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 UNK65X1043Accident · No injuriesClosedHughes 269B · Davis, CADec 18, 1964 · N9374F · Substantial damageNTSB UNK65X0964Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 185 · Norton Sound, AKDec 9, 1964 · N4064Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0851Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Guinda, CANov 27, 1964 · N8696C · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0843Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Troy, TNNov 26, 1964 · N8059B · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0841Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172D · Beaumont, CANov 26, 1964 · N2187Y · DestroyedNTSB NYC65A0078Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeechcraft M35 · Millville, NJNov 25, 1964 · N939Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0711Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 195 · Warner Sprs, CANov 14, 1964 · N4303V · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0691Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 170B · Roberts, MTNov 13, 1964 · N2561D · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0681Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA22 · Battle Mt., NVNov 12, 1964 · N3149Z · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0603Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeechcraft 23 · Grd Junction, TNNov 7, 1964 · N8713M · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0571Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182 · San Lorenzo, CANov 5, 1964 · N5935B · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0537Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Tracy, CANov 2, 1964 · N2588Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0525Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150A · Verona, NDNov 1, 1964 · N7069K · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0457Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · West Alton, MOOct 27, 1964 · N7013 · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0440Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · El Maton, TXOct 25, 1964 · N6319W · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0392Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Houston, TXOct 23, 1964 · N2142Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0365Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Dugway, UTOct 21, 1964 · N5031K · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0345Accident · 1 fatalClosedBrantly B2 · Broadwater, NEOct 20, 1964 · N5924X · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0311Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA24 · Bumble Bee, AZOct 17, 1964 · N5951P · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0272Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Cuba, ALOct 14, 1964 · N6691E · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0247Accident · 5 fatalClosedMooney M-20A · Cambridge, MNOct 11, 1964 · N6063X · DestroyedNTSB UNK65X0132Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Waterville, WAOct 3, 1964 · N7221K · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X4200Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 170B · Tulare, CASep 28, 1964 · N2783C · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X4169Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA11 · Columbia, CASep 26, 1964 · N4557M · Substantial damageNTSB UNK64X4168Accident · No injuriesClosedPiper PA30 · Bretton Woods, NHSep 26, 1964 · N7194YNTSB UNK64X4133Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Denver City, TXSep 24, 1964 · N7262Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3956Accident · 4 fatalClosedNavion NAV-A · Las Vegas, NVSep 13, 1964 · N4513K · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3931Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 140 · Darien, GASep 12, 1964 · N76246 · Substantial damageNTSB UNK64X3861Accident · Minor injuriesClosedCessna 170 · Tucson, AZSep 7, 1964 · N3866V · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3832Accident · 2 fatalClosedRyan Navion · Suffield, CTSep 6, 1964 · N5346K · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3831Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 14-193 · Atkinson, NESep 6, 1964 · N8816R · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3806Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper J3C-65 · Santa Rosa, CASep 5, 1964 · N68283 · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3704Accident · No injuriesClosedHughes 269A · Phoenix, AZAug 31, 1964 · N8784F · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3567Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Fillmore, CAAug 23, 1964 · N139SF · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3550Accident · 2 fatalClosedAero Comdr 520 · Fairbanks, AKAug 22, 1964 · N688C · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3524Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Macon, GAAug 21, 1964 · N7364T · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3405Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 47G · Alameda, CAAug 15, 1964 · N179B · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3403Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150A · Clarksdale, MSAug 15, 1964 · N7022X · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3385Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Monterey, CAAug 14, 1964 · N7369X · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3231Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · E Falmouth, MAAug 5, 1964 · N5485Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3203Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Lothian, MDAug 3, 1964 · N7341Y · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3187Accident · Minor injuriesClosedHughes 269A · Buffalo, NYAug 2, 1964 · N8873F · Substantial damageNTSB UNK64X3161Accident · 6 fatalClosedCessna 310H · Manhatn Beach, CAAug 1, 1964 · N159GK · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3140Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeechcraft 35-B33 · Nashville, TNJul 31, 1964 · N8972M · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X3094Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M-20A · Provincetown, MAJul 28, 1964 · N6024 · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X2990Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA22 · Bethune, SCJul 23, 1964 · N8611D · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X2988Accident · 2 fatalClosedEmigh TA-2 · San Pedro, CAJul 23, 1964 · N8349H · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X2704Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 170B · Wimberley, TXJul 7, 1964 · N2325D · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X2559Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA22 · Miami Beach, FLJun 29, 1964 · N5198Z · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X2540Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 310B · Aspen, COJun 28, 1964 · N5456A · Destroyed