Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Philip, SDDec 24, 1964 · N8489P · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1108Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Salem, ORDec 23, 1964 · N2472A · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1105Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Winona, MNDec 23, 1964 · N3142Z · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X1093Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeechcraft 95-B55 · Good Thunder, MNDec 22, 1964 · N8849M · Destroyed