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 ATL80FA066Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech C18S · Wassaw Is, GAJul 4, 1980 · N35MS · DestroyedNTSB ATL80FA065Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Rockford, TNJul 3, 1980 · N6087Y · DestroyedNTSB ATL81FA055Accident · 1 fatalClosedGrumman F8F-2 · Commerce, GAJun 18, 1980 · N9885C · DestroyedNTSB NYC80FA045Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 210E · Provincetown, MAJun 14, 1980 · N4919U · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA112Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35 · Weaverville, CAJun 12, 1980 · N2948V · DestroyedNTSB DEN80FA037Accident · 1 fatalClosedGlobe GC-1B · Spanish Fork, UTJun 7, 1980 · N211M · DestroyedNTSB DCA80AA018Accident · 2 fatalClosedLearjet 25D · Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico)May 19, 1980 · N125NE · DestroyedNTSB ATL80FA047Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-34 · Enterprise, MSMay 16, 1980 · N812DM · DestroyedNTSB SEA80DYE32Accident · Serious injuriesClosedHiller Acft UH-12E · Forks, WAMay 15, 1980 · N5359V · DestroyedNTSB ANC80FA043Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 185F · Anchorage, AKMay 4, 1980 · N93130 · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FUJ52Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Needles, CAMay 1, 1980 · N38352 · DestroyedNTSB CHI80IA036Incident · No injuriesClosedLear Jet 35A · Columbus, OHMay 1, 1980 · N42FE · Minor damageNTSB LAX80FA091Accident · 8 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Bakersfield, CAApr 28, 1980 · N2546M · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA086Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Ngrapevine, CAApr 20, 1980 · N6674P · DestroyedNTSB CHI80FA034Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Alhambra, ILApr 13, 1980 · N6405A · DestroyedNTSB FTW80AA064Accident · 2 fatalClosedLear Jet 25B · Conlon, TXApr 11, 1980 · N25TA · DestroyedNTSB MKC80FA029Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 210L · Sidney, NEApr 7, 1980 · N2120S · DestroyedNTSB MIA80FA054Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150F · Hollywood, FLApr 7, 1980 · N8707G · DestroyedNTSB SEA80FA024Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Pocatello, IDApr 6, 1980 · N260DW · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA060Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 310Q · Baytown, TXApr 6, 1980 · N1209G · DestroyedNTSB CHI80FA033Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Medina, OHMar 29, 1980 · N30529 · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA066Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182P · San Andreas, CAMar 15, 1980 · N106JH · DestroyedNTSB MIA80FA046Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Florence, SCMar 10, 1980 · N1438X · DestroyedNTSB MIA80FA045Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Bradley Jct, FLMar 10, 1980 · N6102Y · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA061Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · So.Lake Tahoe, CAMar 3, 1980 · N4180P · DestroyedNTSB MIA80FA038Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 140 · Homestead, FLFeb 25, 1980 · N76663 · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA046Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Ardmore, OKFeb 20, 1980 · N56482 · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA059Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182G · Grand Canyon, AZFeb 19, 1980 · N2350R · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA055Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Palmdale, CAFeb 17, 1980 · N4517X · DestroyedNTSB MIA80FA032Accident · 2 fatalClosedAero Comdr 680FL · Sebring, FLFeb 14, 1980 · N662B · DestroyedNTSB MKC80FA021Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 95-B55 · Hot Springs, SDFeb 13, 1980 · N8592R · Substantial damageNTSB ANC80FA030Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Homer, AKFeb 12, 1980 · N1384U · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA049Accident · 1 fatalClosedRiley 421C · Escondido, CAFeb 11, 1980 · N15SE · DestroyedNTSB NYC80FA022Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Indian Head, PAJan 29, 1980 · N68326 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN80FA021Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Grantsville, UTJan 27, 1980 · N6439Q · DestroyedNTSB MKC80FA019Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Clare, IAJan 25, 1980 · N9421C · DestroyedNTSB DEN80FQA16Accident · Minor injuriesClosedCessna C172 · Ocate, NMJan 24, 1980 · N9878V · Substantial damageNTSB FTW80FA036Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna A152 · Lomax, TXJan 15, 1980 · N7393L · DestroyedNTSB IAD80AA018Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 441 · Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)Jan 11, 1980 · N441NC · DestroyedNTSB SEA80FTA07Accident · 1 fatalClosedScorpion 133 · Nashua, MTDec 29, 1979 · NONE · DestroyedNTSB MKC80FA017Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Shawnee, KSDec 23, 1979 · N7253M · DestroyedNTSB DEN80FA014Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Grand Lake, CODec 23, 1979 · N2013P · Substantial damageNTSB MKC80FA016Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150G · Anthony, KSDec 22, 1979 · N8409J · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA028Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 65-90 · Leeville, LADec 22, 1979 · N724N · DestroyedNTSB MIA80FA021Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Woodbine, GADec 21, 1979 · N3802W · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA027Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172H · Moshiem, TXDec 21, 1979 · N1792F · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA021Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Sonora, TXDec 15, 1979 · N57329 · DestroyedNTSB LAX80FA023Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Huntington Bch, CADec 9, 1979 · N20647 · DestroyedNTSB SEA80FA011Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech V35A · Sublett, IDDec 7, 1979 · N7950R · DestroyedNTSB CHI80FA013Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 177 · Gary, INDec 1, 1979 · N10412 · Destroyed