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 FTW79FA068Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Bayside, TXApr 9, 1979 · N4782L · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FKG30Accident · Serious injuriesClosedDehavilland DHC-1 · Fayetteville, GAApr 7, 1979 · N122LT · DestroyedNTSB CHI79AA041Accident · 6 fatalClosedBeech 58TC · St.Anne, ILApr 7, 1979 · N17994 · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FLD55Accident · 1 fatalClosedSchleicher ASW-17 · Oviedo, FLApr 6, 1979 · N4AX · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA066Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeech 35A33 · St Petersburg, FLApr 5, 1979 · N848B · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 175A · Paris, IDApr 4, 1979 · N8040T · DestroyedNTSB DCA79AA016Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBoeing 727-31 · Saginaw, MIApr 4, 1979 · N840TW · Substantial damageNTSB NYC79FA033Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Allaire, NJApr 1, 1979 · N4897T · Substantial damageNTSB SEA79FA028Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Brothers, ORMar 26, 1979 · N1649H · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA036Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech A36 · Perris, CAMar 18, 1979 · N2033K · DestroyedNTSB DEN79FA031Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310 · Castle Rock, COMar 18, 1979 · N4157A · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA046Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310R · Heber, AZMar 17, 1979 · N3424G · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA062Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna R172K · Uvalde, TXMar 14, 1979 · N736TN · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FTG04Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-18 · Goodrich, NDMar 9, 1979 · N9730P · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FRG21Accident · 2 fatalClosedVarieze 1 · Austin, TXMar 7, 1979 · N95DB · DestroyedNTSB DEN79AA028Accident · 4 fatalClosedRockwell 114 · Fairfield, UTMar 4, 1979 · N4804W · DestroyedNTSB DEN79FA027Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 210 · Limon, COMar 2, 1979 · N761MV · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA056Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182P · Weston, TXFeb 27, 1979 · N9897E · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA053Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · St Petersburg, FLFeb 25, 1979 · N5861Y · DestroyedNTSB IAD79FA035Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Glenville, KYFeb 23, 1979 · N2754Q · DestroyedNTSB OAK79FA019Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182Q · Tuolumne, CAFeb 21, 1979 · N94386 · DestroyedNTSB OAK79FA018Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Fernley, NVFeb 18, 1979 · N222WF · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA049Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Comanche, TXFeb 16, 1979 · N5960U · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA048Accident · 2 fatalClosedAerostar 601P · New Braunfels, TXFeb 16, 1979 · N9779Q · DestroyedNTSB DEN79FA020Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna R172K · Banner, WYFeb 6, 1979 · N758AV · DestroyedNTSB ANC79FA035Accident · 2 fatalClosedMaule M-4 · Eureka Lodge, AKJan 24, 1979 · N2076U · Substantial damageNTSB LAX79FA026Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Long Beach, CAJan 23, 1979 · N4634Q · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FUG14Accident · 1 fatalClosedHeffron KR-2 · Corona, CAJan 20, 1979 · N456J · DestroyedNTSB CHI79FA023Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Memphis, INJan 19, 1979 · N1885F · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA025Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Wickenburg, AZJan 18, 1979 · N7494M · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FA014Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 210L · Junction City, KSJan 12, 1979 · N4685Q · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA039Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 95-B55 · Fayetteville, ARJan 10, 1979 · N1866L · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA032Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech E33 · Arcadia, FLDec 26, 1978 · N1043A · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA022Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Springerville, AZDec 20, 1978 · N5734P · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA029Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Ada, OKDec 20, 1978 · N75819 · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FA012Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Virginia, NEDec 18, 1978 · N4757S · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FRG09Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBell 47G-2 · Premont, TXDec 6, 1978 · N7732 · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA022Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Hempstead, TXDec 6, 1978 · N3436M · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FYP04Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna R172K · Dayton, WADec 1, 1978 · N736TH · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA024Accident · 1 fatalClosedGrumman AA-5B · Marianna, FLNov 30, 1978 · N28649 · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA023Accident · 1 fatalClosedSikorsky S55B · Hanceville, ALNov 29, 1978 · N8307 · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FA006Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182C · Eureka, MONov 22, 1978 · N8485T · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA015Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Ormond Beach, FLNov 20, 1978 · N733QV · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA015Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech H18 · Brownsville, TXNov 20, 1978 · N204CC · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FA014Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 17-30 · Medford, ORNov 19, 1978 · N7320V · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA014Accident · 2 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA1-G · Kernville, CANov 12, 1978 · N9584U · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA011Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 206B · Sabine Pass, TXNov 12, 1978 · N49755 · DestroyedNTSB OAK79FA010Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182A · Reno, NVNov 10, 1978 · N5895B · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FA012Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 177B · Kimberly, ORNov 9, 1978 · N11606 · DestroyedNTSB IAD79FA010Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Melfa, VANov 8, 1978 · N1104X · Destroyed